With the kids back in school now, I find myself running here or there for activities constantly, and some nights I just don’t have time to make dinner. Takeout is awesome every now and then, but truthfully, since I’m not making it myself, I’m not sure how fresh or how nutritious it is. Um, they could be putting expired cheese or sauce on that pizza for all I know. Not to mention the cost. Especially out here in California, it’s much easier on the budget to cook at home!
So on nights when time is very limited, I go with shortcuts, like canned soup and canned fish, specifically Bumble Bee Tuna.
The other night I bought some solid white albacore tuna and made some Tuna Parmesan Tetrazzini. It’s a fancy name for a fancy dish, but the “shortcut” version is really simple to make.
- ½ green bell pepper, chopped
- ½ red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 (10 ounce) box Rotini pasta, cooked and drained
- ½ yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 ( 8 oz) package of fresh mushrooms
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup Parmesan shredded cheese, or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley
- 2 (4 oz) cans solid white albacore tuna in water
- ½ cup water
- Salt and coarse black Pepper, to taste
- green onions, optional
Basically, you prepare the pasta like you’re preparing spaghetti, reserving a little bit of the cooking water when you drain it. While that’s cooking, you chop up the vegetables.
One you’ve chopped the veggies, in a small skillet, saute the veggies over low heat until they’re soft and tender.
Once they’re nicely translucent in color, gently fold them into the pasta until thoroughly mixed.
Then gradually add the tuna in the pasta, and mix well.
Once the tuna is added, take the cream of mushroom and pour it over the pasta, stir well.
Now add in the grated Parmesan cheese.
Then fold in the fresh Parmesan cheese and add in the water, then cook the Tetrazzini on low heat until the cheese is melted and gooey. If the pasta is too thick when heated through, use a little bit of the starchy pasta water to thin it out. When it’s the consistency you’d like, then season it with salt and pepper until you’re satisfied with the taste. It’s super delicious and super simple. I make it often on crazy weeknights.
Let’s talk about why I buy Bumble Bee tuna. First, it’s a brand that’s been around as long as I can remember, and it’s something my mom bought and now something that I buy. I can always trust it to be fresh and flavorful.
I also love it because it’s nutritious. Bumble Bee Albacore products are a delicious and simple way to add a variety of nutrients to your diet including lean protein, healthy fats, and other important vitamins and minerals.
I do have a few other shortcut meals up my sleeve for nights when band concerts and sports practices cut into dinner time, but this one is one of my favorites. Give it a try and let me know what you think!