Tuna cherry tomato mac ‘n’ cheese
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Prep Time
15 Minutes
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Cook Time
30 Minutes
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Yield
1
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Difficulty Level
Easy
Ingredients
- 1 x 425g can Safcol Tuna in Springwater, drained and flaked
- 400g macaroni pasta, slightly undercooked following pack instructions
- 100g butter
- 4 tablespoons plain flour
- 1½ cups milk
- 1½ cups low salt chicken or vegetable stock
- 1½ cups of grated tasty cheese, packed
- 1 heaped teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Tabasco (optional)
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 punnet cherry or mini roma tomatoes, cut in half
to serve
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C
- In a large heavy pan, on a medium-low heat melt the butter, stir in the flour. Stirring all the time, cook for about a minute or until the flour and butter mixture is slightly sandy looking.
- Using a metal whisk, add the stock and milk in a steady stream whisking until combined and smooth. Turn the heat to medium and whisk or beat until the sauce starts to bubble and thicken to make a smooth thick sauce. Tip: if you have a few lumps, whisk faster!
- Add 1 cup of the grated cheese and the mustard, stir until well combined. Stir in the tuna and 2/3rds of the cherry tomatoes. Then fold in the slightly undercooked macaroni. Season generously with salt and pepper and Tabasco if you like it.
- Transfer to an ovenproof baking dish and decorate with the remaining cherry tomatoes.
- Scatter the remaining cheese then bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 180 degrees or until the mac ‘n’ cheese is golden brown and piping hot.
| Servings: | 4 |
| Ready in: | 45 Minutes |
| Course: | Dinner |
| Recipe Type: | Pasta, Video Recipes |
| Ingredient: | Tuna |
Tuna cherry tomato mac ‘n’ cheese
Mac ‘n’ cheese just got better…. if that’s even possible! Our tuna cherry tomato mac ‘n’ cheese version has cherry tomatoes and tuna for extra flavour and is one of those easy and affordable dishes the whole family will enjoy.
A twist on a classic.
Ashleigh Feltham (MNutrDiet)
Macaroni pasta and flour provide energy for your body as well as B vitamins which are needed to make energy from the food you eat. Milk, cheese and tuna will keep you feeling fuller for longer as good sources of protein. Protein is needed to create and repair all the cells in your body.
Milk, cheese, and tuna are good sources of choline and vitamin B12 which is needed for normal central nervous system function. Also, iodine and selenium help look after the health of your thyroid. Your thyroid produces hormones and plays a major role in the rate of your metabolism. Cheese and milk provide calcium which is needed for normal muscle contractions as well as to keep your teeth and bones strong.
Safcol tuna is a great source of vitamin D which allows calcium to be absorbed properly by your body. Parsley is a good source of plant-based iron or haem iron. Non-haem iron is better absorbed by your body when combined with haem iron that is found in Safcol tuna and vitamin C which is in good supply in the tomatoes.
Both the tomatoes and parsley offer antioxidants that help to fight off free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage and disease to the cells of your body. This is bound to become a new mac ‘n’ cheese recipe in your home.
Tips
You can use any pasta you like for this dish, penne or spirals work really well too. Transfer to a large ovenproof baking dish. Scatter the remaining cheese across the top of the pasta and decorate with the remaining tomatoes. Bake for about 30 minutes until the tuna, mac ‘n’ cheese is golden brown and piping hot. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve hot with a garden salad.
