Tuna Mornay

The weather is beginning to turn autumnal here in Western Australia and with that comes the return of comfort food.

There is something very soothing about tuna mornay, memories back in the seventies and eighties of this being a bit of a go to dish in my childhood home, minus the capsicum/bell pepper and certainly not gluten free. 

Now that I make it for my boys it has become gluten free, has the corn  and capsicum in it and a few good dollops of whole grain mustard to give it some kick.

This makes 12 serves, now that may seem excessive but it freezes really well so I use the make one freeze one mantra for an easy meal possibly through the coming school hols?

Ingredients

150g butter

1 large onion, peeled and diced

250g capsicum/bell pepper, diced

3 large ears of corn, kernels removed

120g gluten free plain flour

1 litre milk

3 level or heaped tablespoons whole grain mustard

200g cheddar, grated

Salt and pepper

2 x 425g tins of tuna, drained and loosened to form chunks.

340g gluten free penne pasta, cooked as per the label

TOPPING

50g cheddar, grated

65g gluten free bread made into breadcrumbs

Method

Cook the pasta as per the label. Drain and cover.

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees centigrade.

In a large pan, melt the butter over a medium heat, add the onion, capsicum and corn kernels and cook until the onion is translucent.

Add the flour to the pan and cook, stirring for 1 minute.

Pour the milk into the pan, still stirring. Bring the sauce up to the boil gently, stirring all of the time.

Take it off the heat as soon as it has come to the boil and thickened.

Now stir the mustard and cheese through and season with salt and pepper.

Add the drained pasta to the pan and the tuna, stir briefly.

Spoon into your oven proof serving dish or dishes if you are making a spare one for the freezer.

Combine the cheese and breadcrumbs and sprinkle over the top.

Pop the pasta dish into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling.

Dukkah

Dukkah, what can I say, one of my favourite ingredients for so many things!

On its own with bread and olive oil, as a crust for chicken and fish, spooned over salads, sprinkled over rice, popped into soups, sprinkled over a mashed avocado, added to an egg for breakfast and even sprinkled over the top of barbecued meat.

This is a totally non traditional recipe, no hazelnuts and no roasting of spices but it works for us and keeps in a jar for a couple of weeks so this is the minimum quantity that I make.

Ingredients

60g macadamia nuts

50g pistachio nuts

4 teaspoons sesame seeds

3 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons ground coriander

a pinch of ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons nigella seeds

a really good grinding of fresh ly ground pepper

salt to taste

Method

In a frying pan, toast the nuts until just beginning to colour. Tip onto a plate to cool.

In a large mortar and pestle, crush the nuts so that it’s mostly powdery with a few bigger pieces, don’t over do it or it will be oily and stick.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Taste and add a little more salt if needed.

Store in an airtight container.

Seared Tuna With Black Sesame And Pepper Crust And Avocado Cream

An absolute luxury in our house!

Simple and effective, the freshest Sashimi grade tuna seared like a steak with a wee drop of sauce to go with it.

This can be cooked on a barbecue hot plate too.

Serves 2.

Ingredients

250g piece of tuna

1 tablespoonful gluten free soy sauce or tamari sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

2 tablespoons black sesame seeds

freshly ground pepper

DRESSING

1 small avocado

60mls sour cream

juice of 1/4  lime

salt and pepper

Method

Combine the soy sauce, sesame oil and ginger in a shallow dish.

Place the tuna in the marinade and turn to cover the entire fillet.

Allow to marinade for 30 minutes and then turn and marinade again for 30 minutes.

While the tuna is marinading, process the avocado cream ingredients, check for seasoning and set aside.

Heat a frying pan over a very high heat.

Take the tuna out of the marinade and wipe with some kitchen paper to dry the entire fillet.

Pour the sesame seeds and pepper onto a plate, dip the tuna in the sesame mix until totally covered.

Lay the fillet in the very hot pan and sear to your liking, turn and repeat.

I allow the tuna to cool to room temperature before slicing and serving but you can serve it hot from the pan.

Salade Nicoise

My version of the French classic, so good even my boys eat it all, including the anchovies!

The anchovies have a little soak in the milk to reduce the saltiness and make them more palatable to the boys, a thirty minute soak and then dried on paper towel is ideal.

Serves 4-6.

Ingredients

425g tin tuna in olive oil, drained

8 anchovies in oil, drained

60mls milk

4 eggs, hard boiled, halved

8 kalamata olives

1 teaspoon baby capers in vinegar, rinsed

160g snow peas, string removed, cut in three lengthwise

3 spring onions, topped and tailed, finely sliced

200g mixed lettuce leaves

DRESSING

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 clove garlic, minced

salt and pepper

Method

Prepare the dressing, combine all of the ingredients and set aside.

Layer the anchovies in a small bowl and pour over the milk, give them a wee swirl and then set aside for thirty minutes.

Remove the anchovies and dry on kitchen towel, discard the milk.

I tend to layer the salad, keeping a few pieces from each ingredient back, toss gently and then top with the reserved pieces.

Dress the salad and serve.

Tuna and Cannellini Bean Patties

These are a store cupboard pattie, I seem to always have the basic ingredients in the pantry and the beans make a nice change to a potato based fishcake. I also like the fact that I’m sneaking beans into the boys!

Makes 8.

Ingredients

100g finely diced onion

200g grated cheese

2 x 425g tins cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

425g tin tuna, drained well

75g gluten free breadcrumbs

1 jalapeño chilli, finely diced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 egg, beaten

salt and pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Centigrade and line two baking sheets with baking parchment.

In a large bowl, lightly mash the beans with a fork, add the remaining ingredients and, using your hands, combine well and form into patties.

Pop the patties onto the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 mins.