The summer is a time for lighter meals. Although I’m of Italian descent (my maternal great grandmother was straight off the boat from Italy) and love pasta, somehow heavy hot red sauces full of meat just don’t sound appealing in the heat of the summer.
Last summer I found this unusual light recipe for Tuscan Linguine. It is not only healthy but frugal-the Tuna packed in Oil and Cannelini beans are both very inexpensive but healthy sources of protien, not to mention the benefit of the fiber in the beans.
Tuscan Linguine
12oz Linguine
15oz Can Cannellin Beans (drained)
60z Can Tuna in oil (NOT drained)
1/2 C chopped green olives
2TBS Olive Oil
1tsp Lemon Peel
1 1/2 TBS Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp Miced Garlic
1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
Cook linguine and reserve 1/4C cooking water.
Add all ingredients together and toss to mix.
Variations:
Use any other shape of noodle. Let’s face it-they all taste the same 😉
Use any white canned white bean, or soak and cook dried beans.
Use a flavored tuna in the packet and add a couple extra TBS of oil.
Miss the tomatoes? Toss in a can of drained diced tomatoes.
It sounds really good. I’d probably throw in a couple of the sundried or sunblush tomatoes to appease the husband.
(He thinks pasta without tomatoes is a myth)
Yum!
Thanks for sharing.
Truthfully, real italians(born and raised in italy) rarely like the heavy red sauce, so you’re being true to your heritage! I LOVE this recipe! I’ll have to add it to my recipe bookmarks. Yummy!
Glad this strikes a chord with you guys. I think it is very interesting to find new ways to work inexpensive fish (like tuna) into my family’s diet. Plus this is a pretty darn quick and easy meal to whip up.
This looks really good. I’ll have to try it out soon. Lighter pasta dishes for summer menus can be hard to come by…and who wants to eat heavy meals when it’s 80 degrees!?! Thanks Jen, you post some good recipes.
Josie-so glad you enjoy my recipes. I just try to post the things I like & have tried.