Creamy tuna pasta strikes a perfect balance between simple pleasures and rich flavors, making it a favorite for those who appreciate both ease and taste. At the heart of this dish are straightforward, yet flavorful ingredients: tuna, bell peppers, and onions. Together, they merge the ocean's savory notes with the fresh, sweet crunch of garden vegetables. Depending on what you have on hand, you can use either the rich texture of fresh tuna or the convenience of canned tuna. Bell peppers bring a burst of color and a gentle sweetness that pairs well with the umami of the tuna. Meanwhile, onions lay down an aromatic foundation, infusing the dish with both warmth and complexity.
Now, as we move to the cooking phase, this pasta celebrates minimalism, never letting go of flavor. First, you sauté the onions and bell peppers until they're just tender and golden. Next, you introduce the flaked tuna, blending it in to deepen and meld the flavors. These core ingredients come together, simmering into a rich yet straightforward sauce that envelops the pasta, showcasing the ingredients' natural tastes. This approach proves that a few well-chosen components can craft a meal that's both comforting and satisfying to the palate.
This recipe takes pride in the simple combination of tuna, bell peppers, and onions. However, if you're keen to experiment, numerous variations await. You can introduce ingredients like spinach, tomatoes, or mushrooms. Such additions can bring a new dimension to your meal. These options allow you to tailor the dish to personal tastes, making creamy tuna pasta a versatile base for culinary creativity. Whether you stick with the basic trio or add in these extra flavors, the dish stands as a tribute to the art of simple cooking.
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We heat 1.5 liters of water either in a pot or with the help of a kettle. While the water is in the pot, we add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon salt. This significantly reduces the sticking of the pasta to each other once they come into contact with hot water.
The most beloved texture for pasta is considered to be 'al dente,' and I agree. Boiling it for 8-10 minutes should suffice. The pasta you see in the image boiled in hot water for 10 minutes.
At this stage, the most crucial point is this: In what size do you want to see the ingredients in the dish? I prefer to see and feel the carrots and peppers when I eat, so I didn't grate the carrots and didn't cut the peppers smaller. I believe that when prepared this way, the presentation becomes strikingly appealing.
The oil you will use is at the forefront of ingredients that will impart the most aroma and flavor to the sauce and, consequently, the dish. I prefer olive oil, but sunflower oil or corn oil can also be used. The oil should be heated over low heat. Otherwise, you can burn the oil and get a bitter, smoky taste, which we do not want.
The most common mistake in dishes with sauces like this is at the stage where we 'partially cook' the sauce ingredients. It's important to remember that when we add tuna and cream, the vegetables will continue to cook. The heat should always be on low for the oil. The average sautéing time depends on the ingredients we use and how firm we want each vegetable to be. I sautéed all the ingredients at once, but if you want the carrots to be softer, you can sauté them for 2-3 minutes first and then add the other ingredients. The total sautéing time should be 10-12 minutes.
When the onions turn slightly pink, it means our vegetables are cooked. Then, we add the tuna one by one and sauté for about 2-3 minutes. Next, we add the cream. Creams are generally produced as 40% fat creams used in desserts and 18-20% fat creams for sauces. We need 18% cream.
The cream will thicken as it cooks. At this stage, we can adjust the consistency by adding pasta water or boiling water. The cream should stay on the stove for an average of 3-5 minutes. The consistency should not be too thick. Let me give you a tip. The pasta sauce should be pourable into the pasta pot without using a spoon. With this tip, you can visualize the consistency.
At this stage, there's not much to say. Enjoy your meal!
Servings 4
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.