Tuna Rice Bake

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 5 tablespoons olive oil (for tomato sauce)
• 1 onion, finely chopped (for tomato sauce)
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed (for tomato sauce)
• 1 teaspoon oregano (for tomato sauce)
• 1 teaspoon basil (for tomato sauce)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (for tomato sauce)
• 3 bay leaves (for tomato sauce)
• 1/4 cup baby carrots, very finely diced (for tomato sauce)
• 2 tomatoes, diced (for tomato sauce)
• 1 (400 g) can peeled roma tomatoes (for tomato sauce)
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (for tomato sauce)
• 1 teaspoon salt (for tomato sauce)
• 1 teaspoon sugar (for tomato sauce)
• 370 g tuna chunks in oil (2 cans, for tuna rice)
• 8 champignon mushrooms, peeled and sliced (for tuna rice)
• 1 red capsicum, diced (for tuna rice)
• 1/2 cup green olives, halved (for tuna rice)
• 1/2 lemon, pulp and zest (for tuna rice)
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil (for tuna rice)
• 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano (for tuna rice)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for tuna rice)
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (for tuna rice)
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed (for tuna rice)
• 3 cups cooked brown rice (for tuna rice)
• 1/4 cup olive oil (for tuna rice)

Recipe

• 1 first make the tomato sauce, then the tuna rice mix.
• 2 tomato sauce: heat olive oil in medium large saucepan. saute the onions till fragrant, then add oregano, basil, bay leaves, cloves, and a bit later then garlic.
• 3 tomato sauce: add carrots and fresh tomatoes. saute till tomatoes become tender and juicy.
• 4 tomato sauce: add the canned roma tomatoes and stir. pinch in salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. lower heat and leave to simmer.
• 5 preheat oven to 350 f or 180°c.
• 6 tuna rice: mix all ingredients in a bowl, then transfer to a large rectangular casserole and even out its distribution.
• 7 layer the tuna rice with sour cream, chunky tomato sauce, and cheese. throw in the oven until the cheese is melted.
• 8 garnish the finished product with fresh parsley.
• 9 serving suggestion: excellent with an appetizer of pear salad with honey mustard dressing, and a dessert of lime sorbet with berry sauce. serve with your choice of or sparkling wine.