Spaghetti with Tuna Balls and Red Pepper Sauce

OMG this was a success! I can’t believe how much this little man can eat. Although, I have to admit, it really was yummy. Daddy added loads of Tabasco to his portion and was very happy indeed.

Portions: 2 adults + 2 children
Cooking time: 40 minutes

What's in it: Tuna is a good source of protein, omega 3 fats and minerals. Tomatoes and red peppers in the sauce will give you a great Vitamin C boost, which will help your body absorb important minerals.

Ingredients:

• 300-400g Spaghetti (or pasta shapes for a less messy meal)
• ½ onion, roughly chopped
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 red peppers, roughly chopped
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 handful fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons cream cheese or crème fraȋche
• 2 tins tuna, preferably olive oil or natural
• 2 eggs
• 1 handful parsley, chopped
• Natural breadcrumbs
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Salt, pepper, dried oregano

Preparation:

1. Mix together drained tuna, eggs, parsley and lemon juice in a bowl; season with salt, pepper and dried oregano. Add a few spoons of breadcrumbs until the mixture is dry enough to from balls. Cover with cling film, set aside and start preparing the sauce.
2. In a sauce pan, gently fry onions and red peppers with a few tablespoons of olive oil for a few minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and basil. Season with salt and pepper, cover and cook gently until the tuna balls are done.
3. Cook pasta according to packet instructions.
4. Preheat oven to 100ºC.  Cover base of a large frying pan with rapeseed oil and bring to a medium heat. Form little tuna balls and gently fry them on all sides until golden brown.  Transfer onto an oven-proof dish and keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.
5. Blitz sauce using a hand blender. Reheat and add crème fraȋche.
6. Serve spaghetti in a deep plate with red pepper sauce and tuna balls on top. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.

Adult version: Try adding chilli powder or Tabasco to the sauce to spice it up.

Tuna balls and pepper sauce can be frozen. I would recommend re-heating tuna balls can in the oven. The pepper sauce can be warmed up in the microwave. Pasta should be cooked fresh.


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About this blog
This blog is about family cooking. It's important to get together for family meals. Here I'm posting healthy family recipes that kids and adults will love and make cooking for the family more fun. All my family recipes are well balanced and healthy family recipes but they can be tweaked for fussy eaters or spiced up for a more sophisticated adult palate. I'm not posting anything that my boys don't eat. In addition to the healthy family recipes, I'm publishing some of my knitting and crochet patterns for toddler toys and accessories.