The traditional tuna pasta bake or tuna casserole involve tins of mushroom soup and loads and loads of cheese. This recipe is a lighter version with extra veggies and a crispy crumb topping for contrast. Use wholewheat pasta for extra fibre and nutrients and a firmer texture. Old Bay Seasoning is an American herb and spice blend using paprika, oregano, garlic and other spices. You can substitute it with smoked paprika in this recipe.
Watch Rozanne making it here, recipe below.
Serves 4
200g wholewheat farfalle pasta
2 tbsp light olive oil plus extra for the pasta
1 large onion, finely diced
1 red or green pepper, diced
1 tbsp cornflour dissolved in a little cold water
300ml milk
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper
200g sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 x 170g tinned tuna in brine, well drained
200g frozen peas, thawed and drained
Crispy topping:
2 slices stale bread
1/2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
1 tbsp light olive oil
Method:
- Preheat oven to 200C. Butter a lasagne type baking dish and set aside.
- Cook the pasta 2 – 3 minutes short of the pasta cooking time according to the packet instructions, drain well, toss with a little light olive oil and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and peppers and cook until soft.
- Whisk in the Old Bay Seasoning, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaf.
- Pour in the milk and add the dissolved cornflour. Bring up to the boil, stirring frequently.
- Remove the bay leaf and stir in the pasta, tuna, peas and cheddar cheese. Pour the tuna pasta into the prepared baking dish.
- To make the topping, pulse the bread and Old Bay Seasoning in a food processor. Gradually pour in the olive oil to combine.
- Scatter the topping over the casserole and bake for about 15 minutes until golden and bubbling hot.
- Serve with a green salad.
Well-known food journalist and talk show regular Rozanne Stevens is the creative chef behind Makeaheadmealz.com group and private cookery lessons. For extra recipes and tips follow @MakeAheadMealz on Twitter or Instagram: @MakeAheadMealz, @RozanneStevens.
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