Lutong Bahay: Easy Cheesy Tuna Pesto Pasta with Clara Olé

Thursday, January 09, 2014
Lutong Bahay is a short tag on the title which I use to feature home-cooked food, either in our own home or at a friend's house, either my own cooking or not.

I've always loved cooking pasta dishes, whether it's tomato-based, cream-based, or oil-based. And speaking of oil-based, I've always been hooked on pesto, but found it tedious to make from scratch. I would probably make my own pesto sauce if it's for a really special occasion. But for sudden cravings from either me or my little sis, I've always been thankful there's the just-heat Cheesy Pesto pasta sauce from Clara Olé.
Clara Ole Cheesy Pesto Fettuccine

And nope, Clara Olé's Cheesy Pesto pasta sauce isn't the fake-tasting type. It was really made from basil, garlic, nuts, cheese and olive oil. I was once tempted to make a pesto pasta dish and claim I made the pesto sauce from scratch. But of course, I can't handle lying like that and I wanted to give credit to where credit is due. Yup, to Clara Olé!

Corned Tuna Pesto Spaghetti Clara Ole Cheesy Pesto Pasta Sauce

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 lb. pasta of your choice
  • 1 head of garlic (minced)
  • 1 can of tuna flakes in oil
  • 1 pack of Clara Olé Cheesy Pesto
  • olive oil or extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • Parmesan cheese and basil (optional)
  • chilies or red pepper flakes (optional)
Procedure:
  1. Cook your pasta according to package and set aside. Don't wash it off on running water, by the way. Just let it sit in the cooking pot until sauce is ready.
  2. Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the garlic until slightly golden (Not brown!), then add the tuna and cook for about a minute or two.
  3. Add the Clara Olé Cheesy Pesto and heat for a few minutes.
  4. Season your pesto sauce (to your preference) with salt and pepper. Add chili flakes if you'd like some heat.
  5. Put pasta (straight from the cooking pot) to your pesto sauce and mix well.
  6. You can add in some grated Parmesan cheese and some basil leaves. As for me, I prefer to garnish my pasta with some parsley since it was all I could find.

This pesto pasta dish is very easy to make thanks to Clara Olé's ready-to-use, just-heat-up Cheesy Pesto pasta sauce. This recipe is very customizable too! If you don't like tuna flakes, feel free to use anchovies, shrimp, chicken, or even bacon! You can also go vegetarian and just add tomatoes. Or, go plain and serve the sauce as is.

I once used a can of San Marino Chili Corned Tuna since it was all I could find in our cupboard. The pesto sauce turned orange-brownish though (look at that 2nd photo), but it tasted really good, and with a spicy kick. Even my little sister loved it!

Next time, I'll try doing a creamy pesto pasta dish by adding cream. What say you?

35 comments:

  1. I love Clara Ole's Cheesy Pesto! <3 nagutom tuloy me sa post nyo Ms. Sumi! :)

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    1. Haha! Thanks, Istin! Actually, maski ako biglang nag-crave din for pesto while writing this post. XD

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  2. I haven't tried this brand yet. As usual your photos look so appetizing, I want to get one now ; )

    xoxo
    MrsMartinez

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  3. I haven't tried Clara Ole before, but will surely try this the next time I'm craving for pasta. :)

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  4. Ako din, I haven't tried this brand but will keep this in mind next time sipagin ako magluto ng pasta. :)

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  5. My mom cooks pesto with fusilli and strips of beef! The best!

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  6. Sumi!!! Wow! I never know you are cooking na rin! I can't remember the last time I was here. :) Very nice blog. We have tried Clara Ole but not the Pesto Sauce. Im not really a fan of Pesto :D But it is good that there is a ready-made sauce for Pesto Lovers. It is always Tomato Sauce and Red Sauce that I see in the market :)

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  7. Must try out this recipe asap! I looove pesto, and the tuna is an added bonus! I've seen that in the supermarket actually, but never tried it yet. I will now!

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  8. Uy this Cheesy Pesto variant is new to me! My kids love pesto so I shall look for it next supermarket trip! :D

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  9. I haven't tried this because I was looking for Clara Ole Cheesy Pesto because I haven't find any on our nearest supermarket! Next time I'm gonna make sure to grab this once nakita ko sya!

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  10. Bookmarked! :D I love cooking and eating pasta too! I only have tasted pesto pasta once at Figaro and I think this recipe will taste better than that. I'll definitely blog about it once I've tried this. Thanks for sharing the procedure :D I'm gonna buy that clara ole pack once I go to the grocery next week ^^

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  11. OMG!!!! Now im craving for some pasta!!! :D I want to try this siiiis!! <3 :D

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  12. whoaH! I will try this soonerrrrr. I have tried also something like a powdered pesto. It's in green packaging. It's good too.

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  13. I haven't whipped up a pesto pasta dish at home yet, but there's always a first time, right? Thanks for sharing your recipe!

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  14. i tried making this last christmas but not succeded,i will try again nxt time..

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  15. Eeee i super love pesto...be it sandwich or pasta...i once tried to do a pesto from scratch pero ang hirap. Glad meron ang clara ole. I will try it for sure sawa na ako sa spag....

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  16. I will try this! One of my all time favorite pasta! and see Clara Ole products is good!

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  17. I want to try this one. I'm a pasta lover since I was a kid. hehe

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  18. I wanna try this one.perfect timing for my husband Bday coming.im sure my chikiting and my mister would really like it. mahilig kasi kami sa pasta.:)Thanks for sharing your recipes.God bless us all!

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  19. I'll be honest that this is the first time I've heard of "Clara Ole" I'm glad I can eat my favorite pesto pala anytime I want, will look for this tomorrow and maybe try to cook this for breakfast yieee excited really hoping it will taste good hahaha

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  20. OMG this I want! :)) i didnt know Clara Ole have this cheesy pesto sauce, and im glad for your post have led us to it and discover this great lutong bahay recipe :)

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  21. thanks for the recipe, i will make that pasta dish using Clara Ole from now on. Super easy na ang pesto pasta sa akin =)

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  22. I love Clara Ole! We love their spaghetti sauce, but haven't tried this Pesto sauce...I was reluctant kasi, baka iba lasa...and now no worries! I'll do this recipe.Thanks!

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  23. I love pasta ! Gonna try this on our upcoming anniv. Thanks for the recipe

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  24. Nice recipe, will try it for our merienda yummy yet healthy! ;)))

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  25. I Love pesto,pero hindi ko pa ito na try!....now thanks sa clara ole'mkakagawa na din ako nito :))

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  26. very nutritious food,kasi gnamitan ng clara ole at tuna

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  27. bookmarked :D Please blog more recipes.:)

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  28. look so yummy, thanks for the recipe iw ill probably try this one hooray!

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  29. I tried it and I must say it really is a Pesto!

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  30. May i ask, do you also put the oil in the tuna or you drained it first? Thanks

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    1. Hi Vdet! Drain the tuna first. ^_^ Good luck and let me know how you like the tuna pesto pasta!

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  31. I tried this using logganisa instead of tuna and my kids really love it :)

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  32. Im no expert, but I believe you just made an excellent point. You certainly fully understand what youre speaking about, and I can truly get behind that. jamie oliver meatballs

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