Grilled Tuna Melt
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 20 minutes |
| Passive Time | 5 minutes |
| Servings |
sandwiches
|
Ingredients
- 4 lettuce leaves rinsed and chilled.
- 1 tomato 8 thin slices
- 4 slices mild cheese Swiss, Mozzarella, Provolone, Gruyère, etc.
- 4 tablespoons butter melted or use oil spray
- 8 slices bread Wheat, Rye, Pumpernickel, French, etc.
- 5 ounces can of tuna water-packed, drained and flaked
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup celery finely chopped
- ¼ cup Red onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon Pickle Relish optional
Ingredients
|
Instructions
- Rinse lettuce leaves and refrigerate on small plate.
- Slice tomatoes and cheese. Set aside on small plate
- Spread butter or spray one side of each bread slice. Set aside.
- Chop celery and onion, combine with tuna, mayonnaise, lemon, and relish in a small bowl. Fold together until well mixed.
- Pre-heat large skillet over medium heat.
- On non-buttered side of bread slices, evenly spread tuna mixture on 4 slices.
- Top tuna mixture with a slice of cheese, 2 tomato slices and slice of bread, buttered side up.
- With spatula, transfer sandwiches, tomato side up, to pre-heated skillet at medium heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until cheese is melted and bottom or bread is golden brown. Flip sandwiches over and repeat till other side is golden brown.
- As sandwiches are done, transfer to serving plates, lift bread slice, top with a lettuce leaf; replace bread slice. With bread knife, slice in half, diagonally, and serve.
Recipe Notes
Advanced Preparation:
- Steps 1-4 can be prepared up to a couple hours in advance, sealed and refrigerated till ready to make the sandwiches.
Tips, Notes, and Variations:
- I like to prepare the lettuce a little in advance and refrigerate damp to get back some of that store fresh “crispness”.
- If you’d rather not grill with butter/oil, these sandwiches can also be baked. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Place sandwiches on cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes till cheese is melted and bread has lightly browned. Baking is also a preferred method if preparing a large number of sandwiches or wishing to use large Croissants, split in half, for the bread.
Tuna Salad Variations:
If you'd rather not have a grilled tuna sandwich, here're variations to the basic recipe for your favorite Tuna Salad Sandwich.
- Use yogurt instead of mayo for a lighter salad.
- Use extra-virgin olive oil instead of mayo for a looser salad.
- Use canned salmon, smoked trout, or leftover chicken in place of the tuna.
- Add diced apples, raisins, or dried fruit to the basic recipe.
- Add diced fennel, shredded cabbage, diced cucumbers, or any other crunchy vegetable.
- Add a dash of curry powder, paprika, dukkah, harissa, chopped fresh herbs, or any other spice mix in your cupboard.
- Tuna and mayo — it's as simple as you can get, and a perfectly acceptable lunch.
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