The typical dishes of Bologna are not only lasagna or tortellini. In fact, the original spaghetti Bolognese recipe, recognized by the Italian Academy of Cuisine and also the Bologna Chamber of Commerce, is a dish of spaghetti dressed with a tuna tomato sauce, not the usual meat ragù as everyone believes.
Enough talk, this recipe is very simple and very tasty, perfect for lean days when it’s customary to eat fish, even in the sauce to enrich not only the spaghetti.
Below, I leave you some other typical Bolognese recipes and more, and then we’ll go right under the photo to discover how to prepare the original spaghetti Bolognese recipe with tuna!!
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Regional Italian
- Region: Emilia-Romagna
- Seasonality: All seasons
Original Spaghetti Bolognese Ingredients
- 11 oz spaghetti
- 6.4 oz tuna in oil
- 18 oz peeled tomatoes (or 1.6 lbs of fresh tomatoes)
- 1 onion (pink)
- 2 pinches salt
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Original Spaghetti Bolognese Preparation
Peel and finely chop the onion, sautéing it in extra virgin olive oil until it becomes transparent.
If using fresh tomatoes, cut them into coarse pieces and add them to the pan with the onion.
If using peeled tomatoes, mash them once added to the pan using the back of a spoon.
Let the sauce simmer for at least 30 minutes on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, then add the drained and coarsely shredded tuna.
Cook the tuna sauce for another 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring slightly salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente.
Drain the pasta directly into the pan with the sauce, add 1 ladle of pasta cooking water, and toss to flavor, then serve.
Storage, Tips, and Variations
You can store the tuna sauce in the refrigerator for 2 days, but the dressed spaghetti should be eaten immediately.
I recommend using high-quality tuna in oil, preferably in a glass jar where the pieces are distinct and compact.
For an even lighter dish, you can use natural tuna instead of tuna in oil.
Other Recipes
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