Racion

Pasta with Tuna in Tomato Sauce

A slice of tuna in thick tomato sauce with onion and garlic, served with pasta. Tasty lunch in 25 minutes.

Time
25 min
Serving
557 kcal
Ingredients
≈ $2.17
Protein
34 g
Pasta with Tuna in Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

1
  1. 1 Canned tunapack 170 g ≈ $1.80 85 g
  2. 2 Pastapack 450 g ≈ $1.37 90 g
  3. 3 Canned tomatoespack 400 g ≈ $1.30 150 g
  4. 4 Onions≈ $1.60 per kg 40 g
  5. 5 Garlic≈ $10.00 per kg 3 g
  6. 6 Olive oil 10 ml
  7. 7 Fresh basilpack 30 g ≈ $2.50 5 g
  8. 8 Salt 2 g
  9. 9 Ground black pepper to taste

Grey rows are pantry staples: salt, oil, spices. They are not counted in the serving price.

Method

  1. Prepare: peel the onion4 and dice into 1 cm cubes, peel the garlic5 and finely chop. Heat a skillet over medium heat and pour in a small amount of olive oil.

  2. Fry: onion4 and garlic5 in olive oil 3 minutes, until soft and translucent, stirring occasionally over medium heat to avoid burning.

  3. Add tomatoes: add the tomatoes, crush them with a spoon and salt; simmer over medium heat 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens, occasionally stirring, until a soft thick texture and about half the volume remains.

  4. Bring to aroma: warm the tuna in the sauce over medium heat for 2 minutes, do not boil to keep juiciness; if tuna is canned1, flake the pieces with a fork and warm through.

  5. Boil pasta2: bring water to a boil, salt to taste and cook pasta according to package directions to al dente, about 8–10 minutes; drain, reserve a little water to adjust the sauce thickness if needed.

  6. Combine: stir the pasta2 with the tomato sauce and tuna over low heat for 1 minute, so the pasta absorbs the sauce and is evenly coated.

  7. Finish: remove from heat, sprinkle with basil and stir; if desired, season to taste with salt and pepper.

  8. Serving: divide among plates, serve immediately; optionally top with fresh7 basil; serve with the remaining pasta2 and sauce.

Tips

Why it works
Cook the onion and garlic first so they soften and release flavor before the tomatoes add acidity, which would otherwise make them bitter.
Substitutions
Use 150g canned crushed tomatoes instead of whole tomatoes for less crushing. Replace fresh basil with 1 tsp dried basil if needed.
Common mistakes
Overcooking the tuna makes it dry and crumbly; it should stay warm for just 2 minutes without boiling.
Storing and reheating
Eat fresh or within 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
Serve with
Pair with a simple green salad and a slice of crusty bread for a balanced, no-fuss lunch.

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