Tuna Niçoise Fusilli Recipes

FUSILLI WITH TUNA AND TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the tomato sauce, tuna, capers, and lemon peel in a heavy large skillet. Using a fork, break the tuna into chunks. Simmer to blend the flavors, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Add the pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Toss the pasta with enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Stir in the parsley and serve.
• In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

TUNA NIçOISE FUSILLI

Steps:

• 1. Combine the fennel, diced pepper, tuna, olives, beans, oil, capers, and 2 tablespoons of the parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
• 2. Shortly before serving, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until it is just tender, or al dente. Drain pasta well and add to the tuna and vegetables. Carefully fold together with a rubber spatula, trying not to break up the tuna. Remove to a decorative serving bowl and sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of chopped parsley. Serve at room temperature.

SALAD NICOISE WITH SEARED TUNA

Steps:

• To make the vinaigrette: combine all ingredients in a mason jar. Screw the cap on the jar and shake the vinaigrette vigorously to emulsify. Set the dressing aside while preparing the salad so the flavors can marry.
• Cooking the potatoes, eggs, and green beans in the same pot cuts down on prep time and clean up. To do this, put the potatoes in a large saucepan, add water to cover and a nice pinch of salt; bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer the potatoes for 12 minutes to give them a head start, and then add the eggs. Place a steamer basket or colander on top of the simmering water. Put the green beans in the steamer and cover with a lid. Steam the beans for 5 minutes until crisp-tender while continuing to cook the potatoes until fork tender. Drain out the water and put the potatoes, eggs, and green beans in a colander; rinse briefly under cold water. Peel the shells off the eggs and cut them in 1/2 lengthwise.
• Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Rub the tuna on all sides with olive oil, and a bit of the vinaigrette; season with a fair amount of salt and pepper. Lay the tuna in the hot pan and sear for approximately 2 minutes on each side; as the tuna cooks, the red meat will become whiter. Transfer the tuna to a cutting board and slice.
• To assemble the salad: combine the potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, olives, anchovies, capers, and chives in a large mixing bowl. Take the vinaigrette and give it another good shake to recombine. Drizzle the salad with enough vinaigrette to fully moisten and toss gently to coat; season with salt and pepper. Take care not to mush up the ingredients - the important thing about salad nicoise is that it is arranged nicely on a platter with all the elements keeping their individual integrity. Put the tossed salad down the center of a serving platter and lay the seared tuna attractively across the top and the eggs around the rim. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette and serve.

TUNA NICOISE

Steps:

• Put the tuna in a mixing bowl and add the oil, thyme, salt and pepper. Turn the steaks to coat well.
• Heat a nonstick skillet large enough to hold the steaks in one layer and add the steaks. Cook about 3 minutes. Turn the pieces and cook 3 minutes on the other side.
• As the tuna cooks, prepare the sauce. Put onions, olives and capers in a mixing bowl and stir in the vinegar and pepper. Beat in the anchovy and oil and stir in the parsley.
• When the steaks have cooked, transfer them to a warm serving dish. Spoon half the sauce over the pieces, smoothing it over all. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.

TUNA NOODLE NICOISE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook egg noodles according to package directions, adding green beans to the cooking water during the last 3 minutes of cooking time.
• Drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• Add flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute.
• Slowly whisk in milk, and cook, whisking constantly, about 5 minutes or until mixture comes to a boil and thickens.
• Remove from heat, and slowly whisk in 1 cup Parmesan, whisking until smooth.
• Whisk in salt, red pepper flakes, and white pepper.
• Add noodles and green beans, parsley, tuna, capers, grated onion(if using) and, if desired, olives; gently toss to mix well.
• Add tomato, and gently toss to combine.
• Preheat to 375ºF.
• Transfer mixture to an 11- x 7-inch (1 1/2-quart) baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight, or sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan over casserole, and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.
• Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

TUNA SANDWICHES, NICOISE STYLE

Steps:

• .Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the green beans. When the water comes back to a boil, take the green beans out and add to a bowl of ice water. Once they are cooled, drain them, pat dry and chop.
• Combine the mayo, olives and lemon juice in a food processor and process until just about smooth. Transfer this mixture to a bowl.
• Drain the tuna and stir it into the mayo mixture. Add the eggs, tomatoes, green beans, dill, and the salt and pepper (to taste) and mix together.
• Toast the bread slices. Divide the tuna onto 4 slices of the bread, top with lettuce and remaining bread slices.

TUNA NIçOISE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Toss the potatoes with 2 tsp oil and some seasoning. Tip onto a large baking tray, then roast for 20 mins, stirring halfway, until crisp, golden and cooked through.
• Meanwhile, put eggs in a small pan of water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 8-10 mins, depending on how you like them cooked. Plunge into a bowl of cold water to cool for a few mins. Peel away the shells, then cut into halves.
• In a large salad bowl, whisk together the remaining oil, red wine vinegar, capers and chopped tomatoes. Season, tip in the onion, spinach, tuna and potatoes, then gently toss together. Top with the eggs, then serve straight away.