Julie Goodwin's Cheesy Tuna Pies

Just for a change - photo by ME!

Serves 4

Prep time - 10 minutes
Cooking time - 25 minutes

Get This -

1 x 375g packet macaroni
50g butter
1 medium carrot, diced small

1 brown onion, diced

1 cup frozen baby peas

1 tin corn kernels

1/4 cup plain flour

1 1/2 cups milk

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 cup grated tasty cheese

425g tin tuna in brine, drained

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

1 cup fresh bread crumbs

Olive oil spray

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (180 degrees Celsius fan forced).
2. In a large pot of rapidly boiling, salted water, cook the pasta to packet directions. Drain.
3. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter and add the carrot and onion. Saute gently until the carrots are soft. Add the peas and corn.
4. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to coat all the vegetables well.
5. Pour in 1/2 cup milk and stir until it is all incorporated and starting to form a thick, doughy sauce. Add another half a cup and repeat. Add the last of the milk and cook for a minute more, stirring.
6. Toss in the mustard and cheese and stir until the cheese has melted. Add the tuna; break up any huge lumps but don't stir too much after this or the tuna will disintegrate and become mushy. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
7. Stir the pasta gently through and divide between 4 ramekins or small pie dishes. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top and give a little spray of olive oil.
8. Bake for 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown and crunchy.

Tuna Rissoles/Patties/Balls/Cakes

Makes 10 small balls

Get This:

1 small can tuna
1 small can flavoured tuna (my favourite is sun dried tomato & basil)
1/4 brown onion finely chopped
1 egg
breadcrumbs
1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
salt & pepper
flour to coat
oil to shallow fry

Do This:

• Put drained tuna, onion, egg, sauce, salt & pepper in a mixing bowl.
• Add enough breadcrumbs so that the mixture holds together.
• Mix well with your hands (remember to remove rings!!).
• Roll into whatever size you like.
• Coat in flour.
• Shallow fry until golden brown all over.

OPTIONS

• onion can be grated (although it tends to turn into mush) or fried lightly first.
• add grated carrot, grated zucchini, frozen corn, fresh herbs or peas if you want to sneak some vegies into non-vegie eaters.