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Fish, Classics and bistro fare

Tuna pasta bake with green salad

This tuna pasta bake feeds 4 people, takes 45 minutes, is easy to make, and costs €1.90 per person. It layers pasta and flaked tuna in a homemade béchamel, topped with melted emmental. The trick to getting it right is draining and flaking the tuna well so it's spread through every bite.

A tuna pasta bake is the dish that saves busy weeknights and always makes kids happy.

Tuna pasta bake with green salad
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.90
Calories per person
680 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

A tuna pasta bake is a creamy béchamel wrapped around pasta that's still a little firm, with flaked tuna hiding in every spoonful. The top turns golden and crisp under melted emmental while the inside stays soft. It only takes butter, flour and milk, no fancy technique required.

This is the Tuesday night dinner that feeds everyone without eating up your evening, and it's also the one kids ask for without a fight. A green salad on the side rounds out the meal. Mon Chou keeps this one on the list of dishes that rescue busy weeks.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Pastaoften in the pantry 350 g
  • Tuna in wateroften in the pantry 2 can
  • Flouroften in the pantry 50 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Cider vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Milk 60 cl
  • Butter 50 g
  • Grated emmental 120 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Green salad 1

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Fish

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the pasta five minutes less than the package instructions, then drain. 7 min

    It finishes cooking in the oven.

  2. Make the béchamel with the butter, flour and hot milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper. 10 min

    Whisk constantly, the sauce thickens all at once.

  3. Mix the pasta, flaked tuna and béchamel together in a baking dish.

    Save a little béchamel to spread over the top.

  4. Cover with emmental and bake at 200°C until golden. 20 min

    Finish under the broiler for a nicer crust.

  5. Dress the salad with the oil, vinegar and salt, and serve alongside the bake.

    Let the bake rest five minutes before serving.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pour the hot milk into the roux a little at a time, whisking between additions, so the béchamel stays smooth with no lumps.
  • Go easy on the salt in the béchamel at first, the tuna and emmental already add plenty.
  • If the top browns too fast in the oven, cover the dish with foil for the last few minutes.

The variations

  • Swap the tuna for flaked smoked salmon for a different flavor.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the tuna and stir peas or softened leeks into the béchamel instead.
  • For a faster version, use store bought béchamel and save about ten minutes of prep.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with vinaigrette
  • Sliced tomatoes
  • Cold lemon water

Storage

The bake keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well in portions for up to a month. Reheat in the oven or microwave until hot all the way through.

Questions about this dish

Can you make tuna pasta bake ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble it the day before and keep it in the fridge unbaked. Let it sit out a bit before baking and add a few extra minutes in the oven to make up for the cold.

What kind of tuna works best for this bake?

Tuna packed in water is best since the béchamel is already rich. Drain it thoroughly before flaking so the bake doesn't turn watery.

Can you use a different cheese instead of emmental?

Yes, gruyère or comté both work well and give a stronger flavor. Avoid cheeses that release a lot of water as they melt.

How do you keep the pasta from getting mushy in the oven?

Drain the pasta five minutes before the package time, it finishes cooking in the oven inside the béchamel. This is what keeps the bake from turning soft.

How long does it take to make a tuna pasta bake with green salad?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a tuna pasta bake with green salad?

About 680 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a tuna pasta bake with green salad cost?

About €1.90 per serving, or €7.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, fish. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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