Ahi Tuna And Pasta With Mushroom Bechamel Recipes

TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE WITH BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes less than directed on the package, about 9 minutes. Drain penne, reserving 1 cup pasta water, rinse, and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large, shallow saute pan. Stir in flour and continue stirring until golden, about 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Add minced onion, bay leaves, and cayenne pepper. Continue cooking until bechamel sauce thickens, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Place the cooked pasta into a large bowl. Add bechamel sauce and mix well. Crumble the drained tuna over the pasta. Add peas and Colby-Jack cheese; mix. Thin the mixture with 2 to 4 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Season with pepper and remaining salt. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.
• Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add bread cubes; mix well until bread is completely coated. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Top casserole with this bread mixture and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until top is browned and golden, about 10 minutes more.

AHI TUNA AND PASTA WITH MUSHROOM BECHAMEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C) or the lowest setting. Set tuna fillets out on the counter to take the chill off.
• Prepare bechamel sauce by melting 3 tablespoons butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk constantly until a copper-colored paste (roux) forms. Slowly whisk in milk and stir constantly until heated through and thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove bechamel from the heat.
• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add gemelli and boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes.
• While the gemelli is cooking, heat 2 tablespoons butter and a drizzle of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until hot enough to hear a sizzle. Add mushrooms and saute until softened and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add Marsala wine and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Reheat the bechamel. Add the mushroom mixture and stir to combine.
• Drain gemelli and add to the Dutch oven. Stir to combine with the mushroom sauce mixture. Cover and transfer to the preheated oven to keep warm.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Add panko and saute until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and wipe out the hot skillet.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil; heat until just shimmering. Swirl the oil in the pan and add tuna fillets. Cover the skillet and sear tuna for 2 minutes. Flip and sear the other sides for 1 1/2 minutes.
• Immediately transfer tuna to a large cutting board and thinly slice across the grain. Plate tuna on warmed plates with gemelli and mushroom mixture. Garnish with panko and parsley.