My kids love tuna noodle casserole so I thought they might like this too. It doesn’t scream “tuna” (as my kids would never consider eating a tuna salad sandwich) but they are still getting the protein and it doesn’t taste too fishy.
Ingredients:
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 28-ounce can of tomatoes, crushed (with or without basil)
Salt, to taste
1 pound pasta shells
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 6-ounce can tuna (may want to use 2 cans depending on your family’s fish likes/dilikes)
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped or torn
A generous 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions:
Melt the butter in a medium pot on medium heat and add the can of tomatoes, including the juice.
Simmer gently, partially covered, for about 15-20 minutes.
Once the sauce is cooking, heat a large pot of well salted water to a strong boil. Add the shell pasta to the boiling water and cook at a vigorous boil, uncovered, until al dente, cooked through but still a bit firm to the bite, which is usually whatever the time specified on the pasta package minus about 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Pour off the excess oil/water from the tuna can and stir the tuna into the tomato sauce. Add the ricotta cheese, and add salt to taste. Turn off the heat. Mix the sauce with the pasta in a large bowl. Mix in the basil.
Pour the pasta into a 2 to 3-quart casserole dish and top with the parmesan cheese. Put under a hot broiler for 4-6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Serve hot.
What did the family think? Our youngest was at a birthday party eating pizza and cake, but the rest of us had this and liked it.
Where did this recipe come from? Simply Recipes
