Marc Murphy Explains How To Incorporate Canned Tuna Into A Pasta Dish - Exclusive

In today's inflationary world, seafood is expensive. According to Seafood Source, seafood items on restaurant menus fell victim to a price hike of 1.3% from the third quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 2022. The increase is not expected to stop anytime soon, as 2023 continues to see a trend of high ingredient prices. So what's the budget-friendly alternative to expensive fish in the sea? Canned seafood.

During an exclusive interview with Tasting Table, celebrity chef Marc Murphy explained exactly how to utilize canned fish in the kitchen. The "Chopped" judge grew up in Europe — specifically, Italy and France — so he is well-versed in seafood dishes and worldly culinary tips. Murphy has tried out octopus, sardines, and more. Fish lasts up to five years unopened in your pantry if it is commercially canned (per the USDA). But after cooking it and, say, putting it in a pasta dish, the seafood should be stored in the fridge for a maximum of three days.

At the Sun Wine & Food Fest, Tasting Table asked Marc Murphy the first ingredients he would grab if he were making a spaghetti dish with canned tuna. The Food Network star answered, "I'd go for capers. I always want a little acid in there, maybe a little chili flake." He continued, "You can actually, if it's tomato season, chop up a couple tomatoes, stew them down, and fold them into it."

Murphy explained that pasta al tonno, which features canned tuna and tomatoes, is a popular Italian dish option. According to Serious Eats, the Rome version of the dish often involves spaghetti mixed with garlic-infused tomato sauce and dried peperoncino, and it's garnished with flaked olive oil-packed tuna and finely chopped parsley. 

Murphy mentioned that canned tuna in Italy is preserved in olive oil and that there are "some very high-end brands that cost quite a lot of money." So maybe just look for the ones that taste good and don't break your wallet.

For more information about the Sun Wine & Food Fest, visit Mohegan Sun's website. And keep up with Marc Murphy's latest projects on his Instagram page.