Creamy Tuna and Broccoli Pasta Bake

Name: Creamy Tuna and Broccoli Pasta Bake
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 200g Mature Cheddar, grated; 150g Salad; 1 Head of Broccoli, chopped into florets; 2 Tins of Tuna, drained; 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard; 1 tbsp Olive Oil; 40g Plain Flour; 40g Butter; 568ml Semi Skimmed Milk; 400g Pasta; 1 Lemon, zest and juice; 30g Parsley, chopped; Maldon Salt, to taste

5m prep time

50m total time

Medium level

13 ingredients

A classic dish consisting of tuna, broccoli and pasta coasted in a cheesy, creamy sauce with a crunchy topping. We like to roast the broccoli in the oven beforehand to achieve a lovely texture, but if you'd prefer to save on the extra washing up, simply add it to the pasta pot and boil for the last 2 minutes of the pasta's cooking time.

Method

Based on 4 servings, adjust as needed.

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 180C. Chop the broccoli in to florets and slice the stem too. Chuck into an oven-proof dish and drizzle with olive oil and salt. Roast for 10 minutes while you make the cheese sauce.

Step 2

Melt the butter in a saucepan on a low heat and stir in the flour to make a roux. Cook this for 2 minutes, stirring continuously. Gradually whisk in the milk, making sure there are no lumps. Let the mixture boil for 30 seconds, it should start to thicken up.

Step 3

Meanwhile, boil the pasta in salted boiling water for 4 minutes less than stated on the packet, it will continue cooking in the oven. Add half the grated cheese, the tuna, mustard, lemon zest and parsley to the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove the broccoli from the oven and preheat the grill.

Step 4

Once the pasta is ready, drain it and reserve a splash of the pasta water. Toss the pasta with the sauce, adding a generous amount of the pasta water to loosen the sauce. Tip the pasta into the tray with the broccoli and give everything a good mx. Top with the remaining grated cheese, return the tray to the oven and grill for 15 minutes.

Step 5

Once the sauce is bubbling and the top is golden and crispy at the edges, leave the pasta bake to stand for a couple of minutes while you make a quick salad, if using. Dress it with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Plate up with the salad alongside and enjoy!