Looking back at my contribution on Google Maps, as a foodie and pasta lover, I love to review Italian restaurants in my region that serve various pasta dishes. So, as today, October 25th is the World Pasta Day, I celebrate it by cooking my own pasta dish and sharing the recipe here.
In this recipe, I combine the great pasta of Italy with the exotic Balinese taste. It is simply spaghetti pasta tossed in olive oil and tuna, and topped with fresh sambal matah! As I mentioned in my earlier post, 7 Must-Eat Food in Bali, sambal (chili sauce) matah is originally from Bali and made from fresh raw ingredients. Sambal matah is much loved by Indonesian people. It has been gaining popularity in the last few years, as it goes perfectly with meat or seafood dishes. Even Indomie, a local instant noodle brand released sambal matah flavor.
Tuna Spaghetti with Sambal Matah (for 2-3 people)
Ingredients for tuna spaghetti:
100 gr spaghetti
150 gr canned tuna chunks in olive oil
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp salt
1000 ml water
Ingredients for sambal matah:
3 shallots
1 clove garlic
1 lemongrass
3 kaffir lime leaves
2 red cayenne peppers
1/4 tsp terasi (shrimp paste)
1 tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp vegetable oil
Cook spaghetti in a boiling salt water. Stir occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite (al dente). Reserve some pasta water. Drain well and set aside.
Chop the shallots, garlic, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, cayenne peppers and mix it up with terasi, lime juice, sugar and salt. Heat up the vegetable oil onto the boiling point. Turn off the heat and add in the chilies mixture. Stir to combine.
Heat the canned tuna chunks in a frying pan over medium heat. Add dried parsley, stir and cook for about 2 minutes.
Transfer spaghetti to frying pan and cook for another 2 minutes. Add pasta water until desired consistency is reached. Remove from heat and pour sambal matah on top. Serve immediately.
Pasta is a dish where we can be creative by using a variety of sauces and toppings to cook together. Are you a classic pasta eater (bolognese, aglio e olio, carbonara, etc)? Or do you like creating and eating your own modern pasta sauce? Please share your stories in comments below.
@Lusianaa nice one and you look like a real chef… but I’m afraid to say I’m not a real friend of pasta. I think I only ate pasta three times in my life
I have no idea how to make it through. What can I bring to your challenge?
It’s ok @Sophia_Cambodia You don’t have to be a pasta lover to join the challenge. As @Giu_DiB said on his post, you can share any of your signature recipes. I tag you because you like to share recipe as well
Wow pasta spaghetti and sambal matah nice combination ,spicy spaghetti collaboration between Italy and Indonesia spicy .
Actually spaghetti not too much famous as homemade food , but I have my neighbor who living in abroad and every year sending cargo package including spaghetti and sharing for other neighbors .But as I said many times we’re here cooking spaghetti as replace meat or vegetables and eating with rice LOL .
@Lusianaa I want more spicy and some rice for teh @Nyainurjanah , wkwkwk. I’m a bit hungry and this post makes me hungrier. I better go eat something now.
Teh @Nyainurjanah If I cook it, I would put some sambal when I stir fry the spaghetti. You can have it with some rice. We eat together. How about that?
That’s perfect scenario Teh @Ant_Bad_Yogi ,together we make better, the taste will be perfect also . Huff ,can I suggest one thing , eat food when really hungry so all food feel delicious, yummy 555 .
I feel you, mbak @Nyainurjanah Most Indonesians (and perhaps Asians in general) have had a long established habit of eating rice three times a day since childhood. That’s why we don’t feel full when we have not yet eaten rice Do you have this kind of habit too @Ant_Bad_Yogi ?
As for me, I do eat noodles with rice sometimes, but not for pasta. Btw, what is your favorite pasta sauce, guys?
Oh, really? @TusharSuradkar Cooking pasta is fun and pretty easy. I found some interesting Indian-style pasta recipes on the internet. You should give it a try
Thank you for your nice words. I hope this recipe will be helpful.
@Lusianaa I can eat breads, noodles or steaks for a meal. I can survive without rice. By the way, I don’t have favorite pasta sauce. I rarely have pasta. I have some when I eat with friends and they order it.
Thanks for taking part in the #TastyChallenge and for sharing this delicious recipe with us! This is exactly the kind of creativity I love to see in the kitchen: mixing different cultures and ingredients, like you did with spaghetti and sambal matah.
I find very interesting the use of lemongrass, lime leaves and lime juice, they combine very well with tuna and they give the dish more freshness.
I will read the post you mentioned as soon as possible, I am sure I will find some very good inspiration for my next “experiment”: 7 Must-Eat Food in Bali.
Hi @Sophia_Cambodia , you can litterally prepare anything you want, we can’t wait to see your dish too!
Let me share the pasta that I made from an Australian all-in-one pasta and sauce brand, San Remo in Sour Cream & Chives flavor. Just like the cooking instruction, I used low fat milk, water, and butter to make this pasta. I also served it with fried sausages.
Yummy @Velvel I have been making those quick all-in-one pasta meals for many years. I used to make them in the office for lunch because I couldn’t go out. They are very handy. San Remo is a very popular brand in Australia but my favourite brand is the Continental Alfredo pasta. It is so creamy and delicious with parmesan cheese on top. I’ve always got some stocked in my pantry.
You’re welcome Chef @Giu_DiB I’m glad you liked my creation. Thank you so much for the compliment.
You are absolutely right. Those fresh herbs will add freshness to the dish. Do you usually use them in cooking? By the way, what is your favorite pasta sauce?
Thank you for your interest in my post, 7 Must-Eat Food in Bali. I hope it will inspire your next food creation
Well, actually I’m not a big fan of instant pasta meals, but after seeing your photos, I’m sure I will go look for it in my next grocery shopping. The result looks so tempting and very similar to what we see in the packaging. Well done!
By the way, from the photo you shared above, I guess your favorite pasta sauce is the creamy one like carbonara. Am I right, Velvel?
Do you have this kind of habit too 
By the way, I don’t have favorite pasta sauce. I rarely have pasta. I have some when I eat with friends and they order it.
I’m not sure if the product is available here, but thanks for the recommendation.