Tuna Pantarei With Spaghetti Squash – Tuna With Tomatoes & Mint
Serves 4
This is my version of a dish that I so enjoyed in a friends restaurant in Capri, Italy called ‘Pantarei‘. Delicious fresh tuna served with fresh tomato, a little kick & just a hint of minty freshness. I have replaced the pasta, making this dish low-carb & high-protein (29 grams/serving) – it has a host of essential B vitamins offering you 66% of both Niacin & B-6! It’s a nutritious, delicious & low-carb way to feed your pasta craving, plus it’s totally gluten-free!
What You’ll Need:
A Sharp Kitchen Knife
Measuring Cups
A Baking Sheet
A Heavy-Bottomed Frying Pan With Lid
An Ice Cream Scoop Or Kitchen Spoon
Parchment Paper
Spatula Or Wooden Spoon
A Plate
4 Dinner Plates
Kitchen Spoon
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp Avocado Oil
1 LB Yellowfin Tuna Fillet, Chopped Into Bite-Size Chunks
1 Large Onion, Chopped
4 Cups Organic Tomatoes, Chopped (Heirlooms are nice, if available)
2 Tsp Garlic, Minced
3 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1/3 Cup White Wine
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
1/8 Tsp Cayenne Pepper (or to personal taste)
1/4 Cup + 1 Tbsp Organic Fresh Mint, Chopped
How To Put It Together:
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set it aside for now.
2. Lay spaghetti squash on your work surface, slice off the stem. Turn the squash vertical to your body; slice it in half length-wise. Scoop out the seeds. Place the halves skin-side up on your parchment-lined baking sheet and put them in the center of then oven for 40 – 45 minutes or until they are soft when pricked with a fork.
3. For the sauce. Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat; you know your pan is ready when you feel heat radiating from pan while holding your hand about 1-inch above the pan surface. Add the oil; swirl it around the pan. Add the tuna chunks, spreading them around the pan to give each piece a little room; brown them for 3 – 4 minutes. Turn the tuna; let them brown on the other side about 2 minutes. Transfer them to a plate; set the plate aside.
4. To the pan, add the chopped onion; sauté it until it is opaque. Add the tomatoes; stir them around the pan then add the garlic, lemon juice, white wine, sea salt and cayenne. Give the pan a good stir and let it come to a simmer. Return the tuna to the pan plus any juices that have accumulated in the bottom of the plate. Stir in the fresh mint.
5. To plate the dish: Scrape out about a cup of spaghetti squash for each plate and arrange the ‘noodles’ in a circle in the center of each plate leaving an empty space in the center. Spoon the tuna sauce in the center; sprinkle the reserve fresh mint on top.
6. Serve & enjoy!
Nina’s Tasty Tip:
You can make the squash ahead of time. I like keeping some around at all times. It freezes well in freezer bags and keeps for at least a couple of months.
Nutrition:
• 279 Calories
• 29 grams of Protein
• 19 grams of Total Carbohydrates
• 6 grams of Sugar
• 3 grams of Fiber
• 9 grams of Total Fat
• 1 gram of Saturated Fat
• 0 grams of Trans Fat
• 51 mg of Cholesterol
• 361 mg of Sodium
• 66% RDA Niacin
• 66% RDA Vitamin B6
• 60% RDA Selenium
• 57% RDA Vitamin C
• 41% RDA Thiamin
• 34% RDA Vitamin A
• 32% RDA Potassium
• 28% RDA Phosphorus
• 23% RDA Magnesium
• 21% RDA Manganese
• 18% RDA Vitamin K
• 18% RDA Vitamin E
• 15% RDA Sodium
• 14% RDA Pantothenic Acid
• 12% RDA Folate
• 12% RDA Copper
• 10% RDA Vitamin B12
• 10% RDA Iron
• Glycemic load: 6