Layered Tuna Bake

Originally when I planned our dinner menu this week, I had tuna patties on the list for tonight. As I was looking for recipes for cookies yesterday, I ran across a couple recipe cards from General Mills using Bisquick mix. This recipe was included on one.


2 cans (6 1/2 ounces each) tuna, drained
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup toasted almonds
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups Bisquick baking mix
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 egg yolk, beaten
Dill Sauce (below)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease baking dish, 8x8x2. Mix tuna, cheese, onion, celery, almonds, lemon juice, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix baking mix, milk and mayonnaise; beat vigorously 20 strokes. Spread half the dough in dish; top with tuna mixture. Spread remaining dough over tuna mixture. Brush with egg yolk. Bake until deep golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve with Dill Sauce. 6 to 8 servings.

Dill Sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons margarine or butter in 1-qt saucepan over low heat until melted. Stir in 2 tablespoons Bisquick baking mix, 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly, Boil and stir one minute.

The verdict: not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. I didn't have almonds, so I omitted them, but I don't think they would have added anything to the dish. I made my own baking mix because I am not going to buy any when I have all the ingredients in my cupboard. It turned out really well, probably better than the real stuff would have. And, the dill sauce is a white sauce with some dill added to it. It was taking incredibly long to melt the dang butter so I turned the heat up. Way up.

Big Chubb, of course, loved it, especially the dill sauce, though he felt it could have used a little more flavor to enhance the taste. Baby Chubb scarfed most of hers down and then started pretending to drop it on the floor. It is her way of saving some for later. Little Chubb ate about half of what I gave him, which was more than I expected.