Black Olive Pesto with Pasta

Method7 steps · about 30 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Add olives, basil leaves, sun-dried tomatoes, capers (1 tbsp) and a tablespoon of olive oil to a food processor. Pulse together until it achieves a rough, thick consistency (you don’t want it too smooth). Add more olive oil if it seems too dry.

   Uses 70 g pitted chopped olives · 1 handful chopped basil; literal unmeasured volume · 4–6 chopped sun-dried tomatoes · 1 tbsp rinsed capers · 1 tbsp of the four-tablespoon oil supply · Extra oil only if the pesto is too dry

   
2. 2

   Step 2: In a large frying pan or skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of the extra virgin olive oil. Add the finely sliced garlic cloves (2) and cook until they start to soften. Once softened, add the olive pesto prepared earlier.

   Uses 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced · Remaining 3 tbsp olive oil · All prepared pesto

3. 3

   Step 3: Stir and let the pesto cook on a low heat for about 4 minutes .

   Heat pesto · 4 minUses Pesto heated with garlic and oil from step 2

4. 4

   Step 4: Break up the tuna (180 g) with a fork, add it to the frying pan and mix it well with the pesto and add the cut fresh tomatoes. Let the sauce cook for a few minutes on a moderate heat uncovered until the tomatoes start to soften.

   Uses Prepared pesto sauce from step 3 · 180 g ready-to-eat preserved tuna, broken up · 6–8 quartered datterini

   
5. 5

   Step 5: In the meantime cook the pasta (360 g) al dente in the boiling salted water according to the instructions on the packet. When the pasta is ready, save a cup of the cooking water and drain the pasta

   Cook pasta al dente · 10 minUses 360 g pasta · Unmeasured pot of water; reserve 1 cup cooking water · Salt pasta water; amount unstated

6. 6

   Step 6: Add the pasta to the sauce. Mix together well and season with salt and pepper as required. If the sauce seems dry, add some of the pasta cooking water and mix again.

   Uses Pasta cooked al dente in step 5 · Prepared sauce from step 4 · Some of the one cup reserved pasta water, only if the sauce is dry · Season to taste · Pepper to taste

7. 7

   Step 7: Serve sprinkled with chopped parsley and pepperoncino flakes (optional)

   Uses Prepared mixed pasta from step 6 · Optional chopped parsley garnish · Optional chili-flake garnish