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Tuna Melt

A diner-style open-faced sandwich piled with creamy tuna salad and melted cheddar on toasted sourdough - golden, bubbling, and deeply satisfying.

18 minEasyServes 2520 cal/serving

AmericanLunchStovetopPescatarianHigh ProteinHalal-friendlyNut-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

  • 2 cans tuna in water (5 oz), drained
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 celery stalk, finely diced
  • 2 tbsp red onion, finely diced
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • 2 slices sourdough bread, thick slices
  • 2 tsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 oz sharp cheddar cheese, sliced
  • 1 tomato, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. 1

    In a bowl, combine 2 cans drained tuna in water (5 oz), 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 finely diced celery stalk, 2 tbsp finely diced red onion, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 2 tsp fresh lemon juice, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Mix well and taste for seasoning.

  2. 2

    Spread 2 tsp softened unsalted butter on one side of each 2 slices thick slices sourdough bread. Place buttered-side down in a cold skillet. Heat over medium heat until the bread is golden and crisp on the bottom, about 3 minutes.

  3. 3

    Flip the bread toasted-side up. Divide the tuna mixture between the slices. Layer 1 thinly sliced tomato over the tuna, then top with 2 oz sliced sharp cheddar cheese.

  4. 4

    Cover the skillet with a lid and cook over medium-low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. Serve open-faced immediately.

Questions

Can I make Tuna Melt dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 2 tsp unsalted butter, softened, 2 oz sharp cheddar cheese, sliced. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed; the cheese for a plant-based melting cheese (expect a milder flavor). The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Tuna Melt gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 2 slices sourdough bread, thick slices. Swap the bread or crumbs for a gluten-free loaf or gluten-free panko. Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Tuna Melt keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within two days (seafood turns fast). Reheat gently on the stovetop.

Can I halve or double Tuna Melt?

Yes. As written it serves 2. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

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