Tuna Mornay
A classic comfort food combining tender pasta, creamy sauce, and savory tuna, perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Pasta and Tuna Base
- 350 g 350g / 12oz penne pasta (or other short pasta) Or substitute with another short pasta
- 425 g 425g / 15 oz canned tuna, preferably in oil, drained Can substitute with salmon
- 400 g 400g / 14 oz canned corn, drained Can use other vegetables
Sauce Ingredients
- 40 g 40g / 3 tbsp butter For sauce
- 3 cloves 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 4 tbsp 4 tbsp (50g) flour, plain/all-purpose
- 4 cups 4 cups (1 litre) milk (any fat %, dairy or non-dairy)
- 2 tsp 2 tsp Vegeta, or chicken or veg stock powder/granulated bouillon
- ½ cup 1/2 cup (50g) parmesan, finely shredded
- ½ tsp 1/2 tsp each mustard powder, onion and garlic powder
Topping Ingredients
- 25 g 25g / 1.5 tbsp butter, melted
- ½ cup 1/2 cup (60g) panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ g 1/4g (25g) parmesan, finely grated
- ¼ tsp 1/4 tsp salt
Garnish
- Chives or parsley Optional garnish
Instructions
Preparation and Topping
- Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F.
- In a bowl, mix together the melted butter, panko breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, and salt for the crunchy topping. Set it aside.
Cook Pasta
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, but subtract one minute from the cooking time.
- Drain the pasta and allow it to cool slightly before returning it to the pot.
Prepare White Sauce
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter and add the minced garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds.
- Stir in the flour until it’s well mixed with the butter. Whisk in about one-third of the milk, then add the remaining milk while whisking.
- Add the Vegeta, mustard, onion, and garlic powder, and continue whisking until the sauce thickens (about 4-5 minutes).
- Remove the sauce from heat and stir in the parmesan.
Combine Ingredients
- Add the drained tuna to the pasta and flake it into large chunks. Be careful not to break it up too much.
- Add the drained corn and pour the white sauce over the pasta, gently mixing everything together.
Bake
- Scrape the mixture into a baking dish and top it with the crunchy topping.
- Bake for about 25 minutes until the top is golden and edges are bubbling. If desired, sprinkle with chives before serving!
Notes
Tuna Mornay is a versatile dish. For extra flavor, add sautéed onions or bell peppers. Experiment with different types of cheese for enhanced taste. For more crunch, consider adding crushed potato chips on top before baking. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for 2 months. You can prepare it a day in advance and refrigerate it until ready to bake.