Penne Rigate With Tomato Tuna Sauce is a typical Italian pasta dish that I grew up with.
It’s made with just a few good quality staple ingredients and packed full of wonderful flavours. This recipe is one you will turn to again and again.
As is common in most cultures and at a time when food was scarce, families made do with the very few ingredients they had on hand.
With so little they created simple comfort foods we now crave and love. In Italian this philosophy is known as La Cucina Povera, or otherwise “the poor kitchen” and truly born out of necessity.
This concept is far easier to embrace during summertime when gardens are lush with fruits and vegetables. However in wintertime we need not look any further then our own kitchen pantries.
Canned tuna is one of those staple items I always keep in my pantry. It’s ready at a moments notice for quick sandwiches as my son can attest…he just adored tuna sandwiches for his school lunches!
They are also wonderfully delicious tossed with green leafy salads and legumes for an extra protein kick.
However, canned tuna also makes a rather enticing sauce simply begging to be tossed over freshly cooked pasta. You will so appreciate its simplicity!
A good quality oil packed canned tuna is much more flavourful then the water packed variety and will elevate this simple sauce.
Also, don’t be too concerned about the oil which you will be draining out anyhow but if this is still an issue for you then by all means go for the water packed.
You can just about choose any pasta you like.
My preference and absolute favourite are pennette rigate or the larger penne rigate. I love this pasta shape for its crevices and hallow centre making them the perfect vehicle to hold a chunky tomato and tuna sauce.
Impress your family or friends and make Penne Rigate with Tomato Tuna Sauce tonight!
Or try another delicious pasta dish using canned sardines, Sardine Spaghetti with Chives.
If you make this recipe remember to tag @marisasitaliankitchen on Instagram so I can see your creation!
Buon Appetito!
Penne Rigate with Tomato Tuna Sauce
Ingredients
- Tomato Sauce
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 small onion chopped
- pinch of crushed chili pepper
- 24 ounce jar Passata Italian strained tomatoes I used San Marzano
- 2 sprigs of basil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 x 85 grams canned oil packed tuna drained
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives pitted and chopped
- chopped parsley for garnish
- 450 grams Penne Rigate or other pasta of your choice
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium sized sauce pot over medium low heat and saute the garlic, chopped onions and the crushed chili pepper just until the onions are soft, while stirring often for about 5 minutes.
- Add in the passata (Italian strained tomatoes), basil, salt and pepper and stir well.
- Fill the bottle of passata three quarters full with water. Give it a good swirl and add this to the sauce.
- Bring the sauce to a boil then lower the heat, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the sweet concentrated flavors of the tomatoes come through.
- While the sauce is slowly simmering, bring a large pot of water to boil.
- Salt the water and cook the pasta according to directions on package.
- At this point,while the pasta cooks add the drained tuna and chopped kalamata olives to the tomato sauce and allow to simmer till the pasta is cooked.
- When ready, drain the pasta and toss with some of the tomato sauce.
- Plate the pasta and top with more sauce and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
- Serve while still warm.
Tasty Eats Ronit Penso
January 20, 2017 at 3:41 pmMy kind of dish! 🙂
Marisa
January 20, 2017 at 6:50 pmMine too Ronit, its one dish I could never get tired of eating…:)
anotherfoodieblogger
January 20, 2017 at 8:13 pmWow I’m going to have to try this some day! And oil-packed tuna is so much cheaper, too.
Marisa
January 20, 2017 at 8:43 pmI really hope you get to try it, I’m sure you will enjoy it ?
nahdalaskitchen
January 21, 2017 at 12:14 pmHello Marisa, hubby recently discovered his appetite for tuna and is a huge pasta fan. We will give it a go! This sounds perfect for him. What a coincidence! 🙂 Thank you!
Marisa
January 21, 2017 at 12:31 pmHi Nahdala, you are most welcome! Do let me know how it goes….?
pblevitt
January 22, 2017 at 5:35 pmJust the type of pasta dish I absolutely adore! Quality canned tuna make all the difference.
Marisa
January 22, 2017 at 7:40 pmHi Paula, yes I agree it makes a huge difference especially with so few ingredients in a recipe. Thanks so much for your comment ?
elliebleu
January 23, 2017 at 12:35 amHi Marisa. I want to dive right in and try a bite 🙂 It’s a perfect weeknight meal. Your photos always turn out so lovely!
Marisa
January 23, 2017 at 7:31 amHi Ellie, thanks so much. My family loves this dish and we never get tired of it?
stellalucentellc
January 23, 2017 at 7:24 amSounds like dinner for this week’s Italian night – Thursday at our house – will be your tuna and pasta sauce recipe! Sounds delicious and I’m always interested in making delicious Italian food with simple ingredients.
Marisa
January 23, 2017 at 7:36 amHi Stella, simple yet flavourful are the best and perfect for a weeknight! Thanks so much for your lovely comment?
diana
January 25, 2017 at 4:21 amone of my faves….what lovely pics too!
Marisa
January 25, 2017 at 8:21 amHi Diana, mine as well. Thanks so much for dropping by…..have a lovely day?
Redawna
January 27, 2017 at 11:56 amThis sounds just wonderful! To be honest I never thought of mixing tuna with a tomato sauce before. Looking forward to try it out.
Thanks Marisa! Have a wonderful weekend.
Marisa
January 27, 2017 at 10:41 pmI really hope you get to try it out one day! The flavors are truly remarkable and so simple to prepare. Thanks so much…enjoy your weekend Redawna 🙂
The Finer Cookie/Kim
January 27, 2017 at 12:31 pmLooks beautiful. I think it’s lunch time.
Marisa
January 27, 2017 at 10:42 pmLol…thanks so much Kim. Enjoy 🙂
Loreto Nardelli
January 27, 2017 at 2:01 pmMarisa, I have to tell you I love when Nicoletta makes this type of pasta, and that olive oil packed Tuna is so delicious and deepens the tomato sauce to such a richness it’s indescribable.I made Nicoletta a Tuna salad sandwich and she was in heaven. You have made me crave this so bad that it is going to be on the menu plan for next week. Great job great photos, and can you flip me a few of those olives, can never say no to olives and fresh bread, lol. Great job on this one! and beautiful photos!.
[email protected]
Marisa
January 27, 2017 at 11:00 pmHi Loreto, there is indeed much to love about this dish. Its quick, easy and so delicious. We too adore tuna salad sandwiches and my husband will only eat them if I’ve made them as he says no one makes them like I do but I think he is simply spoiled…lol.
I wish I could send some olives your way, maybe one day they will figure out how….thanks so much for your lovely comment and compliment! Happy weekend to you and Nicoletta 🙂
pepperspennies
January 27, 2017 at 2:35 pmWhat a lovely dish, Marisa. The concept of the Italian poor kitchen is one that I am familiar with. My husband’s Nona just passed away a month ago and she had so many stories of growing-up during WWII and making do with what they had in the Piedmont region. Thank you for this lovely recipe and for turning my thoughts to a lovely and strong hearted woman.
Marisa
January 27, 2017 at 11:10 pmThe older generation always have the very best stories to tell. I have always enjoyed listening when my parents recounted tales about their own upbringing as it gave me a sneak peek into their younger years.
I am happy to hear that it brought back happy memories for you. Thanks so much for dropping by and your lovely comment. 🙂
Sandhya
January 30, 2017 at 10:13 amMarisa, I am definitely going to try this yummy recipe. Love the addition of tuna and kalamata olives in the sauce.
Thanks for sharing!
Marisa
January 30, 2017 at 11:23 pmHi Sandhya, do let me know how you like it! Its one of our favorite pasta dish! 🙂
Sandhya
January 31, 2017 at 9:30 amI sure will Marisa!
Alina Delicious Romania
February 9, 2017 at 3:01 amAlways in love with Italian food. These must taste great, I’ll try to make them soon. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Marisa
February 13, 2017 at 9:49 amAlina, you will love them for sure and its a keeper! Thanks so much 🙂
Agness of Run Agness Run
February 16, 2017 at 8:14 amMarisa, this looks so delicious! I love discovering new sauces for pasta, this sauce sounds amazing!
Marisa
February 16, 2017 at 3:17 pmHi Agnes, this is a family favorite pasta dish and so simple to make. I hope you get to try it and thanks so much for dropping by 🙂
The Hungry Mum
April 9, 2017 at 8:20 pmI should not have stopped by your blog when I am fasting – my tummy is rumbling so badly after checking out this penne. I want it all!!
Marisa
April 10, 2017 at 6:31 pmLol….thanks so much for dropping by! Hope you get to have a wonderful feast when your done fasting!?