Ahi Tuna Pasta with Olives, Capers & Lemon

September 15, 2024

Ahi Tuna Pasta with Olives, Capers and Lemon

Brown the tuna separately, toss the pasta with tomatoes and a light lemon sauce, then add the sliced fish at serving. Briny olives and capers give the dish plenty of flavor without a heavy cream sauce.

Use frozen ahi tuna steaks or fresh tuna steaks. Compare cuts in our Tuna collection.

Serves: 2–3. Allow approximately 30 minutes with thawed, portioned tuna; timing varies with the cut and equipment.

Ingredients

• 2 tuna steaks, approximately 6–8 oz each
• 8 oz spaghetti or linguine
• 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
• 1 tbsp capers, rinsed
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 lemon, juiced
• ¼ cup chopped basil
• ¼ cup reserved pasta cooking water, plus more if needed
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta. Follow the package directions for al dente pasta. Reserve some cooking water before draining.
2. Cook the tuna. Pat dry and season. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown both sides, then reduce the heat as needed and finish cooking to 145°F in the center. Transfer to a clean plate and slice with clean utensils.
3. Make the sauce. In a second skillet, heat the remaining oil over medium heat. Add garlic and pepper flakes; stir until fragrant without burning. Add tomatoes, olives and capers, and cook until the tomatoes soften.
4. Toss. Add pasta and a splash of reserved water. Toss until lightly coated, adding water a spoonful at a time if needed. Take off the heat, then add basil and lemon juice gradually to taste.
5. Serve. Divide the pasta between plates and place tuna slices on top. Spoon a little sauce over the fish and serve promptly.

For this cooked preparation, check the thickest part of the tuna with a thermometer: FoodSafety.gov recommends 145°F (63°C). Thickness and starting temperature determine cooking time; a fixed one-minute sear is not a reliable endpoint.

Variations

Add spinach at the end, or sauté sliced zucchini with the tomatoes. Albacore tuna is a milder alternative; portion it evenly and check temperature rather than copying a cooking time from a differently sized steak.

For another meal using tuna steaks, try our tuna tacos. Review the tuna storage and thawing guide before preparing frozen fish.

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