Tuna Pasta Bake

So finally Ramadan is declared, and it is tomorrow! Tomorrow, or rather from tonight, will mark a whole new routine for the next one month! We will have special Ramadan prayers called Taraweeh, which will start from tonight and will go on till Eid is declared. It will be the time for late dinners, a light meal before the striking of dawn and total abstinence from dawn to dusk. Since summer is at the peak this year, the dawn here starts at around 4 am and will go on till around 7:15 pm, that's quite some long time, when the temperatures are peaking 45-48 degrees Celsius and the humidity can go till 100 percent! But Alhamdulillah, even though the first couple of days is difficult, the body gets adjusted to it and will withstand all the stress of not eating!

The Qur'an says: "O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation." [2:183] This verse clearly explains the purpose of why fasting was made one of the major pillars of Islam. It teaches you to abstain from all worldly pleasure - food, drink and all - and appreciate the blessings provided to you by the Almighty. I thought for today, I will share this image, which very nicely explains the essence of Ramadan:


Off to today's recipe, one of the lazy meals that I always love to make - pasta and tuna are an awesome combination. If you don't like tuna, you can always replace it with chicken, however the cooking time will not be eligible for being called a lazy meal!!! ;)

Tuna Pasta Bake
Serves 4
Recipe adapted from BBC Good Food ME


Ingredients:

250 gm pasta, any type, cooked till done
20 gm butter
3 tbsp flour
300 ml milk
Salt and pepper to taste
2 x 170 gm tins light meat flake tuna
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp paprika powder
1/4 tsp garam masala powder
Mozarella cheese, as required

Method:

Cook the pasta, drain and set aside. Heat the butter in a saucepan. Add the flour and fry for a couple of minutes. Add in the milk and stir continously till the sauce becomes thick and has no lumps. Add in salt and pepper, mix well and switch off. 

Drain the tuna of all the excess oil. Heat a frying pan and dump the tuna into it. Continuously saute till the tuna gets almost dry (don't completely dry it, otherwise the pasta will be very dry). Add in the masalas and fry for a couple of minutes. Switch off the flame. 

Spread the cooked macaroni in a glass baking pan. Pour the sauce on top of it. Spread the tuna evenly to cover the macaroni. Finally sprinkle the mozzarella cheese till the top is covered. 

Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for 15 minutes, till the cheese melts. Serve warm!!!

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