Most home cooks rely on convenience foods sometimes. This means jarred pasta sauce and dried pasta are pantry staples for many. But what if you could make that simple meal taste better than homemade, with minimal effort? Culinary producer Rachel Perlmutter discovered a secret: tuna.
The Tuna Pasta Hack
The method is remarkably straightforward. The key is leveraging the oil from canned tuna to build a richer sauce base. First, drain the oil from a can of oil-packed tuna into a skillet. Heat until shimmering, then add one diced onion and cook until softened and lightly golden. Finally, pour in a jar of marinara sauce and the tuna itself, simmering until warmed through. Toss with cooked pasta, and garnish as desired.
Why This Works: Flavor and Efficiency
This isn’t just lazy cooking. The technique draws inspiration from spaghetti alla puttanesca, a classic Italian dish known for its bold, pantry-friendly flavors. Perlmutter streamlined the recipe to just three ingredients: jarred sauce, tuna, and onion.
The onion deepens the sauce’s flavor profile, while the tuna introduces umami richness and extra protein. Tuna is the preferred choice, but sardines, mackerel, or even anchovies work well too. Feel free to experiment with additional ingredients like olives, capers, or chili flakes for added complexity.
This method proves you don’t need hours in the kitchen to enjoy a delicious pasta dish. It’s an ideal solution for quick weeknight dinners, leveraging pantry staples to their full potential.
This 3-ingredient recipe offers a surprising level of flavor and convenience, proving that simplicity can be remarkably satisfying.
