Although my child went again to high school this 12 months (kindergarten, waaah!), September at all times pulls me again into my personal childhood and the exhausting, exhilarating first weeks of faculty. And this 12 months I can’t cease fascinated by my mother’s chilly tuna pasta. Rising up, my mom labored as a caterer, and she or he stored this dish in heavy rotation each at residence and on the job. As a child, I believed she made it loads simply because it was good. Now I perceive: This pasta can also be filling and stunning and quick‚ to not point out made principally with pantry components. A real pinch-hitter for the chaos of fall.
The recipe comes from a ’90s traditional, The Working Households Cookbook (presently out of print, however broadly out there 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 ingredient by no means phased me as a child.
The unique recipe doesn’t instruct you to serve it chilly, however that’s how I’ve usually had it (as a result of leftovers), and personally I believe that’s when it’s at its greatest. I prefer 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 flippantly tailored from The Working Households 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 positive in a pinch!)
juice of half a lemon
3 tbsp capers
3 tbsp recent parsley, chopped
Toast pine nuts in a dry pan over a medium warmth. As soon as they begin to flip brown and fragrant, shortly 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 every thing collectively for 3-4 minutes, nudging sometimes together with your spatula. Take away from warmth and let sit.
Convey a big pot of salted water to a boil and add your pasta. Cook dinner occasions can fluctuate just a little (test the directions in your field), however I prefer to cook dinner till al dente. The chew is good! Pour pasta right into a strainer, and go away it to empty whilst you end the remaining. Scoop the tuna right into a serving bowl and break it up just a little with a fork. Add the lemon juice, capers, and parsley, and provides it a fast stir. Mix pasta with the opposite components (besides the pine nuts), and toss every thing collectively together with your fork or some tongs. FYI: It’s going to 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 fabric 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!
Be aware: 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 may discover it just a little 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 simply’ve rediscovered as an grownup? They’re at all times one of the best recipes!
P.S. Simpler dinners for busy weeknights:
* one of the best spaghetti sauce you’ll ever have
* hen parm meatballs
* Dealer Joe’s meal hacks
* salmon for freshmen
* pasta with broccoli pesto
* pan-fried pizzas
* dumpling salad
* coconut hen with rice
* the fish sandwich Jenny makes as soon as per week
* kale, sausage and beans a.ok.a “The KSB”
* tomato eggs with polenta
* lazy man’s ratatouille
* 5 methods to show a rotisserie hen into dinner
* 11 readers share their go-to recipes
* methods to get your youngsters to speak at dinner
* and the #1 factor we’d inform new dad and mom about household dinner
