SUNNY'S TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE

Sunny's Tuna Noodle Casserole image

Sprinkling flour directly over the vegetables before adding the stock helps to thicken the mushroom filling for Sunny Anderson's casserole. Adding peas and fresh mushrooms makes the casserole a full meal that can be served on its own, or stretched further by adding a salad or a side of steamed broccoli.

Provided by Sunny Anderson

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter, plus more for baking dish
1 (12-ounce) bag or 4 cups egg noodles
16 ounces yellowfin or albacore tuna in oil, drained and flaked (recommended: Ortiz or Callipo)
10 ounces frozen peas, thawed
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Irish Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon whole dried thyme
1/2 cup chopped onion
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 pint heavy cream
3 cups panko breadcrumbs (Japanese)
3 tablespoons olive oil

Steps:

For the casserole: Preheat the oven to 375degrees F. Butter a 13- by 9-inch ovenproof dish or lasagna dish and set aside.
Cook the egg noodles in salted boiling water according to package directions for al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and immediately place the noodles in a large bowl filled with ice water to stop the cooking. Once cooled, drain and then pour the pasta into a large bowl with the tuna, peas and both cheeses. Toss to combine.
In a large pan with straight sides, add the 2 tablespoons butter, the olive oil, onions and thyme. Season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper and cook on medium heat until the onions are tender and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and cook gently until tender and darkened, about 5 minutes more. Add the Worcestershire sauce and horseradish, and then sprinkle the flour over the entire pan. Stir to help the flour soak into the vegetables and cook a minute more to lose the flour taste. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the chicken stock. Cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes, and then slowly stir in the heavy cream. Simmer until the cream is thickened slightly, about 4 minutes more. Taste and season with salt if needed. Pour the mushroom sauce over the prepared noodles in the large bowl and quickly stir to combine. Immediately pour into the prepared dish.
For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and olive oil. Season with a sprinkle of salt and a grind or two of pepper. Stir until the crumbs soak up the oil evenly. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the dish and place, uncovered, in the oven until the sides are bubbly and the top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Let it rest 5 minutes before serving.