2011, Recipe 69: Tuna Casserole

Recipe courtesy of Ellie Krieger

• 5 slices whole-wheat bread, crusts included (I just used panko)
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 small onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 large stalk celery, finely diced (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 (10-ounce) box white mushroom, stemmed and chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups 1 percent milk
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound whole-wheat fettuccine noodles, broken into thirds and cooked according to package directions
• 1 (10-ounce) box frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
• 1 (10-ounce) box frozen peas, thawed
• 4 (6-ounce) cans chunk light tuna in water, drained

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until onions are soft and translucent, 8 minutes. Add celery and cook, stirring, until just tender, 6 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until mushrooms release their water, 5 to 7 minutes. Add flour all at once and stir immediately and vigorously with a wooden spoon until flour is completely incorporated into vegetable mixture until there are no flour lumps.

Add milk and broth, stir to combine and bring mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to a vigorous simmer and cook, stirring, until liquid has thickened and reduced by about 1/2 cup, 7 to 8 minutes. Add salt and pepper and stir to combine. Combine cooked pasta, vegetable-liquid mixture, broccoli, peas and tuna and toss to incorporate. Pour into a 9 by 13-inch casserole. Top with bread crumbs. Bake for 25 minutes, or until crumbs are golden brown and toasted.

Results: Yummy!  I needed a tad more salt but it was definitely good!  Next time I'll check the flavor before I put it in the casserole dish. (Which I knew I should've done anyway.)