Summer Pasta with Tuna, Courgette & Fresh Basil
We made this pasta, and it became an instant favorite. We made it for lunch, and while we were still enjoying it, we were making plans for a late-summer Sunday lunch with friends, serving this pasta! I just had to share it for Sunday favorites with Cindy and Mary Ann!
The Inspiration
This one comes from Julius Roberts, whose recipes always seem to capture that rustic, seasonal, throw-it-together-with-what-you-have kind of cooking. Good olive oil, whatever’s in season, and usually some tinned fish of some sort— that’s the whole appeal, and this pasta is a perfect example of it.
We used a can of tuna in olive oil from Fishwife. They have the best tinned fish. We’ve made several recipes using their variety pack. It’s a great way to experiment with different kinds of tinned fish.
Why we love this recipe so much!
- Courgettes at their peak. Summer is when they’re at their best, and this dish lets them shine. We picked ours up at our local farmers’ market in Westport, CT.
- A sauce that tastes like no work at all. Lemon, good tinned tuna, garlic, and parmesan, and a little pasta water come together into something that tastes far more special than the effort it takes.
- Fast enough for a weeknight, good enough for Sunday. Twenty minutes, and all in one pan!
- A big handful of fresh basil at the end pulls the whole dish together and makes it taste like summer.
Your shopping list
- Courgettes or zucchini
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Pasta
- Olives
- Parmesan cheese
- Tuna in olive oil
- Fresh basil
- Castelvetrano Olive OIl from Brightland
More Sunday favorites
Have you tried Nutrafol?
I’ve just started using Nutrafol, and I’m genuinely excited about it. My hair isn’t thinning dramatically, but like so much else, it’s been changing since menopause — a little less thickness, a little less shine than I’m used to. Nutrafol Women’s Balance is formulated to support hair health through those hormonal shifts, and most people start seeing real results around the three-month mark, so I’m looking forward to tracking my progress. What made trying it feel like an easy decision is their six-month guarantee. If you’re not happy with your results, you get your money back. I’ll be sharing updates as I go! Oh, and they are having a sale!
Outfit of the week
Alex Mill Weekday Bag with Monogram // Adidas Ruffle Three-Quarter Socks
I just got these denim trouser-style jeans, and I think they will be my new favorite to wear with black, but also denim! I love wearing a denim shirt as a jacket in the fall, and this color makes it so easy! They come in petite, regular, and tall. The Tiny Rollneck is brand new, and while the proportions are not right for me, it is darling.
You know I love my Adidas Samba sneakers and loafers. So how perfect are these? A loafer that’s cute and comfortable. The silver is fun too!
You may also like these posts on Adidas and loafers:
Fashionable Women Are Still Wearing Adidas Sambas and Gazelles
Serena & Lily Sale
Serena & Lily is having a huge sale. Some of my favorite items, like the indoor/outdoor Montecito pillows, the rattan hanging chair (painted black), and the Petite Como Lamp, are all on sale!
The button-downs I’ve been wearing on repeat!
These cotton poplin boyfriend shirts from Quince are $40, and they are fabulous! I love how they stay fresh and are so cool even in August heat! You can roll up the sleeves and still feel put together. They run true to size!
Let’s see what Cindy and Mary Ann found this week!
Summer Pasta with Tuna, Courgette & Fresh Basil
Tender zucchini, crispy lemon peel, briny olives, and good tuna tossed with pasta. It sounds unexpected, but one bite and you’ll be hooked. Ready in about 30 minutes or less.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 medium zucchini
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 or 6 lemon peels, pith trimmed, and sliced very thinly
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup basil
- 1 can good tuna
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup Castelvetrano olives
- Pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet or frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat, add the zucchini rounds, salt, and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the zucchini is nice and tender.
- Add the lemon peel, and garlic. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Cook pasta according to the package directions and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.
- Add the cooked pasta to the zucchini and about 1/2 cup of pasta water and stir. Add the parmesan cheese, basil leaves, tuna, and the lemon juice. Finish with the olives and a few generous grinds of pepper. Serve immediately.
That zucchini pasta recipe has my mouth watering. I love the J. Crew trousers too!
We try to avoid pasta other than Etto which is local and has one ingredient, so higher in protein! This sounds like a great weeknight option. Have you tried Trader Joe’s smoked trout? It is pretty good! I always try to keep some on hand. I think I need those pants from J Crew! They are fabulous and so good with black.