Although my kid went again to highschool this 12 months (kindergarten, waaah!), September at all times pulls me again into my personal childhood and the exhausting, exhilarating first weeks of college. And this 12 months I can’t cease occupied with my mother’s chilly tuna pasta. Rising up, my mom labored as a caterer, and he or she stored this dish in heavy rotation each at house and on the job. As a child, I assumed she made it loads simply because it was good. Now I perceive: This pasta can be filling and shocking and quick‚ to not point out made principally with pantry substances. A real pinch-hitter for the chaos of fall.
The recipe comes from a ’90s traditional, The Working Families Cookbook (at present out of print, however broadly accessible used!). This linguine is nothing just like the mayonnaise-y stuff I image when somebody mentions tuna pasta. It’s vibrant and briny and balanced with toasted pine nuts. And, not for nothing, I used to be not into fish till I used to be like 30, however the tuna component by no means fazed me as a child.
The unique recipe doesn’t instruct you to serve it chilly, however that’s how I’ve sometimes had it (as a result of leftovers), and personally I feel that’s when it’s at its greatest. I wish to make an enormous batch on a Sunday night, benefit from the first spherical at room temp for dinner, after which stash the remaining within the fridge for Monday’s lunch. No reheating required!
Linguine with Tuna
Very frivolously tailored from The Working Families Cookbook, by Irena Chalmers
3 tbsp pine nuts
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium crimson onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp crimson pepper flakes
8-ounce jar of roasted crimson peppers
16 ounces linguine
1 can oil-packed tuna (water-packed will do high quality in a pinch!)
juice of half a lemon
3 tbsp capers
3 tbsp contemporary parsley, chopped
Toast pine nuts in a dry pan over a medium warmth. As soon as they begin to flip brown and fragrant, rapidly yank them off the warmth and put them in a small dish for later. Subsequent, add the oil and onion to the pan and cook dinner for about 5 minutes over a medium warmth, till the onion softens. Add garlic and crimson pepper flakes to the pan. With a fork, pull your peppers from the jar and provides them a shake earlier than popping them into the pan. If the peppers appear too massive to chew, use a spatula to interrupt them up a bit within the pan. Sauté all the things collectively for 3-4 minutes, nudging often together with your spatula. Take away from warmth and let sit.
Carry a big pot of salted water to a boil and add your pasta. Cook dinner occasions can fluctuate a bit (test the directions in your field), however I wish to cook dinner till al dente. The chew is sweet! Pour pasta right into a strainer, and go away it to empty when you end the remaining. Scoop the tuna right into a serving bowl and break it up a bit with a fork. Add the lemon juice, capers, and parsley, and provides it a fast stir. Mix pasta with the opposite substances (besides the pine nuts), and toss all the things collectively together with your fork or some tongs. FYI: It’ll by no means look even or uniform, so don’t fear about tossing till it’s good. I promise, it can style excellent.
Serve instantly — or not! Cowl with a material and go away it on the counter for 20 minutes if you wish to serve at room temp, or stick it within the fridge for an hour or so. Everytime you’re able to serve, sprinkle on the pine nuts, give it one other good toss and go!
Observe: For leftovers or giant party-size, think about swapping the linguine for bowtie pasta. Personally, I like the feel of day-old linguine, however some would possibly discover it a bit stiff. Bowtie pasta is best on this regard, and it’s undoubtedly simpler to serve for a crowd!
Do you will have any childhood favorites that you just’ve rediscovered as an grownup? They’re at all times the very best recipes!
P.S. Less difficult dinners for busy weeknights:
* the best spaghetti sauce you’ll ever have
* chicken parm meatballs
* Trader Joe’s meal hacks
* salmon for beginners
* pasta with broccoli pesto
* pan-fried pizzas
* dumpling salad
* coconut chicken with rice
* the fish sandwich Jenny makes once a week
* kale, sausage and beans a.k.a “The KSB”
* tomato eggs with polenta
* lazy man’s ratatouille
* five ways to turn a rotisserie chicken into dinner
* 11 readers share their go-to recipes
* how to get your kids to talk at dinner
* and the #1 thing we’d tell new parents about family dinner
