Ahi Tuna Pasta with Olives, Capers & Lemon
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.
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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
- Cook the pasta. Follow the package directions for al dente pasta. Reserve some cooking water before draining.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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