Well I’m back and thought I would really go old school. I have lost count of how many times this meal has saved me from starvation (I could still live a long time on my fat stores) when I was a UNI, when I was on a budget, when I had no food in the house except pasta and tinned tuna.

I have found that this humble little dish polarises people… You either love it or hate it and many times for the same reason. It was one of those meals that your mum use to make on a regular basis.

I always use peas and corn as the vegetables in this dish, but that is because it is normally the only frozen vegetables that I have in the freezer. You could just as easily grate up some carrots, zucchinis or throw any frozen vegetables that are available. Many times I haven’t had any vegetables and I have just used pasta, white sauce and tuna!

This is another one of those meals that you can make a large lot of and pop in the freezer for times when you need a quick meal! It makes two large dishes or about 10 – 15 small individual dishes.

I have also made this many times gluten free and it tastes just as good. Obviously I used gluten free pasta and flour and omitted the bread crumbs on the top, still delicious!

Tuna Bake – Ingredients

1 large 425g – 500g  Tin of Tuna (spring water or oil, your choice, but don’t drain it put everything in)

Frozen Peas and Corn

500g Packet of Dry Pasta…. Cooked (I use Penne or Spirals)

100g Grated Cheese plus a bit extra for the top (anything you like, I normal use mozzarella or tasty)

100 g Bread crumbs (approximately)

Salt and Pepper to Taste.

Onion White Sauce – Ingredients

1 Large Onion

80g Plain White Flour

125g Unsalted Butter

1000ml (g) Full Cream Milk

Method Onion White Sauce

1. Place finely chopped onion in a pan and saute in butter.
2. Add flour and whisk, so that no lumps form
3. gradually add in warmed milk whisking constantly so that no flour lumps form
4. Continue whisking until sauce starts to thicken. Please Note that it won’t be really thick because you want the white sauce to be runner to help with the moisture of the tuna bake.
5. Place cooled sauce into a blend and blend until all the onion is smooth (if desired) and use as needed.

Method Tuna Bake

1. The first thing you do is put a large pot of water onto the boil and cook your pasta.
2. In a large bowl, place all of the Tuna Bake ingredients. (You will need a large bowl as it makes a lot)
3. Add in Onion White Sauce and mix until all ingredients are well combined and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Place Tuna Bake into 2 – 3 large dishes or 10 individual containers.
5. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and your cheese of choice.
6. Place into an oven at 180 degree and cook for 30 – 40 minutes or until cheese is melted and breadcrumbs are golden brown.

If you want to freeze the Tuna Bake, put it into oven proof freezer containers (I use the aluminium small containers in the BBQ section of Woolworths as they have lids) before you cook it. I find that if you defrost it then cook the Tuna Bake, it taste just as good as when you first made it.

I know the sauce looks runny but trust me that pasta soaks a lots up and you don’t want really dry Tuna Bake!

THERMOMIX METHOD

This recipe was made in the TM5, but the same ingredients can be made in the TM31.

Method – Thermomix

1. Place peeled halved onion into the mixing bowl and chop 3 seconds/speed 5.
2. Scrape down the bowl and add butter and sauté 5 minutes/Varoma/speed 1.
3. Add flour and cook 3 minutes/100°/speed 1.
4. Scrape down the mixing bowl and add all other ingredients and cook 12 minutes/100/speed 4.
5. If you would like a smooth sauce blend 30 seconds/speed 9. If you don’t mine bits of onion then skip this step
6. Follow the above Method for Tuna Bake.

I hope you enjoyed this fabulous cost saving meal!

Thanks for reading!

Liz xx

If you enjoyed this recipe maybe you might like these

Creamy Chicken Cabonara

Macaroni and Cheese

Chicken and Corn Impossible Pie

Elizabeth Connolly

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I have been cooking since I can remember. I am a Thermomix consultant, so now (whenever possible) try to give you Conventional AND Thermomix methods for the recipes. I like to share tips on how to save money and how making food from scratch isn't really that hard (especially with a Thermomix). If you have any questions about the Thermomix or cooking/food in general please email me as I'm happy to chat.
Liz xx
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