Spicy Tuna Spaghetti a la Bamba

All of us have friends whom we look to as gods or goddesses of the kitchen. I’m lucky to have several. But the person whose cooking my friends and I adore is Bamba. Too bad that she doesn’t cook as much as before anymore, but on special occasions, we the Bamba’s-cooking-crazy friends can still count on her culinary prowess.

Whenever there’s a birthday among Bamba’s friends, what everybody automatically looks for is her Spicy Tuna Spaghetti. And what do you know, the recipe’s right here! When I was living in Makati, I had to learn how to cook to avoid spending too much on restaurant fare, and my dearest friend sent me some of her idiot-proof recipes. When I first made her spaghetti for a cook-out, my friends in Makati couldn’t believe I’d only started to cook. They finished off every last noodle!

So here it is: Spicy Tuna Spaghetti à la Bamba.

spaghetti fettuccine, 1/2kg
spicy tuna chunks in vegetable oil, 2 cans (or, Spanish sardines)
whole tomatoes in brine, 1 large can, peeled and halved
cheese, 1/2 bar, grated
garlic, 1 head (sometimes I use two!), chopped
white onion, 1 bulb, chopped
olive oil, 3 tbsp
chilli powder, to taste
salt & pepper, to taste
dried basil, 2 leaves
all-purpose cream, 1 tetra pack

Cook the pasta as per package directions. Drain well.
Sauté garlic & onions in olive oil.
Add the tuna chunks (including some of the vegetable oil), tomatoes, grated cheese, chilli powder.
Let it simmer until the cheese melts.
Add basil, salt, pepper.
After about a minute, add the pasta to the sauce, mix well, and cook for a few more minutes.
Add cream, mix well, and let it simmer for a few minutes.
Serve!

This recipe serves 4 to 5 people — depending on how hungry they are!