Tuna casserole

Tuna casserole

Tuna casserole just out of the oven
Place of origin United States
Main ingredients egg noodles, tuna, peas
Cookbook:Tuna casserole  Tuna casserole
Tuna casserole closeup

Tuna casserole is a casserole mainly composed of egg noodles (or some other starch such as rice) and canned tuna fish, with canned peas and corn sometimes added. The casserole is often topped with potato chips, corn flakes or canned fried onions.[1] It is a common dish in some parts of the United States. Tuna casserole is convenient to the extent that it may be prepared using no fresh ingredients.

History

Casseroles became a very popular household dish in the 1950s for a number of reasons; mainly the ingredients were cheap and easy to find at the store: a can of tuna, a can of vegetables, a can of soup, and a package of egg noodles and after 35 minutes is a prepared family dinner. Tuna casserole could also be frozen or refrigerated and then reheated to be eaten as a left over the next day. Tuna casserole is a very popular dish to take to pot lucks or in small communities, to be taken to the home of someone who is sick as a gesture of kindness.[2]

While every tuna casserole is different, historically, tuna casserole is made with egg noodles, chopped onion, shredded cheddar cheese, frozen green peas, canned, drained tuna, condensed cream of mushroom soup, sliced mushrooms and crushed potato chips. The cooked noodles, onion, cheese, peas, tuna, soup and mushrooms are mixed in a baking dish, with the potato chips and more cheese sprinkled on top, and then cooked.[3]

Tuna mornay

Also a common dish in most parts of Australia this dish is instead called tuna mornay and served with a Mornay sauce (Béchamel with cheese added, or cheese sauce). Peas and corn are usually added. Additionally, wheat pasta is used rather than egg noodles.[4]

See also

References

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on
  1. Moore, Mary (15 December 1952). "Fresh from the Kitchen: Buffet Supper for Holiday at Small Cost". Windsor Daily Star. p. 30. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  2. Smith, S. E. "What is Tuna Casserole?". wisegeek. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  3. "Best Tuna Casserole". allrecipes.com. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  4. Kennedy, Jane (12 December 2010). "Tonight's dinner: Tuna mornay". Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 June 2011.