Tuna Rice Bake

After creating my well received Mediterranean Dice Rice Bake, I've been dreaming of other variants of this lovely dish. This time I decided to go for tuna fish.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 9-18
• Yields: 1 casserole

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)

Directions

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 white or sparkling wine.