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Pasta with Tuna, Artichokes, and Olives + Giveaway!

June 19, 2015 by Jennifer Che 39 Comments

I am pleased to partner with Genova, who makes canned yellowfin tuna, for this post on a canned tuna pasta that I made using their product.

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Happy Friday!

I’m frantically working up all my photos (close to 700!) from my week-long trip to London and Munich. Until then, we will take a brief pause and head on over to my kitchen, where I’ve actually been cooking A LOT lately!

While I was in Germany, the very first shipment of my summer CSA (community supported agriculture) farm share came in. A weekly farm share is great because it ensure that I eat plenty of vegetables. The element of surprise each week (“what will come in my share today?”), is fun and stretches my creativity as I think up new ways to use all the produce.

I typically end up cooking a lot more during the summer months, sometimes in Herculean efforts to “use up the farm share.” In fact, this week I cooked every single day (with the exception of one crazy late night ramen adventure that stretched into the early morning).
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Right before I left for Europe, another fun shipment came in – a special treat from Genova. Genova, who makes Mediterranean-style (packed in olive oil) premium tuna sent me a gorgeous gift basket complete with cans of premium yellowfin tuna, olive tapenade, artichokes, a bottle of wine, cheese, crackers, a cute olivewood cheeseboard (or maybe cutting board?) from Sur La Table, and even a book on Mediterranean cooking!
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I’m not exactly an expert on Mediterranean cooking, but Bryan loves pasta, and I had tons of gorgeous greens from my farm share.
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Inspired by the various ingredients they sent (plus the fact that I was short on time that evening), I whipped up a super fast dinner using about half of the ingredients from the gift basket.wpid19577-DSC2386.jpg
I chopped up TONS of garlic (you can never have too much garlic, ha ha!) and slowly cooked them over super low heat in olive oil.
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After about 10 minutes or so (you don’t want them to brown!), I added the whole jar of marinated artichokes.
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I then opened up the cans of tuna and added them. I was surprised at the quality of the tuna. Maybe I still have visions of the simple cans (“packed in water”) that I used to eat growing up – pale, shredded tuna that worked great in tuna salad but would not be chunky enough for a pasta application.

This tuna was definitely different, and changed my internal perception about canned tuna. Not only does it hold up to fancier dishes, I like the fact that it’s wild caught (not farmed!) and a sustainable fish. I kept thinking, “hmmm, it’s not a bad idea to have a few cans of tuna around for those times when Bryan asks, ‘where’s the meat?'” In our household fish counts as “meat”. I think he really just means protein – aka, please don’t just cook the farm share vegetables and call that a meal.

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Can you believe this is canned tuna pasta?

I threw in a bunch of the gorgeous spinach from my farmshare, added a bit of salt and a touch of finishing olive oil, and I was done! The tuna, artichokes, and olive tapenade added plenty of flavor, and I barely had to do anything to make this pasta taste really good.

wpid19571-DSC1856.jpg

GIVEAWAY!

I am thrilled to be able to give away another gift basket full of Mediterranean goodies (just like the one I got!). To enter, please comment below answering one (or more, or even all if you wish) of the questions:

1) your favorite Mediterranean food(s)

2) your favorite Mediterranean restaurant

2) any fun trips this summer planned?

One entry per person. Giveaway ends in Tuesday, June 23rd at midnight, East Coast Time. If you are interested in trying out the tuna, here is a $1 off coupon.

Enjoy!

Update! Congrats to Teresa for winning the Giveaway! Teresa said the following answer:

1. Caprese salad
2. Mamma Maria or Carlo’s Cucina Italiana in Boston
3. I’m heading to Greece for a wedding in a few weeks! Can’t wait for the food!

Thanks for participating!

Pasta with Tuna, Artichokes, and Olives (canned tuna pasta)
Recipe Type: Pasta
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Author: Jennifer Che from Tiny Urban Kitchen
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Serves: 2 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 5-10 cloves of garlic, finely minced
  • 2-3 tablespoons black olive tapenade
  • 1 jar artichokes (around 7 oz, packed in oil)
  • 2 cans of solid light tuna, packed in olive oil (5 oz cans)
  • 2-3 cups spinach leaves
  • 1/2 lb dried pasta
  • chili flakes (optional)
Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. If using dried pasta (or any pasta that has a longer cooking time), cook pasta according to instructions before starting the sauce. Otherwise, wait until the sauce is done before making quick-cooking pasta (e.g., fresh pasta that takes 1-2 minutes to cook).
  2. Over low heat, cook minced garlic in extra virgin olive oil for about 10 minutes, or until soft
  3. Add black olive tapenade, artichokes, and tuna. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, or until everything is heated through.
  4. Add spinach and stir for about 1 minute, or just until the spinach is wilted. Drain the cooked pasta and add the pasta directly to the sauce, adding a tiny bit of pasta water only if needed (use your judgment). Add salt to taste, and optionally chili flakes if you want a bit of spice.
  5. Please note, the amounts above are very flexible. If you like a saltier pasta with more umami, add more black olive tapenade. If you love vegetables, you can easily increase the amount of spinach. However, if you want to add a lot of spinach, I would advise precooking it in another vessel so it’s easier to mix in later.
3.5.3229

Disclaimer – this post is sponsored by Genova. I did not pay for the Mediterranean basket of ingredients. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Cuisine, Fish, Mediterranean, Pasta, Recipe, Seafood, Vegetables

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Comments

  1. Moxie79 says

    June 19, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    Mmmm, olives are my favorite. Any kind!

    Reply
  2. Tasnim Rahman says

    June 19, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    I love Mediterranean cuisine, both cooking and eating all kinds of dishes. I’ve tried out several recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi’s cookbooks
    1) Fave dish: Moussaka, followed closely by falafel
    2) Fave restaurant: Sofra Bakery in Boston area and Amanouz cafe in Northampton, MA.
    3) Summer getaway: Provincetown!

    Reply
  3. Andrew T says

    June 19, 2015 at 1:54 pm

    I don’t know too much about Mediterranean food, but I would love to cook some. My summer plan is to head to Vegas. Maybe I’ll find a Mediterranean restaurant there!

    Reply
  4. JR says

    June 19, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    1) your favorite Mediterranean food(s)
    souvlaki!

    2) your favorite Mediterranean restaurant
    Ethos in New York

    2) any fun trips this summer planned?
    not yet!

    Reply
  5. TN says

    June 19, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    1) your favorite Mediterranean food(s)
    Grilled Octopus

    2) your favorite Mediterranean restaurant
    Barbuzzo- Philly

    2) any fun trips this summer planned?
    Austin, TX for BBQ count?

    Reply
  6. Denise M says

    June 19, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    I love hummus and bread, Any variation of hummus like roasted pepper or garlic also

    Reply
  7. Eva @ Eva Bakes says

    June 19, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    I’m heading to Chicago for a business conference… BUT, I am taking 2 days to play. I’ll be dining at Alinea!!! Can’t wait!!

    Reply
  8. Rosie says

    June 19, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    My favorite Mediterranean restaurant is Arugula. I love a pasta salad made with my homemade lemon pepper pasta and toss with olive oil, lemon juice, and lots of veggies just blanched. I’m only going on day trips that I know of, but they are fun, we go for a drive into the country with a picnic basket and find local honey, dairy farms, flower farms!

    Reply
  9. Kwan says

    June 19, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    My favorite Mediterranean dish is Greek lamp chops! And maybe grilled Haloumi cheese. Yum!

    Reply
  10. Michele says

    June 19, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    1) Salads with olives, cheeses, and good quality meats- I’m a low carber

    2) My favorite restaurant is the Canal Bistro Mediterranean Grille in Indianapolis, IN.

    3) No trips planned for the summer yet, but I’m still hopeful!! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Alvina says

    June 19, 2015 at 6:29 pm

    Hummus and falafels!

    Reply
  12. Kelly Hill says

    June 19, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    1. Favorite Mediterranean food is olives, olives, olives!

    2. Favorite Mediterranean restaurant is Mezza

    3. No trips planned.

    Reply
  13. Shihab Q says

    June 19, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    1) Fave dish: Spanakopita and Lamejun (middle-eastern flatbread)

    2) Fave restaurant: Sarma in Boston and Halal Guys in NYC

    3) Summer plans: NYC where else!

    Reply
  14. Tasnim says

    June 19, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    I love Mediterranean cuisine-both cooking and eating it. I’ve tried out several recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi’s cookbooks.
    1) Favorite food: Moussaka and Falafel

    2) Favorite Mediterranean restaurant: Sofra Bakery in Boston and Amanouz Cafe in Northampton

    3) Summer getaway: Provincetown

    Reply
  15. Leslie says

    June 19, 2015 at 11:50 pm

    Hummus, Tzatziki, and kebabs—

    Reply
  16. Edwin says

    June 20, 2015 at 12:02 am

    1) your favorite Mediterranean food(s)
    Greek Cucumber Salad; any shish kabobs, Souvlaki, Mrouzia almond chicken (Moroccan dish)

    2) your favorite Mediterranean restaurant
    Café Paprika – Norwood, MA, Mediterranean, Moroccan food, my wife found this place, Mrouzia almond chicken is one of the signature dish. Service was good.

    Paros on Main – Airdrie, Alberta, Canada. Greek Restaurant, recently I ate there, very good food, a little pricy, lamb Shish kabob was excellent, service was slow.

    2) any fun trips this summer planned?
    We just did the Baltic Sea Cruise with 18 people from Church, we were the self tour guide except St Petersburg. Highlight of the trip are Copenhagen (Denmark), Germany, Tallinn (Estonia), St Petersburg (Russia) and Helsinki (Finland). Unfortunately due to weather, we did not go to Stockholm (Sweden).

    Summer we plan to relax a few days in Newport, RI. There will be a few one day trip around MA, Maine, CT and NH area. Late Fall we plan to visit Germany (Cologne, Berlin etc). There are just not enough free time of the year to do more travel!

    Reply
  17. Mabel says

    June 20, 2015 at 12:52 am

    Wow. that board is beautiful! And filled with so many goodies eek!

    1) your favorite Mediterranean food(s) – baba ghanoush

    2) your favorite Mediterranean restaurant – Momed Beverly Hills in LA – simple but delicious!

    2) any fun trips this summer planned? ooh, I just came back from Korea and ate double my weight. And then I went hiking in the himalayas. 1 week before the earthquake :'( Nepal is a undoubtedly a beautiful country.

    Thanks so much!!

    Reply
  18. Brenda Haines says

    June 20, 2015 at 12:54 am

    I love a good mushroom couscous and we are headed to the Oregon coast. Not far from where we live, but it’s still away 🙂 Thanks for the chance!

    Reply
  19. Melissa says

    June 20, 2015 at 1:02 am

    Hummus… I could find a way to eat it daily!

    Reply
  20. Erin Ellis says

    June 20, 2015 at 10:42 am

    My favorite is a chicken/feta/tomato pasta dish that my grandmother gave me the recipe for. This summer we are going to do some backyard remodeling. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
    Erin
    ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com

    Reply
  21. Lu says

    June 20, 2015 at 11:25 am

    1) I really like hummus and baba ganoush.

    Reply
  22. Jessica says

    June 20, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    Favorite Mediterranean food is HUMMUS!

    Reply
  23. shaunie says

    June 20, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    My favorite is Greek Salad with chicken ; Kamalata’s

    Reply
  24. Jessica says

    June 20, 2015 at 4:50 pm

    I love fish and olives!! This is such a great giveaway

    Reply
  25. Teresa says

    June 20, 2015 at 6:29 pm

    1. Caprese salad
    2. Mamma Maria or Carlo’s Cucina Italiana in Boston
    3. I’m heading to Greece for a wedding in a few weeks! Can’t wait for the food!

    Reply
  26. Tasnim R says

    June 20, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    1) Favorite Mediterranean food: Moussaka and Falafel

    2) Favorite Mediterranean restaurant: Sofra in Boston and Amanouz Cafe in Northampton

    3) Summer plans: Provincetown

    I commented before but I don’t know why it’s not being accepted.

    Reply
  27. Kristen D. says

    June 20, 2015 at 7:43 pm

    We are headed to Malaysia in a few weeks, and then Morocco at the end of the year! Can’t wait!!!

    Reply
  28. Madeline says

    June 21, 2015 at 10:18 am

    Our summer plans include a wedding in Pittsburgh, PA, and a trip to the beach!

    Reply
  29. Dee says

    June 21, 2015 at 10:47 am

    I love to make dishes very similar to the one you made here–anything with pasta! I’m heading to India at the beginning of September and I’m super excited!

    Reply
  30. Anth says

    June 21, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    3. I’m going to Barcelona this summer!

    Reply
  31. ALW says

    June 21, 2015 at 4:09 pm

    I wish I have fun summer plans but will be working most weekends 🙁

    Reply
  32. Lindie says

    June 22, 2015 at 9:07 am

    Lamb ragout from a good Mediterranean place

    Reply
  33. Daryn says

    June 22, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    1) favorite Mediterranean foods: Hummus and most anything with grilled octopus. And toum!

    2) favorite Mediterranean restaurant: Sarma

    3) fun trip: Camping in NH

    Reply
  34. Annette says

    June 22, 2015 at 10:56 pm

    My favorite Mediterranean meal is meat stuffed grape leaves. Love them!

    Reply
  35. manda says

    June 22, 2015 at 11:28 pm

    I like greek olives.

    Reply
  36. Dandi D says

    June 23, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    I never really had much Mediterranean food, but I eat hummus on all kinds of things! No trips are planned for us this summer as we are awaiting the arrival of our new little one.

    Reply
  37. Lihsin Yang says

    June 23, 2015 at 7:47 pm

    1) your favorite Mediterranean food(s)
    I enjoy Mediterranean salad and lamb chops

    2) your favorite Mediterranean restaurant
    Grape Leaf Diner in Holland, Ohio

    2) any fun trips this summer planned?
    We will help our youngest moving to Portland, Oregon in July.

    Reply
  38. Carla S says

    June 23, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    I like gyros and greek salads.

    Reply
  39. Julie says

    June 24, 2015 at 2:09 am

    1. Hummus with pita bread
    2. Favorite Mediterranean restaurant: Troy
    3. Summer trip: Rome, cruise to Greece, Turkey, and Crete

    Reply

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Welcome to Tiny Urban Kitchen!

JenChe

Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am a Boston to Hong Kong transplant, born and raised in Ohio with parents from Taiwan. Feel free to head on over to the About page if you want to learn more about me, or just explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!
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