Spiced Tuna Pasta

Instructions

1. Prepare the Vegetables

   7 min hands-on

   • Peel and finely slice the onions.
   • Peel and mince the garlic.
   • Rinse and finely slice the yellow peppers.

2. Caramelize the Onions

   1 min hands-on14 min waiting

   • Heat half of the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat.
   • Add the onions and cook for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly caramelized.
   • Add a splash of water if they start to stick.

3. Sauté the Aromatics

   1 min hands-on2 min waiting

   • Add the garlic and cayenne pepper to the pan.
   • Stir for 30 seconds to release aromas.
   • Add the yellow peppers and cook for 2–3 minutes to soften.

4. Build the Sauce

   1 min hands-on18 min waiting

   • Add the sun-dried tomatoes to the pan and reduce heat to low.
   • Stir well and let simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Incorporate Olives and Tuna

   2 min hands-on5 min waiting

   • Drain the olives and tuna, breaking tuna into chunks.
   • Add olives and tuna to the pan and stir gently.
   • Simmer for 5 minutes.

6. Cook the Pasta

   2 min hands-on8 min waiting

   • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
   • Cook the pasta until al dente, about 7–8 minutes.
   • Reserve some pasta water before draining.

7. Prepare Breadcrumb Topping

   3 min hands-on

   • Heat the remaining olive oil in a small frying pan over medium heat.
   • Add breadcrumbs and toast for 2–3 minutes until golden.
   • Transfer to a bowl, add lemon zest and salt, and mix well.

8. Combine Pasta and Sauce

   2 min hands-on

   • Add cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce.
   • Pour in reserved pasta water and toss until sauce coats the pasta.
   • Chop and stir in fresh parsley.
   • Season with salt and pepper.

9. Plate and Serve

   1 min hands-on

   • Divide pasta among plates.
   • Sprinkle lemony breadcrumbs over each portion.
   • Serve immediately.
   • Cooking tips:
   • For extra juiciness in the sauce, consider adding a small splash of water or vegetable stock if it becomes too thick during simmering.
   • Adjust the spiciness by increasing or decreasing the amount of cayenne pepper.
   • To amplify the herby flavor, mix in additional fresh herbs like basil or oregano when stirring in the parsley.
   • Use a microplane for finely grating the lemon zest to ensure it distributes evenly into the breadcrumbs.