WHAT IS HALF AND HALF?

Half and half is equal parts of whole milk and cream. For 1 cup half and half, you can substitute 3/4 cup whole milk + 1/4 cup heavy cream or 2/3 cup skim or low-fat milk + 1/3 cup heavy cream.

WHAT IS PANKO?

Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb and can be found in the Asian section of your local grocery store. While both panko and breadcrumbs can be used as a coating for fried foods, panko is much more flakier and yields a crunchier, crispier texture.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A DUTCH OVEN?

An oven-proof skillet, such as a large cast iron skillet, is a great option.

Ingridients:

10 ounces wide egg noodles, about 4 1/2 cups
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 large shallots, diced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 ½ cups half and half
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
8 ounces shredded sharp white cheddar cheese, about 2 cups
3 (5-ounce) cans tuna in water, drained
1 cup frozen green peas, rinsed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

For the panko mixture

⅓ cup Panko*
⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon olive oil

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
Stir in half and half and Dijon until slightly thickened, about 4-5 minutes.
Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar cheese until smooth, about 2 minutes.
Stir in pasta, tuna and green peas until well combined; season with salt and pepper, to taste; sprinkle with Panko mixture.
Place into oven and bake until golden brown and bubbly. about 25-30 minutes.
Serve immediately, garnished with chives, if desired.