Tuna Noodle Casserole

Perfect Pairing:  Rainy day

 

Tuna noodle casserole typically does not fall under the gourmet category.  It may not be fancy but it is some seriously good comfort food.

A few weeks ago after church my boyfriend and I were going to swing by the grocery store to pick up something for lunch.  It was a cold and rainy day, which is the perfect setup for comfort food and movies.  I asked him what sounded good and gave him a rundown of possible menu options and he chose pasta.  So for the rest of the ride to the store I came up with a tuna noodle casserole recipe in my head.

 

Friends…. This is good eats.  It was the perfect thing to enjoy on a rainy day (which there have been WAY too many of recently in Chicago) and it was really cheap!  The sauce is a simple white sauce that is enhanced with Dijon mustard, sour cream, and two kinds of cheese.  No canned soups here!  I swapped out the traditional potato chip topping for Ritz crackers since I had them on hand.

 

Plan on lots of leftovers!  I sent some home with my boyfriend who ended up eating it for the next four out of five meals.  I think it is safe to say he liked it.
 

 

One year ago on Perfecting the Pairing:  Greek Turkey Burgers

Two years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Risotto with Corn, Roasted Peppers, and Pepper Jack Cheese

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Tuna Hummus Melts

Perfect Pairing: Sabra hummus

My typical Saturday morning ritual is to clean my place with the Food Network on in the background.  If I glance up and see something interesting I will shut off the vacuum and tune in.  On one such morning I saw my favorite cook, Barefoot Contessa, make a tuna salad sandwich and she served it over a layer of homemade hummus.  Brilliant!  I loved that idea.  Of course, she made her own hummus and the tuna salad still had full fat mayonnaise in it, but it gave me a great idea.  Why not substitute hummus for mayonnaise in the salad?  Even though hummus still has some fat from the tahini it is a much healthier option. 

I made Tuna Hummus Melts for a small get together at my house and I really liked them.  You truly don’t miss the mayonnaise.  I used rye bread, a few slices of tomato, and havarti dill cheese melted on top.  My favorite brand of hummus is Sabra.  The classic variety was perfect in this recipe but you could use one of the flavored versions for an added kick.

There was quite a bit of leftover tuna after the party so I made my own version of tuna noodle casserole.  I made a basic white sauce, stirred in some cheese, cooked pasta, the leftover tuna, and frozen peas.  Voila!  It was quite tasty.  Just something to keep in mind if you have some leftovers!

 

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Tuna and Potato Salad

Perfect Pairing: Make-ahead lunches

In the spirit of healthy eating week, my next recipe is a yummy tuna and potato salad with crisp romaine lettuce.  I have been making a variation of this salad for years and it is one of my favorites.  The potatoes make it hearty and add great texture.  Canned tuna (or tuna in the pouch) is such an easy protein to throw on salads. 

The Perfect Pairing for this recipe is make-ahead lunches.  I prep everything on the weekend and portion out the lettuce and veggies in plastic containers.  I keep the dressing in a jelly jar so it is easy to shake up and distribute over the salad.  I use a small can (3 oz) of tuna on each portion.  I look forward to this tasty and healthy salad all week long.

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Warm Potato and Tuna Salad over Arugula

Perfect Pairing: Grocery store salad bar

This salad is deceptively delicious.  When I first sent the recipe to my mom she was dubious.  After I made it she declared that it was one of her favorite meals.  The warm potatoes soak up the tartness of the vinegar and pair nicely with the rich taste of the tuna and olives.  Everything is served over a bed of peppery arugula.  The picture above shows a double recipe that I made for a crowd.

I usually do not purchase the tuna packed in olive oil but I definitely think it is the way to go with this recipe rather than tuna packed in water.  The amounts listed in the recipe are more suggestions and can be modified to suit your tastes.  Be sure to taste the salad at the end and add more salt, pepper, olive oil and vinegar as needed. 

The Perfect Pairing for this recipe is the salad bar at your grocery store.  The recipe calls for a small amount of celery and carrots.  If you are like me, you will end up with the extra in your crisper drawer for way too long.  Utilize your store’s salad bar and buy just want you need.  It is already clean and ready to go.  While it may seem like a silly extra step to cook the potatoes with the vegetables, it adds a lot of flavor. 

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