Tuna Lemon Pasta

Tuna Lemon Pasta is a quick and flavorful dish that combines canned tuna, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, feta cheese and lemon juice. The dish is light yet satisfying, with the savory tuna complementing the simple but robust flavors of sautéed garlic and olive oil. Add dried chili for an extra kick to create a Spicy Tuna Pasta variation. It’s an easy and budget-friendly meal perfect for weeknights. This versatile dish can be customized with vegetables like cherry tomatoes or spinach, making it both nutritious and delicious.

Tuna and Lemon Pasta Ingredients

• 250 g Dried Spaghetti (or any other pasta of your preference, Fusili or Penne are great as well)
• Juice of half a lemon
• ½ cup pasta water
• 3 Garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Can of tuna in olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon Extra-virgin olive oil
• 50 g Feta cheese, chopped
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• ½ teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 Dried chili (optional)
• Shredded Parmesan to garnish (optional)
• Crushed walnuts to garnish (optional)

How to Make Tuna Lemon Pasta

1. In a large pot add boiling water and 1 tablespoon of salt. Once it is boiling, add the dried spaghetti and cook it according to package instructions (minus 1 minute). Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
2. While the spaghetti is cooking, add the olive oil into a pan on medium-high heat. Stir fry the dried chili (optional) and the garlic for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Careful to not burn it.
3. Add the tuna and lemon juice. Stir fry it for about 2 minutes.
4. Add the cooked pasta together with the feta cheese and ½ cup of pasta water. Mix it well. Wait for the feta cheese to completely melt and create sort of a cream together with the water and lemon juice. It should take about 2 minutes. Adjust the salt and pepper as per your taste.
5. Your Tuna Lemon Pasta is ready! When serving, garnish with Parmesan and crushed walnuts. A side of green salad makes it a complete meal.

Is tuna pasta healthy?

Yes. Tuna pasta can be an excellent and healthy meal option for busy weeknight dinners. Tuna is rich in lean protein and high in omega-3-fatty acids, which support heart and brain health.

To make this recipe healthier, choose whole-grain pasta, which will increase the amount of fiber. To reduce the calories you can opt to use canned tuna conserved in water, instead of olive oil. Finally, feel free to add more vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, spinach and broccoli, which pair really well with this recipe.

Recipe Tips

• Since feta cheese is already a bit salty, wait to adjust the salt only at the end.
• Salve half a cup of water used for cooking the spaghetti and add together with feta cheese to make creamy tuna pasta.
• If you opt for canned tuna packed with water, drain all the water before using it. My preference would be to use tuna that is conserved in olive oil.
• Cherry tomatoes, spinach or broccoli are also great additions to this dish. Feel free to add more vegetables of your preference for a nutrient-packed meal.

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