Cheesey Tuna & Spinach Bake

Growing up, tuna pasta bake was my favourite favourite thing to eat. This comforting bake using tuna, spinach and onions is just as warming and delicious, without the pesky carbs. It also happens to be much quicker and easier to make. Win!

I love using frozen spinach because it’s so convenient, but you’re welcome to use any fresh greens. Just wilt them with a little olive oil before using.

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Cheesey Tuna & Spinach Bake

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

• 2 onions sliced
• 1 packet frozen Spinach 250g / 9oz, defrosted
• 2 medium cans tuna 200g / 7oz each, drained
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 handfuls grated cheese

Instructions

• Heat a little oil in a medium oven-proof frying pan on a medium high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often until onion is soft and golden.
• Preheat your oven to 250C (480F). When the onion is cooked, remove from the heat. Stir in spinach, tuna and sour cream. Smooth the top and sprinkle over cheese.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and everything is hot.

WINE MATCH: A crisp dry white like a Gruner Veltliner or Riesling.

Variations & Substitutions

pantry-friendly – sour cream = pesto.

no oven-proof frying pan – cook the onion and transfer to an oven proof pot, dish or springform pan. You want it to be about 24 cm (9in) diameter but don’t stress too much.

fresher – serve with a squeeze of lemon.

different greens – use any frozen or pre-cooked greens. Kale is great as are collard greens or chard (silver beet).

different cheese – I use a melting cheese like emmental or gruyere but any melting cheese like cheddar or swiss is good.

more substantial (carb-lovers) – toss in cooked pasta before baking or serve with crusty bread and butter.

more substantial (low carb) – extra tuna or spinach. Add some roast almonds.

vegetarian – replace tuna with cooked chickpeas, lentils or boiled eggs. Also thinking mushrooms would be lovely cooked in with the onions. Add some sunflower seeds.

carnivore – replace tuna with bacon, ham or ground meat (brown in pan first).

dairy-free – try replacing the sour cream with the dairy-free variation of my pesto and using sliced almonds instead of the melted cheese. Actually that sounds delicious – mental note to try the pesto version.

keto / ultra low carb – cheese = parmesan.

Waste Avoidance Strategy

onion – will keep in the pantry for months. Best if in a dark corner in a brown paper bag.

frozen Spinach – will keep in the freezer for months.

cans tuna – keep them in the pantry.

sour cream – keeps for weeks in the fridge.

cheese – most hard and melting cheeses will keep for weeks wrapped in waxed paper or baking paper and stored in an airtight container (or sealed ziplock bag) in the fridge. If you need to store for longer cheese can be frozen.

Prepare Ahead

Absolutely. Assemble ahead but don’t melt the cheese. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze. To serve pop in the hot oven until cheese is melted.