Quick and Easy Smoked Tuna Spaghetti with Parsley and Capers

Categories : easy peasy, fish & seafood, main dishes, pasta & rice, Recipes

One of my favourite dinners when I really can’t be bothered with much cooking. A simple yet flavourful meal, light and tasty, with delicious smoked tuna, fresh parsley and salty capers. Done in the time it takes to boil pasta. Almost.

Good old pasta. It’s such a life saver, is it not? My cupboard is never without it. I’ve been known to eat it with just a dollop of Greek yoghurt and lots of salt and pepper. (Did I just give away a future recipe? Haha not sure I could get away with that as a recipe) If I have tuna on hand however, this is my go-to quick and easy dinner after a busy day.

Quick and Easy Smoked Tuna Spaghetti with Parsley and Capers www.thefoodiecorner.gr Photo description: In the centre of the image is a chopping board with some parsley and a knife on it. To the top right is a small ceramic plate with capers, next to it a tiny ceramic bowl with English mustard and a half open tin of tuna. To the bottom right of the photo is a bunch of parsley.

It’s great with plain tuna (packed in olive oil of course), but oh my goodness, have you tried smoked? It’s truly delicious.

Quick and Easy Smoked Tuna Spaghetti with Parsley and Capers www.thefoodiecorner.gr Photo description: A close up of a colander full of cooked whole wheat spaghetti. To the bottom of the photo a bunched up linen tea towel.

With recipes like these I always like to stress that it’s a good idea to prep ingredients before you start. It’s such a quick process that you don’t want to be chopping parsley when you’ve already got the pasta boiling. Measure stuff out, have it on hand beside you, and go for it.

Quick and Easy Smoked Tuna Spaghetti with Parsley and Capers www.thefoodiecorner.gr Photo description: In the centre of the photo is a frying pan full of prepared smoked tuna pasta sitting on a chopping board. Lying beside the pasta in the pan is a wooden cooking utensil. To the bottom of the pan is a bunched up linen tea towel and to the top left is a plate of capers.

This smoked tuna spaghetti is a great meal to whip up after a long day or when you’ve not had time to go shopping. Everything but the parsley will live happily in your cupboard or fridge for ages so you can always have it on hand.

Quick and Easy Smoked Tuna Spaghetti with Parsley and Capers www.thefoodiecorner.gr Photo description: A ceramic platter with some smoked tuna pasta and a couple of serving forks on it. To the top of the platter are two ceramic plates also containing smoked tuna pasta. To the bottom right of the photo is a bunched up linen napkin.

Do you have any go-to meals for days when shopping is not an option and you’re too tired to cook for more than half an hour?

Quick and Easy Smoked Tuna Spaghetti with Parsley and Capers www.thefoodiecorner.gr Photo description: A close up of a ceramic platter full of smoked tuna pasta, with the tuna, capers and parsley visible among the spaghetti. Two serving forks lie half-burried in the pasta. To the bottom right is a bunched up linen napkin.

Oh and don’t forget, if you make this recipe and post it on Instagram please tag me (@thefoodiecorner)! I love seeing your creations and sharing them on my stories.

Ingredients

250 gr whole wheat spaghetti

1 tin smoked tuna packed in oil (160-200 gr)

2 Tbs (30 ml) oil from the tin

1 Tbs (15 ml) white balsamic vinegar

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp prepared English mustard (the strong stuff)

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp lemon pepper

4 Tbs (60 ml) water from boiling pasta

1 Tbs (15 ml) capers, drained

4 Tbs (60 ml) finely chopped parsley (but not super finely)

chilli flakes, to taste, optional

Step 1

Put the pasta on to boil as per the instructions on the packet.

Step 2

Open the tuna, set 2 tablespoons of the oil aside and drain.

Step 3

Six minutes before the pasta is ready (see time it says on packet), put the reserved oil in a large frying pan and heat over medium for about 2 minutes. Add the tuna and gently break it up without crushing it. Let it warm through for 2-3 minutes and add the white balsamic, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and lemon pepper. Stir and let it all warm through for a minute.

Step 4

Transfer the pasta from the pot with a spaghetti server and drop it into the frying pan along with the water that clings to it. Toss well and add the 4 tablespoons of the pasta water (or as much as necessary to get some juice in the pan), the capers, parsley and chilli flakes. Toss again and remove from the stove.

Step 5

Serve with some extra pepper if desired.