We have made a ton of recipes here on Spain on a Fork, and let me tell you, this Easy Weeknight Rice with Tuna sits right up there with the best of them. It´s packed with flavors, easy to make and all done using just one pan for a very easy clean up.
My favorite part about this rice dish? It´s made with simple everyday ingredients and comes together in about 30 minutes. Truly, the perfect dish for a busy weeknight dinner, yet elegant enough for a relaxed weekend lunch next to a bottle of Spanish wine.
To make this dish I used long grain rice. But you can use any rice you like. Just make sure to check the package instructions. As the rice to liquid ratio might be different than the ones I used. I also used canned tuna in olive oil. But you can also use tuna in water.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: Once the rice is cooked and all the liquid has been absorbed by the rice, it´s important to let the rice sit with the lid on for a couple of minutes. This will ensure that all the grains of rice will be fully cooked through.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY NONSTICK FRY PAN
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL
SWEET SMOKED SPANISH PAPRIKA
SPANISH SEA SALT
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make this Easy Weeknight Rice with Tuna
Easy Weeknight Rice with Tuna
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30 ml
- 1 small onion
- 1 carrot
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika 2.50 grams
- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes 400 grams
- 2 cups cold water 475 ml
- 1 cup long grain rice 190 grams
- 2 cans tuna in olive oil 4 oz / 115 grams each
- 1/4 cup finely grated Manchego cheese 30 grams
- handful finely chopped fresh parsley
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
Instructions
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Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
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Meanwhile, finely dice the onion, finely chop the carrot (peeled) and roughly chop the garlic
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Add the cut vegetables into the hot pan, mix continuously, after 3 minutes and the vegetables are lightly sauteed, add in 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika, quickly mix together, then add in the can of diced tomatoes, season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together, then raise the heat to a high heat and simmer without mixing
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Once the juices from the canned diced tomatoes have thickened, about 3 minutes, add in 2 cups water, mix together and bring to a boil
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Meanwhile, add in 1 cup long grain rice into a sieve and rinse under cold water
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Once the water comes to a boil, add in the rice, mix together, place a lid on the pan and lower to a low-medium heat, simmer until all the water has been absorbed (15 minutes in my case), then remove the pan from the heat and let it for a couple minutes with the lid on, this will ensure all the rice grains are fully cooked
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Meanwhile, add the canned tuna into a sieve, flake the tuna to remove any excess oil
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After a couple minutes remove the lid from the pan, add the drained tuna and fluff the rice with a fork
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Transfer into serving dishes, finely grate a kiss of Manchego cheese over the rice and sprinkle with finely chopped fresh parsley, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Sweet Smoked Spanish Paprika I used in this Recipe
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Brigitte
29 . Dec . 2023I would give this 10 if I could , I have this very good quality smoke paprika which makes a huge difference I used 1 1/2 tsp , I cooked this for 10 minutes than I added 2 cups chopped fresh brocoli and I only had a 5oz tuna which is perfect I had a leftover cubed oven baked Burmese tofu I had previously made I added this with the tuna and brocoli 10 minutes before it was done cooking . Removed from the burner and added 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley . I try to avoid dairy because cows are slaves of the dairy industry so this was perfect you can get good flavor with other ingredients than cheese better for your health . Thank you my husband liked this so much a very easy so easy recipe but flavorful !!!
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
31 . Dec . 2023Dorne
25 . Oct . 2023Excellent, like all of his other recipes. Thank you & keep giving us great recipes 🥰
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
26 . Oct . 2023Ronell
It was yummy – but it easily fed more than 2 people. Bonus – it reheats nicely.
30 . Aug . 2023Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
31 . Aug . 2023Joe
02 . Apr . 2023Delicious and so easy. A pleasant surprise but more than for 2!!!!
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that 🙂 Much love!
02 . Apr . 2023Nicole
01 . Oct . 2022This was delicious! Only change I made was adding broccoli. My three kids devoured it. Thanks!
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
03 . Oct . 2022Gisela Kistner
This looks like another wonderful recipe. Now that I am a widow with no children, I especially like that your recipes are for 2 servings. Thanks for giving me a taste of Spain.
19 . Jun . 2022Spain on a Fork
Sorry to hear that 🙁 Thanks for the comment, much love
19 . Jun . 2022Derek
16 . Jun . 2022This looks great. I will be buying all the ingredients tonight when I go shopping. Your channel is fantastic, thanks for all your hard work.
Spain on a Fork
Sounds great! Hope you enjoy 🙂 Much love
16 . Jun . 2022Chris L
Looks absolutely delicious.
16 . Jun . 2022Spain on a Fork
Thank you! Much love 🙂
16 . Jun . 2022Stephen
15 . Jun . 2022I have done a very similar recipe before and it works wonderfully – a fast and easy but nutritious and tasty weekday dinner. I am thinking of using some baked ham that I have in the freezer in place of the tuna. One question I have though: when measuring the rice, it appears that you are using a liquid measuring cup. Does it matter? I’ve always been told that liquid and solid measuring cups are slightly different.
Spain on a Fork
I always use the same measuring cups and have never had a problem 🙂 Thanks for the comment! Much love
15 . Jun . 2022Ramya
cant wait to make this soon for me can i use vegan tuna and cheese i never had easy weeknight rice with tuna before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
15 . Jun . 2022Spain on a Fork
Sounds great Ramya! Much love 🙂
15 . Jun . 2022