Tuna linguine is a quick weeknight recipe and you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry. This zingy dish is big on flavour and generates no washing up.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
My husband first made this dish for me more than 19 years ago! It was his signature dish. If I wasn't in love with him before, I was after he presented this meal. Little did I know it was the easiest dish ever to make. I have made a few alterations over the years, but it is basically the same.
As you scan the ingredients I'm sure you will wonder if the dish could really be as amazing as I'm saying. I promise you, the dish is so much better than the sum of the ingredients.
As a bonus, I know we are all looking for healthy, fast recipes that will fit into a budget. Tuna Linguine ticks all these boxes. It's made with canned tuna but please don't let that put you off! Consider that a plus because it means you can always have the cans ready in the pantry for those hectic nights or the day before payday when the fridge is bare!
Fresh Pasta or Dry Pasta?
This recipe is suitable for either fresh or regular dried pasta you find on supermarket shelves. If you are in a hurry packet pasta is the simplest way to get dinner on the table.
If you have a little more time you may wish to make your own pasta. Making your homemade pasta is not as difficult as it sounds but you do want to have a little bit of extra time. It may also be helpful to have an extra set of hands. Make sure you look at my homemade Thermomix Pasta recipe when you have time to try something new.
Tuna Linguine Ingredients Notes
- 2 x 185 g can tuna - I like to choose one in brine for the saltiness and one in oil for the mouthfeel of the dressing. Don't choose 2 in brine, the pasta will be too dry. If you like you can choose 2 in olive oil but you may need to season with salt at the end.
- Fresh Lemon Juice - The amount I have given is a guide, taste the finished dish and add a little more if you like. If you have used 2 cans of olive oil tuna you are likely to need a little extra lemon.
- Fresh Red Chili - You can't leave this ingredient out. It gives the dish a lovely red fleck of contrasting colour and a delicious chili flavour that complements the zing of the lemon and the intoxicating garlic. If you are worried about the heat, make sure to remove all the seeds and membranes and choose the large chilies, not the small hot bird's eye chili.
- Fresh Garlic - Only fresh garlic will do. This dish has so few ingredients that bottled or granule garlic would not be a good choice.
- Linguine - Although I have made this as a linguine, feel free to swap with any pasta. This dish can be served with spiral pasta, spaghetti, or even macaroni. It is fabulous served cold as a salad.
- Baby Spinach - Baby spinach can be swapped out for rocket if you prefer a stronger flavour or chopped parsley. I prefer baby spinach as it doesn't alter the flavour of the dish but adds a green vegetable and a little colour.
FAQ Tuna Linguine
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for approximately 4 days. You will find the dish tastes even better on the following day when the flavours develop.
No, I'm sorry, the can of tuna in oil adds to the flavor and mouthfeel of the sauce. Please don't leave it out altogether.
Yes, feel free to add some asparagus or broccolini to the Varoma and place it on top of the lid once the spaghetti is completely in the water.
Yes, adjust the chili to suit your taste. I always use the long red chili as it is easier to control the level of heat when you are using a mild chili.
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Recipe Serving Adjustments
Please note, that although the recipe card allows you to change the serving size and adjust the recipe this SHOULD NOT be done. Adjusting a Thermomix recipe will lead to unexpected and undesired outcomes. Please always stick to the exact ingredient quantities and times given in my recipe.
*The recipe card is generic and designed for all websites, this is a feature I can't remove.
Tuna Linguine w Lemon Chili
Equipment
Ingredients
- 120 g baby spinach
- 60 g parmesan cheese cut in four pieces
- 6 garlic cloves
- 2-3 fresh red chili
- 40 g light olive oil
- 185 g Tuna in olive oil
- 185 g Tuna in brine
- 80 g lemon juice 2 lemons
- 320 g linguine
- 1200 g water
- 1 teaspoon salt
Garnish
- ยฝ sliced red chilli
- 1 TBS parsely chopped
Instructions
Tuna Sauce
- Place a ThermoServer or bowl on the Thermomix bowl and weigh in the spinach.120 g baby spinach
- Reserve for later.
- Place the parmesan cheese in the Thermomix bowl. Chop 5 sec/Speed 960 g parmesan cheese
- Reserve for later.
- Add the garlic and chili to the Thermomix bowl. Chop 3 sec/Speed 96 garlic cloves, 2-3 fresh red chili
- Scrape down the bowl and add oil. Saute 4 min/Varoma/Speed 1 (MC OUT)40 g light olive oil
- Add all the tuna to the Thermomix bowl including the liquid. Cook 2 min/Varoma/Soft Spoon (Reverse Blade)185 g Tuna in olive oil, 185 g Tuna in brine
- Add lemon juice. Saute 30 sec/Varoma/Soft Spoon (Reverse Blade)80 g lemon juice
- Stir the tuna mixture through the spinach in the Thermoserver. Replace the lid and reserve.
Cooking Pasta
- Add water to the Thermomix bowl. Heat 10 min/120 degrees/Speed 31200 g water
- Remove the MC from the lid.
- Add salt and linguine to the water. Cook 11 min/100 degrees/Speed 11 teaspoon salt, 320 g linguine
- Use the internal steam basket to drain the linguine.
- Add the linguine to the ThermoServer and stir through.
- Garnish with parsley and chili.ยฝ sliced red chilli, 1 TBS parsely
- Serve with parmesan.
Notes
Nutrition
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Happy Cooking
j xx
Carmel says
Thank you Julie for your, โAre you hungry?โ email today - just in time for me to grab the few ingredients for Tuna Linguine that I didnt have.
Nommm, weโre enjoying a very tasty, healthy dinner tonight - we did add a bit extra salt, lemon juice and a drizzle of evoo (as well as parsley and Parmesan as per recipe).
Next time Iโll add a few seeds of chilli for heat - as I completely left those out in case it was too hot.
Julie Carlyle says
Hi Carmel
First of all thank you for coming back and leaving such a lovely comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed the recipe. You are absolutely right, a littl drizzle of oil and lemon juice is fabulous on the linguine. I am also pleased the newsletter cam at the right time to help you decide on what to make for dinner!
Thank you once again
Julie
xx