Homemade Tuna Helper
I went to make dinner one night and was out of both tuna AND Tuna Helper, but wanted something along those lines. I improvised some ingredients into this:
I went to make dinner one night and was out of both tuna AND Tuna Helper, but wanted something along those lines. I improvised some ingredients into this:
- Carbohydrate 68.5252533333333 g
- Cholesterol 118.49 mg
- Fat 15.3173533333333 g
- Fiber 0.374000005920728 g
- Protein 14.8447666666667 g
- Saturated Fat 7.99372933333333 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (840g)
- Sodium 468.021333333333 mg
- Sugar 68.1512533274126 g
- Trans Fat 1.67896266666666 g
- Calories 472 calories
Step-by-step
- Cook just like you would regular Helper! Dump it all in a skillet and cook on med, stirring often, til the pasta is soft and it's starting to thicken up.
Skillet Selection
Traditional pasta cooking requires a rolling boil in excess water to hydrate starches evenly. This skillet method restricts liquid to two cups of water and one cup of milk, which concentrates starches directly in the pan. Use a heavy-bottomed twelve-inch skillet to distribute heat evenly and prevent scorching the dairy solids. Thin aluminum pans will create hot spots, burning the flour thickener before the pasta softens.Starch Management
Flour requires direct heat to cook out its raw taste, but raw wheat flour can clump when added to warm liquids. Whisk the two teaspoons of flour thoroughly into the cold milk before adding it to the skillet. Stir constantly during the medium-heat phase to encourage the released starches from the pasta to bond with the butter and milk fats, creating a cohesive emulsion rather than a separated grease.Heat Control
Maintain the burner at medium heat to prevent the dairy from boiling over or curdling. Simmer the mixture for approximately twelve to fifteen minutes until the pasta reaches an al dente texture and the liquid reduces into a clingy sauce. Remove the pan from the heat immediately once the target viscosity is reached, as residual pan heat will continue to cook the noodles past acceptable parameters.
