With 10,000 athletes expected to take part and raise €3 million for over 150 charities this year, the Cork city marathon is one of the biggest sporting events in the country. I have been asked to put together some really quick, tasty and nutritious pasta dishes to help out those folks already in training! Dishes like my Speedy Spaghetti Amatriciana and Rocket Fuelled Pasta will be sure to get athletes of all levels fuelled up and ready to rock on the big day!
Hopefully my pasta recipes will appeal to both foodies and fitness enthusiasts and you can check them all out on www.readysteadycork.com alongside several fitness schedules and training guides designed to help a wide range of people - from experienced athletes to first-time marathoners. If you are planning on running a marathon these Power Pasta recipes are packed with foods and ingredients rich in protein and ‘good fats’ such as avocados, salmon, chicken and olive oil, providing vital nutrients and ensuring that there is plenty of variety in runners’ diets!
Simple Spicy Tuna and Garlic Penne
Tuna is a fantastic healthy store cupboard ingredient which is perfect for quick dishes just like this. You can use tinned tuna, but I really love the tuna you can buy in jars stored in olive oil.
Serves 4
250g of wholemeal penne
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1 teaspoon of dried chilli flakes
A good handful of parsley, roughly chopped
230g jar of tuna fillets in olive oil
A good pinch of sea salt and ground black pepper
Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet
In a large frying pan heat the oil over a medium heat and add the garlic and chilli flakes. Fry gently until golden.
Add the cooked pasta and the parsley to the pan and toss until the pasta is nicely coated.
Break the tuna into rough chunks, add to the pasta and stir through.
Season with a little sea salt and black pepper and serve straight away!