Penne With A Punchy Tuna Sauce Recipes

ITALIAN PENNE WITH TUNA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return to saucepan.
• Meanwhile, in a 10-inch skillet heat oil over medium-low. Add leeks and garlic; cook 5 to 7 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Turn off heat. Add spinach; stir until slightly wilted.
• Stir spinach mixture into pasta. Stir in tuna, Italian dressing and dried tomatoes. If desired, sprinkle with cracked black pepper.

PENNE WITH TUNA AND WILTED ROMAINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F with a rack set on the middle shelf.
• Drain the tuna, reserving the oil, about 1/3 cup. If you do not have 1/3 cup oil from the tuna, add enough extra-virgin olive oil to yield 1/3 cup.
• Use your hands to tear the bread slices into large pieces and put in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until only fine crumbs remain, about 2 cups. Place the breadcrumbs on a baking sheet and toss with the reserved tuna oil. Season liberally with salt. Bake until light golden brown and crispy, 10 to 12 minutes, gently tossing the crumbs occasionally. Cool slightly on a cooling rack, and then use your hands to break up any large chunks.
• Meanwhile, bring a large stockpot of salted water to a boil (it should taste like sea water).
• While the water is coming to a boil, make the pasta sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large, straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and a large pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic softens and starts to lightly brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the grape tomatoes, capers and white wine. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the tomatoes start to soften and the wine is reduced by half, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the romaine and drained tuna. Season liberally with salt and cook until the romaine is completely wilted and the tuna is heated through, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat.
• Cook the pasta in the salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and then drain the pasta.
• Toss the pasta with the tuna sauce in a large mixing bowl. Use as little or as much of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce to your taste. Season with additional salt and crushed red pepper flakes if needed.
• To serve, divide the pasta among 4 to 6 plates, top with the toasted breadcrumbs and drizzle with additional olive oil.

PENNE WITH SPICED TUNA SAUCE

Steps:

• Boil pasta until al dente. Saute onions in olive oil for 5 minutes or until translucent. Add hot pepper, anchovies and whisk in until anchovies dissolve into a paste. Add peppers and celery and saute for 5 minutes or until tender but still somewhat crunchy. Stir in capers and tuna and cook just to warm the tuna through. Season to taste with salt; remove hot pepper; add black pepper if you wish. Drain pasta and return to pasta pot; add sauce and toss; transfer to serving bowl & garnish with parsley.

HOT PENNE WITH CHILLED TOMATO SAUCE AND CHARRED TUNA

Steps:

• Place all the sauce ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off until roughly chopped. Pour the sauce into a bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Bring four quarts of water to the boil with one tablespoon of salt, or to taste, and add the penne. Cook, stirring down with the fork, for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a cast-iron skillet over high heat and sprinkle the pan with one tablespoon of kosher salt. When the salt begins to sputter, add the tuna steak, sprinkle the top of the steak with more salt and cook until lightly charred, about three minutes per side. Transfer the steak to a cutting board.
• Drain the pasta and toss with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Divide the pasta and sauce among four dishes. Slice the tuna into quarter-inch slices and place over the sauce. Serve immediately.

PENNE WITH TUNA AND RED ONION

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions; drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Return pasta to pot.
• Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-low heat. Add onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until onion is very tender and starting to brown, about 8 minutes. Add half-and-half and if using, anchovies; raise heat to high, and boil 2 minutes.
• Pour mixture over pasta. Add tuna, parsley, capers, and reserved pasta water; toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

PENNE WITH TUNA, BASIL, AND LEMON

Steps:

• Bring a 4-quart pasta pot three fourths full with salted water to a boil for penne. Mince garlic. Finely grate enough lemon zest to measure 1 tablespoon and squeeze 1 teaspoon juice. Cut basil into thin strips. In a large bowl toss together garlic, zest, juice, basil, and tuna with oil from can.
• Boil penne until al dente and drain in a colander. Add penne to bowl and toss with salt and pepper to taste.

PENNE WITH TUNA PUTTANESCA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add salt and drizzle with oil; return to a boil. Add pasta, stirring, until water returns to a boil. Cook until al dente, according to package directions.
• In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook until lightly browned and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add anchovies and cook, stirring and mashing with the back of a spoon, about 1 minute. Add capers, celery, olives, and artichokes; cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Add tomato sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
• In a medium nonstick skillet, heat remaining tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add tuna and cook until browned on all sides. Transfer tuna to sauce and continue to cook until heated through, about 8 to 10 minutes. Season with red pepper flakes.
• Drain pasta and add to sauce; stir to combine. Transfer to a large serving platter and serve immediately with freshly grated cheese.

PENNE WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place the penne pasta in the pot, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook the garlic and mushrooms until mushrooms are tender. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the butter.
• In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta and the mushroom mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley to serve.

PENNE WITH TUNA AND PEAS IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to boil for cooking the penne.
• Mince garlic and sauté in hot oil in a nonstick skillet for about 30 seconds. Add hot pepper flakes and sauté for 15 seconds.
• Add wine and cook quickly to reduce by half.
• Add tomatoes and tomato paste; reduce heat and simmer gently.
• When water boils, add penne and cook according to package directions.
• Cut tuna into bite-size chunks. Add to tomato sauce with peas. Cook 5 minutes, until tuna is cooked.
• When penne is cooked, drain and serve with the tuna-pea sauce.