Keep tuna on hand for quick, last-minute pasta sauces. Lemon zest, lemon juice, and tons of fresh herbs brighten this one. Though Italian cooks stick to canned tuna for this kind of sauce, you might try it with fresh tuna steaks, seared and sliced.

Ingredients

3/4 cup (375 mL) walnuts, chopped
1 lb (454 g) linguine
1/3 cup (83 mL) olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 x 6-ounce (170-g) cans tuna packed in oil
2 tsp (10 mL) grated lemon zest (from 2 lemons)
2 tsp (10 mL) lemon juice
3/4 tsp (3 mL) salt
1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) fresh-ground black pepper
1/2 cup (125 mL) mixed chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, chives, and thyme

Directions

1. In a small frying pan, toast the walnuts over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Or toast them in a 350 ° F (175 ° C) oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

2. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the linguine until just done, about 12 minutes. Drain.

3. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over moderate heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the tuna and its oil and break up the tuna with a fork. Remove from the heat. Toss the linguine with the tuna mixture, the lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, herbs, and the toasted walnuts.

Yield: Four servings

Notes

Canned tuna: Brands of tuna vary tremendously. Here we use tuna packed in oil (preferably olive oil), and we count on that oil as part of the sauce. If your tuna has less than one and a half tablespoons oil per can, add more olive oil to make up the difference.

Wine: Wines of Italy's Alto Adige show a strong Germanic influence due to the region's proximity to Switzerland. Try a flowery, lime-scented Mí¼ller-Thurgau for a refreshing change from the ordinary.

Adapted from Quick from Scratch Italian Cookbook edited by Judith Hill (Food & Wine Books, 2009). Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.