Spinach Spaghetti with Lobster and Spicy Tuna Tomato Sauce
This dish is inspired by a pasta dish my Italian Ex-boyfriend’s mother use to make for dinner for us. I won’t lie, I’ve learned all of my skills in making the best pasta sauces and methods on how to prepare pasta the true Italian way all from her as to them it’s an art and something you perfect and prepare for your family on a daily basis. I’ve had some of the best pasta dishes made from the simplest ingredients by her. This dish although not all that traditional makes use of the ingredients I had laying around my kitchen. The key element that I took from one of her dishes is the use of canned Italian Tuna in her pasta. She use to make this incredible tomato sauce with tuna, garlic and olives. Longing for that flavor I wanted to duplicate that in my dish since I had lobster and wanted to amp up the seafood flavor of the dish. I had spinach whole wheat spaghetti in my cabinet which worked out well for this dish as it provides a nice contrast of colors with the red lobster and the green pasta. I’m just missing some white which will then resemble the colors of the Italian flag:)
Anyhow…I found that adding the tuna to the tomato sauce along with capers elevated the umami flavor to this pasta dish in a very satisfying way and now I can’t wait to share it with all of you!
Spinach Spaghetti with Lobster and Spicy Tuna Tomato Sauce
Ingredients: Serves 1
2 small lobsters (sliced in half and poached)
1 handful of spinach whole wheat spaghetti
2 cups your favorite tomato/pasta sauce (I like ones that have roasted garlic in it or basil)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup minced parsley
2 cups spinach
1/4 cup tuna in olive oil (I like the ones that are in olive oil as they have a better flavor than the ones in water)
1 tsp capers
1 tablespoon minced green olives
2 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
extra virgin olive oil
chili flakes
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of water with 1 tablespoon salt in it to boil
2. Once it comes to a boil, bring the heat down to medium and put your lobster in
3. Cook for 4 minutes or until it’s 3/4 the way cooked
4. Remove the lobster and add your spaghetti and cook according to instructions (however remove 1-2 minutes before they say) I like it more al dente and like to cook the pasta in the sauce for an additional minute to absorb flavor.
5. In a large nonstick pan add 1 tsp olive oil and add your garlic, a tablespoon of minced parsley and tomato sauce to it.
6. Add your lobster to the sauce and cook for 2 minutes and coat the lobster in the sauce on high heat.
7. Remove the lobster and set aside8. Now add your capers, tuna, olives parsley, oregano and let it cook for 3 minutes
9. Season with salt and pepper and chili flakes. Taste for saltiness
10. Now add your cooked pasta into the pan as well as the spinach.
11. Cook for another 1 minute with an additional tsp of olive oil
12. Now plate the pasta in a bowl and top with the lobster and garnish with a sprig of parsley