Stelline with Tuna

Stelline with tuna is a simple and quick first course, perfect for a light lunch or dinner. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 250 g star-shaped pasta (or other short pasta of your choice)
• 160 g tuna in oil, drained
• 1 garlic clove
• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• (Optional) Chili pepper
• (Optional) Lemon juice

Preparation

1. Bring plenty of salted water to a boil in a pot and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, lightly sauté the garlic clove in extra virgin olive oil. If you like a bit of spice, you can add chili pepper to taste at this stage.
3. Add the drained tuna to the skillet and let it flavor for a couple of minutes, flaking it with a fork.
4. Once cooked, drain the pasta and reserve some cooking water.
5. Remove the garlic clove from the skillet and add the pasta to the tuna, mixing well. If necessary, add a bit of the pasta cooking water to make the sauce creamier.
6. Adjust salt and pepper and, if desired, add a bit of lemon juice for freshness.
7. Serve the stelline with tuna sprinkled with chopped fresh parsley.

Trivia: Star-shaped pasta or “stelline” is often used in Italy for soups or broths, especially for children, but it can become a fun and creative first course if used as a base for dry dishes with various seasonings.