UntrainedChef
Pasta with Tuna Sauce - pasta, fish recipe

Pasta with Tuna Sauce

30 min
2 portions

Got a can of tuna sitting in the back of the cupboard? Twenty minutes and you've got dinner on the table.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.

  2. 2

    Finely slice the leek and mince the garlic.

  3. 3

    Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan and fry the leek and garlic until soft and glossy. Pour in the cream and bring to a boil. Drain most of the water or oil from the tuna, then gently fold it into the sauce. Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

  4. 4

    Drain the pasta and divide it between two plates. Spoon the tuna sauce over the top and serve straight away.

Per average serving

576
Calories
kcal
25.4
Protein
g
66.2
Carbs
g
23.7
Fat
g
3.1g
Fiber
6.7g
Sugar
1132mg
Sodium

Tips from the kitchen

  • Get the pasta water going before you touch the leek. The sauce comes together in the time it takes the pasta to cook, so you want them finishing at the same moment.
  • Slice the leek thin and rinse it well. Grit hides between the layers and you don't want that crunch in a smooth sauce.
  • Don't let the cream boil hard or it can split. Bring it to a gentle bubble, then turn it down once the tuna goes in.
  • Fold the tuna in, don't stir it to mush. A few quick turns with a spoon keeps it in flakes.
  • Add the lemon juice at the very end, off the heat. It brightens the cream and cuts the fishiness, but cooking it dulls the sharpness.

Ways to vary it

  • A handful of frozen peas tossed into the sauce for the last minute works well if you want a bit of green on the plate.
  • Swap the leek for a finely chopped shallot or half a small onion if that's what you have in the drawer.
  • A pinch of chili flakes with the garlic gives the sauce a little heat. Optional, but I like it.

Storage & leftovers

Keeps in the fridge for two days in a sealed container. I wouldn't freeze it since the cream sauce goes grainy once thawed. Reheat gently in a pan with a splash of milk or water, stirring so the sauce loosens up again rather than drying out.

What to serve with it

A simple green salad with a lemony dressing is all it needs. Some bread on the side to mop up the sauce doesn't hurt either.

UC
By Untrained ChefPublished 19 May 2026 · Updated 11 July 2026

Related Recipes

Pan-Fried Saithe with Risoni - fish, pasta recipe

Pan-Fried Saithe with Risoni

40 min

Mild, flaky saithe with pesto risoni and a warm tomato salad — a weeknight fish dinner the kids will actually eat.

fishpastadinner
Pasta with Pesto and Salmon - pasta, salmon recipe

Pasta with Pesto and Salmon

20 min

Quick weeknight dinner that's ready in under 20 minutes. Fresh pasta cooks fast and the salmon stays tender.

pastasalmonquick
Skrei with Tomato and Basil Sauce - fish, dinner recipe

Skrei with Tomato and Basil Sauce

40 min

February and March are peak season for fresh skrei — here it gets the southern European treatment with cherry tomatoes, garlic, and basil. Ready in 40 minutes and genuinely delicious.

fishdinnerquick