When I was a teenager, one of my earliest jobs was a hostess at a diner around the corner from my parent's house. It's a restaurant owned by two brothers and they have some seriously yummy food! One of my favorite things on their menu is their Tuna Melt. It's so delicious that it became my benchmark for all future Tuna Melts and as they say in Wicked, I have been changed for good (I know, I'm a terrible musical theatre geek!).
There are a few key things that I keep in mind when making a Tuna Melt or any sandwich that involves deliciously-melty cheese:
- Butter the outside of the bread in addition to the pan. You can also use mayonnaise on the bread, which also adds a beautiful golden brown crust. But make sure you use butter in the pan because it provides such delicious flavor.
- Don't use heat that is too high. You want your cheese to have a chance to melt but if the heat is too high your bread will burn and your sandwich will be ruined (unless you like the burned flavor, in which case carry on).
- Cover the pan. While we're on the topic of melty cheese, covering your pan also helps to get the cheese all gooey and amazing. When I worked at restaurants, I've actually seen the cooks squirt a bit of water under the cover to create more steam, but I've never actually tried that myself. So no guarantees if you try that.
This sandwich is totally versatile. You can really go in any direction you want with the toppings. I personally prefer mozzarella or a good quality cheddar for maximum melty-awesomeness. I also prefer some thinly sliced tomato on the sandwich and when I'm feeling really crazy I'll sometimes can throw some nice, crispy bacon on it as well (though I usually leave the bacon out because I'm terribly lazy). My preferred bread is sour dough but I often prepare this with regular white bread because it's what's usually available in my kitchen.
So go ahead and make this extra-tasty sandwich for lunch. Maybe serve it with some Tomato Soup to up the comfort factor. It's quick, it's easy and it tastes fantastic!
Tuna Melt
Source: The Life Jolie, inspired by the Tuna Melt at Long Pond Family Restaurant
Cook Time: 15 minutes total, 5 minutes active , 10 minutes cook time
Ingredients:
- Tuna salad, mixed however you like (I keep it simple with mayonnaise, diced celery and sweet relish)
- Sliced cheese
- Thinly sliced tomatoes
- Bacon (optional)
- Bread
- Butter
Melt some butter in your pan over medium heat.
While the butter melts, spread some butter (or mayonnaise) on the outside of the piece of bread.
Spread a generous layer of tuna salad on the bread, followed by tomatoes, bacon (if you're using it) and the cheese.
Place the sandwich in your pan and cover it.
Check on the sandwich after a five or ten minutes.
Once the underside is golden brown, remove the sandwich and enjoy it immediately!
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alison says
Jessy says