Tuna gets a bad rap…especially canned tuna. I know so many people that turn up their nose at the thought or smell of it, and that makes me sad. I grew up loving and eating lots of canned tuna: Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Tuna Patties, Creamed Tuna, and my favorite, Tuna Noodle Casserole.
I am visiting my parents this week and I was craving tuna noodle casserole. I thought it might be fun to make a recipe that was different than the typical one I throw together from memory. So I came across this really interesting-sounding version of the casserole on Pinterest and was totally inspired to try it out. I found upon clicking through Pinterest that it came from Martha Stewart, and I haven’t cooked many of her recipes, so I figured I better give it a shot.
What makes this recipe so different, you ask? It takes the classic tuna casserole and gives it some Mediterranean flair. When I saw that artichoke hearts were involved, that was pretty much all I needed to see. I heart artichoke hearts…really, I do love them. The recipe also creates a creamy sauce with some red bell peppers, olive oil, flour and milk. I thought that was very clever. Add the tuna, artichoke hearts and some scallions to the egg noodles and creamy pepper sauce, top with Parmesan cheese, bake and enjoy!
The dish was creamy, flavorful and totally hit the spot. I cannot wait to make this again. Next time, I think I’m going to add some olives (kalamata olives would be fab) to the dish to add to the Mediterranean flavors and also give it a little salty kick to balance out the sweetness of the bell pepper. I could also see adding some red pepper flakes while sauteeing the peppers to give it a bit of heat as well. Now we’re talking! I love too that you could make the casserole ahead of time, then refrigerate it until you are ready to bake and serve.
The idea with this week’s culinary adventure was to illustrate a creative, different way to eat tuna and to show its versatility. I hope I’ve gotten you thinking about a way you can add tuna to your diet. Canned tuna is such an economical choice plus it’s great for you. It is full of omega-3 fatty acids to help your heart as well as your skin by reducing the risk of sunburns and skin cancer, plus it helps lower your triglycerides to keep your cholesterol low. The benefits keep on going, but I won’t bore you.
For a delicious casserole that is a great weeknight meal, click here for the recipe and step by step instructions. Here is one note…I halved the recipe as it makes 2 8×8 inch pans of casserole, and I didn’t need that much. So my measurements are 1/2 of the recipe listed.
What I was cooking up a year ago: Paella…A Gastronomic Delight!
Ooh, this meal was so delicious and a real crowd pleaser. I made it in memory of my late aunt who used to make us paella every Easter when our family gathered for Easter lunch. This recipe was beyond good so be sure to check it out. 🙂
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