So finally Ramadan is declared, and it is tomorrow! Tomorrow, or rather from tonight, will mark a whole new routine for the next one month! We will have special Ramadan prayers called Taraweeh, which will start from tonight and will go on till Eid is declared. It will be the time for late dinners, a light meal before the striking of dawn and total abstinence from dawn to dusk. Since summer is at the peak this year, the dawn here starts at around 4 am and will go on till around 7:15 pm, that’s quite some long time, when the temperatures are peaking 45-48 degrees Celsius and the humidity can go till 100 percent! But Alhamdulillah, even though the first couple of days is difficult, the body gets adjusted to it and will withstand all the stress of not eating!
The Qur’an says: “O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.” [2:183] This verse clearly explains the purpose of why fasting was made one of the major pillars of Islam. It teaches you to abstain from all worldly pleasure – food, drink and all – and appreciate the blessings provided to you by the Almighty. I thought for today, I will share this image, which very nicely explains the essence of Ramadan:
Off to today’s recipe, one of the lazy meals that I always love to make – pasta and tuna are an awesome combination. If you don’t like tuna, you can always replace it with chicken, however the cooking time will not be eligible for being called a lazy meal!!! 😉 Recipe adapted from BBC Good Food ME
Tuna Pasta Bake
Servings 3
Ingredients
- 250 gm pasta any type, cooked till done
- 20 gm butter
- 3 tbsp flour
- 300 ml milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 x 170 gm tins light meat flake tuna
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika powder
- 1/4 tsp garam masala powder
- Mozarella cheese as required
Instructions
- Cook the pasta, drain and set aside.
- Heat the butter in a saucepan. Add the flour and fry for a couple of minutes.
- Add in the milk and stir continously till the sauce becomes thick and has no lumps. Add in salt and pepper, mix well and switch off.
- Drain the tuna of all the excess oil.
- Heat a frying pan and dump the tuna into it. Continuously saute till the tuna gets almost dry (don't completely dry it, otherwise the pasta will be very dry).
- Add in the masalas and fry for a couple of minutes. Switch off the flame.
- Spread the cooked macaroni in a glass baking pan. Pour the sauce on top of it. Spread the tuna evenly to cover the macaroni. Finally sprinkle the mozzarella cheese till the top is covered.
- Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for 15 minutes, till the cheese melts. Serve warm!!!
it indeed is one long fast, this time..yeah !!! All the wishes for the blessed season . And yes, pasta and tuna..get well so well..but guess what i did once…pasta bake in white sauce sided with mathi fry !!! how is that..ha haa..didnt bake it together with the pasta, ketto..just gave it as a side. ..to make up for the blandness of the pasta.
Thank u so much sona… mathi n pasta??? :0
Ramadan kareem to you & your family Rafee
Jazakallah khairan humi… 🙂
wow…deep vrath…i always admire the way the fasting happens during this time…
loved that combination of tuna and pasta
Thank u so much divya… 🙂
Its long fast Rafee. But here's wishing you n family a happy Ramadan. Pasta looks delicious. . 🙂
Thank u so much rekha… 🙂
Very nicely explained about fasting Rafeeda, 18 ours of fasting is really hard. May Allah give all the strength and blessings. Thank u for sharing the info…
The tuna looks totally awesome…
Glad 2 know u appreciate the info, thank u so much priya… 🙂
Wow dear.. Thanks for explaining so much about Ramadan. Love ur dish so much that I wanna try it now 🙂
Thank u so much avika… 🙂
Rafee may God give u the strength to withstand.
I make something similar but yet to develop a taste for pasta with non veg together.
paalum,vennyum,cheesum pinne meenum :)tastinekalum manasinanu prashnam :))
Thank u so much meena…yeah, kure calories!!! 😀
Wooow…thatz a long fast….but I am sure u will automatically get the powers to withstand it once u overcome the starting problem.. BTW Pasta looks delicious 🙂
thank u so much anupa… yeah, somehow the energy keeps coming in… 🙂
Have a blessed season dear 🙂 Mostly every year I too take fasting for one day, just to know how you people do that for 40 days 🙂 But that was mostly during college time, when great food was also a motivation !! This baked pasta looks vert yum 🙂
thank u so much dear… hehe, kids fast for that food!!! 😉
Ramadan Kareem Sis..Well explained and detailed post about Ramadan, happy to know about it.
Such a fantastic bake sis..Would love to invite myself to ur place.
thank u so much priya akka… u r always welcome! 🙂
oh wow… absolutely love it…
thank u so much divya…
Pasta look delicious. Happy Ramadan to you and family. Hope God will guide you and family through everyday.
thank u so much swathi… 🙂
Loved it!!! 'M vegetarian, but can always eliminate tuna from the dish 🙂
thank u so much shruthi… i guess u can mash up some soya and add, what say? 🙂
Your tuna pasta bake sounds wonderful and definitely comfort food. I usually make a red sauce meatball pasta bake. Cant' wait to try this one and change things up.
oh ur pasta bake sounds delicious, amy… do share the recipe! thank u so much dear… 🙂
Ramadan Kareem dear…For us, ramadan starts tomorrow (thursday)..
Pasta looks delicious….
Ramadan Kareem to you too dear… hope things will be easy for you InShaAllah… 🙂 thank u so much…
Wow dear.. Thanks for explaining so much about Ramadan.Happy Ramadan to you and your family…
thank u so much saranya… 🙂
Looks delicious….
thank u so much dear…
Hi Rafeda, very nice and tempting tuna pasta. Great quickie meal. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Have a great week ahead,regards.
thank u so much amelia…
Ramadan kareem dear…nice recipe..
Ramadan kareem 2 u 2 dear…thanks a lot! 🙂