Best Tuna Lemon Basil And Caper Pasta Salad Recipes

Spaghetti with Tuna and Caper Sauce image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 9

12 ounces spaghetti
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
10 ounces tuna packed in olive oil (from 1 to 2 tins)
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons capers, preferably salt-packed, rinsed and drained
Pinch of red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus 1 tablespoon juice (from 1 lemon)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Steps:

Cook pasta in a large pot of generously salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta water; drain.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add tuna with its oil and garlic and cook, stirring a few times, until garlic is golden in spots, about 5 minutes. Stir in capers and pepper flakes and cook, 30 seconds. Add 1 cup reserved pasta water; bring to a simmer. Add cooked pasta and simmer, tossing a few times, until liquid is reduced to a sauce that coats pasta.
Remove from heat and toss in lemon zest and juice, oil, and parsley; season with pepper. Add more pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until pasta is evenly coated. Serve, sprinkled with more pepper flakes.

Tuna, Lemon, and Caper Sauce image

Provided by Joie Warner

Yield Serves 2 to 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 can (6 ounces) tuna (chunk or solid in olive oil), drained
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
grated zest of 1 medium lemon
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fruity olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Place tuna in pasta serving bowl and break it into large bite-size pieces. Add garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and capers and stir gently to combine. Set aside to warm to room temperature, or preferably, place the bowl (be sure it's heatproof) over the pasta pot to warm the ingredients while heating the water. Once the water comes to a boil, remove bowl and set aside.
Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain pasta well and immediately add to sauce in bowl. Sprinkle with parsley and toss. Serve at once with Parmesan cheese. Pass the pepper mill.
Recommended pasta: 8 ounces penne rigate, medium shells (conchiglie rigate), rigatoni, or linguine.

Pasta With Tuna, Capers and Scallions image

Provided by Melissa Clark

Time 30m

Yield 3 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Salt
12 ounces long, thin pasta, such as bucatini, spaghetti or linguine
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
3 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
6 to 10 anchovies, chopped
3 tablespoons drained capers
1 cup torn fresh herbs, such as parsley and dill, or celery leaves, plus more for serving (optional)
1 (5- or 6-ounce) can tuna, drained
Red-pepper flakes, for serving
Lemon wedges, for serving

Steps:

In a well-salted pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, saving 1 cup pasta water.
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium. Add garlic and scallion whites, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add anchovies and capers and cook until anchovies melt and capers and garlic turn golden, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Add 1/2 cup pasta water, let it reduce until there is just a little left in the pan, then add pasta and herbs and toss well to coat. Add tuna and toss well.
Serve with red-pepper flakes on top, more herbs, scallion greens, and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.