Weeknight Tarragon Pasta With Canned Tuna

A delicious canned tuna spaghetti recipe that's ready in under 15 minutes. It's a perfect busy weeknight dinner.

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• Why You'll Love This Canned Tuna Spaghetti
• Ingredients For Your Shopping List
• Let's Make It
• FAQs and Top Tips
• More Recipes You Might Like
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

What can you do with a can of tuna? A lot actually! In fact, canned tuna is a necessity in my house and I can't imagine my pantry without it. And not only because canned tuna packs an impressive amount of protein and is rich in Omega 3s, but because you can actually create a delicious dinner with a can of tuna.

But of course, not just any tuna, but the highest quality tuna from my favorite family-owned and operated company and fresh off of their St. Jude Fishing Vessel. There is true pleasure in partnering with people who put their lives into their craft and that's the difference you get in each can. Their tuna is canned in the US, is US Troll Caught, and contains no bi-catch. You get only the highest quality tuna and can taste the difference because the focus is always on one thing - Albacore tuna, and nothing else.

So today I bring you another tasty canned tuna recipe, this time with gluten-free pasta, tarragon, olives, and capers, and tying it all together in a simple 2-minute sauce. This is my version of a Mediterranean pasta that has a lemony olive oil-based sauce that's ready in 10 minutes. Not bad for a weeknight dinner. But let's get to this healthy tuna pasta recipe.

Why You'll Love This Canned Tuna Spaghetti

1. It's gluten-free, dairy-free and protein-rich
2. Ready in under 10 minutes
3. Perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner
4. It's flavorful, delicious and can be customized to your liking

Ingredients For Your Shopping List

St. Jude Mediterranean Tuna: Delicious, nutritious, and high in protein.

Gluten-Free Spaghetti: If you're not gluten-free, feel free to use regular spaghetti or any other type of pasta or gluten-free pasta.

Lemon: The lemon zest gives the spaghetti flavor and depth.

Shallot and Garlic: Finely chopped shallot and whole garlic to infuse the sauce.

Green olives and Capers: They add texture and salty brine to the tuna pasta recipe.

Fresh Tarragon: A beautiful, flavorful herb that's fresh yet earthy.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Since we use it as the base for the lemon oil, try to use the best EVOO you can.

Let's Make It

Step 1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook desired spaghetti or other pasta, according to package instructions.

Step 2. Add 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and zest from one lemon to a small bowl. Stir and set aside.

Step 3. Preheat a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil along with chopped shallot, ¼ teaspoon salt, and smashed garlic clove. Sautee shallot and garlic for 3-5 minutes until aromatic. Turn off the heat and discard the garlic.

Step 4. Break up the tuna in the can so it mixes with the olive oil and juices and add it to the pan along with the olives, capers, and 2 tablespoon tarragon. Mix everything well so it is incorporated.

Step 5. Drain pasta, save ½ cup of pasta water, and return it to the pot. Add the lemon oil, and a dash of salt and mix with the spaghetti. Add the lemony spaghetti to the sauce, along with as much pasta water as you'd like, and stir everything well to combine.

Step 6. Divide the spaghetti between plates, and add tuna and the remaining sauce on top of the pasta. Finish with additional chopped tarragon, freshly ground pepper salt, additional lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon juice, and if you wish additional olive oil.

FAQs and Top Tips

What Kind Of Pasta Should You Use?

When it comes to gluten-free pasta, the options are seemingly endless. From chickpea to rice to lentil, the choice is yours. If you're not gluten-free, then, of course, feel free to go with the classic. For this dish though, I find spaghetti to work the best, whether it's gluten-free or not.

Do You Have To Drain The Tuna?

No need to drain the canned tuna for this recipe. In fact, mixing it with the oil before even adding it to the pan is even better.

What Is A Substitute For Shallot?

If you don't have a shallot, you can use 2 tablespoon yellow, red or sweet onion or even the white part of the scallion.

What Does Tarragon Taste Like?

Tarragon is not an herb one comes across too frequently in recipes but I love using it as much as I can. It has a very mild licorice taste that adds a beautiful brightness to any dish.

Is There A Substitute For Tarragon?

Sometimes fresh tarragon is hard to find. But most grocery stores will sell dried tarragon, which works just as well. One dried teaspoon will work. Alternatively, you can use fresh or dried dill or fresh or dried oregano. It will slightly change the recipe but will still be delicious.

Can Leftovers Be Stored?

Definitely. Just don't go beyond a day or two. Store pasta with canned tuna in an airtight container and reheat it as desired. Add additional fresh herbs and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to give it some boost.

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