A vibrant Sicilian-style pasta combining tuna, sweet cherry tomatoes, capers, olives, garlic, and fresh parsley. It’s light, savory, and full of Mediterranean flavor without cream, pork, or alcohol.
Ingredients — Serves 4
- 400g fusilli
- 250g good-quality tuna in olive oil, drained
- 400g cherry tomatoes, halved
- 60g pitted black olives, sliced
- 2 tbsp capers, rinsed and drained
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, lightly crushed
- 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ tsp chili flakes, optional
- ½–1 cup reserved pasta water
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh lemon zest, optional
Instructions
1. Prepare the tomato base
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
Add the garlic and cook gently for about 1 minute, until fragrant but not browned.
Add the cherry tomatoes and cook for 7–10 minutes, gently crushing a few of them to release their juices.
2. Add the Mediterranean flavors
Stir in the capers, olives, and chili flakes.
Cook for another 2–3 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine.
3. Cook the fusilli
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil.
Cook the fusilli until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
4. Combine
Transfer the fusilli directly to the skillet.
Add a splash of reserved pasta water and toss over medium heat for 1–2 minutes, until the tomato juices and olive oil form a light sauce that coats the pasta.
5. Add the tuna
Reduce the heat to low and gently fold in the tuna, keeping some larger pieces intact.
Warm for about 1 minute. Avoid cooking it for too long, which can make the tuna dry.
6. Finish and serve
Remove from the heat and add the fresh parsley and freshly ground black pepper.
Serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a little fresh lemon zest if desired.
Chef’s Tip 🇮🇹
Add the tuna near the end so it stays moist and tender. Since capers, olives, and tuna can already be salty, taste the sauce before adding extra salt.
As with many Italian seafood pastas, there’s no need for grated cheese—the tuna, capers, olives, and tomatoes provide plenty of flavor.
Final result: Al dente fusilli coated in a fresh tomato sauce with tender tuna, briny capers, olives, garlic, and parsley — a simple and satisfying Mediterranean pasta. 🇮🇹🐟🍅🍝
