Description
A flavorful and comforting Tuna Arrabbiata Pasta Gratin featuring a spicy tomato and pepper sauce, mixed with tender tuna and wholemeal pasta, topped with a golden Parmesan and breadcrumb crust grilled to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 red pepper, deseeded and sliced
- 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- Pinch crushed dried chillies
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 50g mixed pitted olives, whole or roughly chopped (optional)
- Pinch caster sugar
Pasta and Tuna
- 250g wholemeal pasta shapes
- 2 x 200g cans tuna steak in spring water, drained and flaked
Topping
- 25g fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the sliced red and yellow peppers and fry for about 5 minutes until they start to caramelize.
- Add aromatics and tomatoes: Stir in the crushed garlic and dried chillies, cooking for 30 seconds to release their flavors. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and add the olives if using. Season with salt and add a pinch of caster sugar.
- Simmer the sauce: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes to thicken and deepen the flavors.
- Cook the pasta: Meanwhile, cook the wholemeal pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well once cooked.
- Combine pasta and tuna: Transfer the drained pasta into the tomato sauce, then gently fold in the flaked tuna steak to combine thoroughly.
- Prepare for grilling: Spoon the pasta and sauce mixture into a large ovenproof dish, spreading evenly.
- Add the topping: Mix the wholemeal breadcrumbs with the grated Parmesan cheese. Evenly scatter this mixture over the top of the pasta in the dish.
- Grill the gratin: Place the dish under a preheated grill for 3-4 minutes until the breadcrumb and cheese topping is crisp and golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from the grill and serve hot, optionally accompanied by a fresh green salad.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, replace the tuna with 1 tbsp drained capers and increase the crushed chillies by 1-2 pinches for extra heat. Add an extra red and yellow pepper to the sauce and top the gratin with breadcrumbs mixed with 2 tbsp Parmesan and 1 tbsp pine nuts.
- Wholemeal pasta contributes extra fiber and nutrients compared to regular pasta.
- Grilling the topping adds a delicious crunchy texture to complement the creamy pasta.
- You can omit olives if preferred, or substitute with green olives for a different flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: tuna pasta gratin, arrabbiata pasta, baked pasta, Italian pasta recipe, wholemeal pasta, tuna recipes, easy dinner, grilled pasta
