Tuna Pasta with a Twist

Some days you come tired after work and you just want to get cooking over and done with as soon as possible - but you also want something tasty to eat.  This recipe ticks all the boxes and was given to us by a dear friend Laura.  We did add a bit of Indian to it - and all of us love it very much.  Today I want to share this with you - and especially for my brother who is a bachelor and trying to cook up some pasta that he can make with minimum fuss.

Ingredients:

Pasta: - 500 gm pack of penne – cooked and drained.

1 tin tuna in oil (Serena Tuna is preferred but any other tuna is just fine)

1 large head of Broccoli – cut into slices.

300 grams mushrooms - chopped

2 large onions, chopped

5 cloves garlic, chopped

4 tablespoons tomato paste

Couple of tablespoons of oil for sautéing

Salt and Pepper to taste

Chilli flakes to taste

300 ml thick cream - you do not have to use all of it.

Grated Parmesan, to serve

Method:

Heat pan, add chopped onions and garlic and saute till the onions get transparent.  Add mushrooms and saute for 4-5 minutes more. 

Now add sliced broccoli and saute for another couple of minutes.  Add tomato paste and mix well and cook till the tomato paste gets cooked and oil starts to separate. 

Next add Tuna with a bit of oil and saute well. Let it cook for about 4-5 minutes. 

Meanwhile in a separate pot bring water to the boil and add pasta.  Cook pasta al-dente – and reserve some of the starchy pasta water (1 to 11/2 cups).  Drain pasta and keep aside.   Once the tuna is nicely blended with the mushroom – broccoli mixture, add chilli flakes.  

Add the pasta water reserve.  Mix well and finally add cream to your liking.  Once the sauce is cooked, add the cooked pasta and mix well.  Garnish serving platter with freshly grated Parmesan just before serving.

Serve with a side salad of fresh lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. 

Note:  The starchy pasta water that you add to your mix enables the sauces to stick to the pasta once it is added in.  Try it and note the difference.