Modern Tuna Casserole

  Dinner

I loved tuna casserole as a kid and found myself craving it as an adult. However, the massive amounts of fat and salt in the traditional recipe were a turnoff healthwise, and it just didn't taste as good as I remembered. I reconfigured the recipe to include more vegetables and the result was delicious.

Modern Tuna Casserole

Average Rating: 4.5

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Cook: 20 min.
YIELD: 6 servings.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 4 medium carrots, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup sliced baby portobello mushrooms
  • 2 cans (5 ounces each) albacore white tuna in water, drained and flaked
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 3 cups uncooked spiral pasta
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup half-and-half cream
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • 1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add carrots, onion, red pepper and mushrooms. Cook and stir until tender, 8-10 minutes. Add tuna, spinach and peas; cook until spinach is just wilted, 2-3 minutes.
  • 2. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta water. In a large bowl, place pasta and tuna mixture; toss to combine. Wipe skillet clean.
  • 3. In the same skillet, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually whisk in broth and cream. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes, adding reserved pasta water if needed. Stir in cheese, salt and pepper. Pour over pasta; toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts

1-3/4 cups: 372 calories, 11g fat (6g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 767mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 5g fiber), 23g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges:
3 lean meat, 2-1/2 starch, 1-1/2 fat, 1 vegetable.

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