Well, we’ve gone from a great week to a not-so-great week. Half-term was brilliant, with exciting trips to our friends in Devon, a visit to Bath and then a trip home to my parents. When we came back we had a day to get ourselves organised before school although I then came down with a nasty cold and fever and my little girl came out in chicken pox! So, we’ve all been feeling a bit sorry for ourselves and I’m struggling, as usual, to get on top of things.
Luckily, my mum came to stay and helped to look after us all. She’s left today having cooked a huge pan of leek and potato soup and I made this yummy and quick tuna fish pasta – my ultimate comfort food dish. No roux required and ready in about 20 minutes. Obviously, if you don’t like tuna, you can use ham instead. If you want a veggie option, try using some lightly cooked, chopped leeks.
We’re feeling better already…
There’s lots to catch up on in the food blogging scene, so I am currently making my way round. Please bear with me! I also had a major panic when I noticed that ALL the links to Simple and in Season and Family Friendly Fridays had disappeared! After lots of frantic emailing around, they re-appeared! Apparently some kind of server move. Phew.
Tuna Fish Pasta
Print recipe
| Serves | 4-6 |
| Prep time | 5 minutes |
| Cook time | 20 minutes |
| Total time | 25 minutes |
| Allergy | Fish, Milk, Wheat |
| Meal type | Lunch, Main Dish |
| Source | Child Friendly, Serve Hot |
Ingredients
- 200g pasta (macaroni, butterfly/farfalle etc)
- 1 tin tuna
- 1 tin tomatoes (use chopped or passata)
- 125ml double cream
- 100g light cream cheese
- 125ml milk (semi-skimmed or whole)
- 50g cheddar (grated)
- sprinkle Parmesan cheese (optional)
Note
If you want to make this dish ahead, follow all the same steps, but instead of grilling it to melt the cheese, pop it into a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees celsius and bake for 20 minutes, making sure the tuna and pasta are piping hot inside.
Directions
| Step 1 | |
| Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, drain (no need to rinse under cold water) and set aside. Pre-heat the grill. | |
| Step 2 | |
| Mix together the tuna and the tomatoes and tip into an oven-proof baking dish | |
| Step 3 | |
| Add the cream, cream cheese and milk to a small pan and mix together over a medium heat, as you mix it together the cream cheese should melt. I use a balloon whisk. | |
| Step 4 | |
| When the cream cheese has melted and there are no lumps, add half of the chedar and mix again until that has melted too. | |
| Step 5 | |
| Add the cooked pasta into the baking dish with the tomatoes and tuna, mix together lightly with a spoon. Pour over the creamy cheese sauce. | |
| Step 6 | |
| Sprinkle the other half of the cheddar over the top as well as the Parmesan, if using. | |
| Step 7 | |
| Put the dish under your pre-heated grill for around ten minutes until the top is golden and bubbling - keep and eye on it! | |
| Step 8 | |
| Serve at the table, but be careful as the baking dish and melted cheese will be very hot! | |
As I didn’t manage to post a Family Friendly recipe last Friday, since it was half-term, I’m posting this one ahead of tomorrow and linking it up to Family Friendly Fridays here on Fabulicious Food! Hope you can join in too for a chance to win a signed copy of the great cook book by My Daddy Cooks.
More comfort food recipes:
Easy Macaroni Cheese with baby Leeks
What’s your ultimate feel-better comfort food?
Ren Behan
Ren Behan is a British-born food writer of Polish descent. She is a mum to two young children (6 and 3) and spends lots of time with them in the kitchen. Ren writes about seasonal, family-friendly food on her blog www.renbehan.com and about Polish food on her site www.mypolishkitchen.co.uk. She also contributes recipes and articles to online and print food publications. Ren holds a Diploma in Food Journalism with Distinction and has completed a Food Styling course at Leiths School of Food and Wine. Full Profile on Google+
This is a big favorite in our household too, my recipe is much the same without tomatoes but with a dash of West-Indian hot sauce I’ll have to try yours.
Ooh delicious! Yes, a little heat kick always makes you feel better too if you are poorly!
Ah, one of my favourites. Sadly my husband doesn’t like pasta (I know, rather odd and not always the easiest!) so I haven’t had this in a long time. Maybe it’s time for it to make a reappearance for me and my little person. Hope the pox isn’t causing too many problems!
Aah thanks. Thankfully the pox seems quite mild. Hopefully I’m not speaking too soon…day four!
Hmn, doens’t like pasta. Not even gluten free? Maybe you could make this using mashed potatoes as a topping and then the cheese sauce/grated cheese on top – sort of a very quick fish pie?!
Sorry to hear that you have been unwell. Hopefully you’ll be back on top form soon. Aren’t Mums brilliant? Always coming to the rescue when you need some help.
Thanks Mark! We are getting there. Definitely on the mend now especially with the help of soup!
Have been reading lots of articles about the best times to sow and getting ready for planting lots of veggies in the spring
I hope the Chicken Pox is not causing her too much discomfort, it is hard to get on with things when a child is I’ll. My little one had 8 days at home last half term, gosh was I exhausted!
Your bake looks lovely, I used to make a similar one when my boys were younger, I must have a go making yours. It would be ideal as a family supper, but also for a playdate lunch. Thank you Jude x
Hi Jude, thanks for the lovely comment. She is fine, I think she is getting better and I definitely prefer it to be out of the way now. 8 days at home must have been tiring :-/ Just a quick dish, yes, ideal for a playdate. My friend makes a great pasta dish too with pesto sauce and squeezy Primula and a bit of ham. A meal in minutes, literally. x
Poor you and I have to tell you that flu & chicken pox is doing the rounds here too. So many children have been off this week with both! My kids adore anything that includes pasta & tuna in any shape or form so I shall give this a go for sure
x
Aah thanks Laura. Hope you enjoy it if you do. I love finding ways of making a quick creamy sauce without having to make a roux. Always manage to make a lumpy one. So a bit of double dream and cream cheese, or even just creme fraiche, mixed with a bit of milk and cheese is a winner here!
Tuna casserole was a weekly staple when my kids were little and this looks twice as good.
Thanks Magnolia! Have a wonderful weekend x
This truly does look fabulicious Ren! I love a good Tuna Pasta Bake. It’s a real favourite meal for me! xxoo
Thanks Marie – so glad you like it too. A great weekday winner!
Nothing like a pasta bake to comfort.
Hope the chicken pox recovery is swift. I got it when I was 18, immediately after my A levels and had a miserable time of it.
Oh gosh, how awful to get it so late. Thanks Helen, yes it is almost over and it has been very mild. Thanks for stopping by x