Sicilian Tuna Pasta Recipes

SICILIAN TUNA PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions.
• Meanwhile, place a large non-stick frying pan on a medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the capers, fry until super-crispy, then scoop out and put aside, leaving the fragrant oil behind.
• Halve and add the tomatoes, then sprinkle in most of the oregano.
• Drain and flake in the tuna, add 2 ladlefuls of pasta cooking water, and simmer until the pasta is done.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a mugful of cooking water, then toss the pasta into the tuna pan, loosening with a splash of reserved cooking water, if needed.
• Taste, season to perfection with sea salt and black pepper, then dish up. Sprinkle over the crispy capers and the remaining oregano from a height, drizzle with 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, and tuck in.

SICILIAN TUNA

Steps:

• Marinate tuna:
• Combine oil, lemon juice, anchovies, garlic, oregano, and tuna in a large sealable bag and seal bag, pressing out excess air. Let stand at room temperature, turning occasionally, 30 minutes.
• Grill tuna:
• Remove tuna from marinade and shake off any excess. Lightly oil grill pan and heat over medium-high heat until smoking. Grill tuna, turning once, until pale pink in center, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, make sauce:
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add diced celery and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, olives, and capers and cook until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in basil, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper and remove from heat. Spoon sauce over tuna and sprinkle with celery leaves.

SICILIAN-STYLE TUNA LASAGNE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the tomatoes, peppers, olives, cinnamon and herbs into a pan, cover and simmer for 10 mins until the tomatoes have broken down a little. Add the tuna and season.
• Tip the cream cheese into a bowl, season and mix to loosen a little, adding a splash of water (or milk, if you have some) to make a thick white-sauce consistency. Assemble the lasagne in a baking dish, approx 20 x 30cm. Pour roughly a third of the tuna sauce into the bottom of the dish, top with 4 lasagne sheets, a third of the cream cheese sauce, then repeat the layers twice more. Scatter over the mozzarella and bake for 35 mins until golden and bubbling.

SWEET AND SOUR SICILIAN TUNA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue to cook and stir until the onion is very tender and dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Remove the onion from the skillet.
• Place the tuna steaks in the same skillet over medium-high heat and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the tuna steaks to a serving tray; keep warm.
• Stir the vinegar and sugar together in the same skillet until sugar is dissolved. Return the onions to the pan, and simmer until the liquid reduces and is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Return the tuna to the pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Place the tuna on the warm serving tray and top with the onion and sweet and sour mixture.