The tuna melt grilled sandwich is surely one of the tastiest snacks of all time. A variety of the tuna melt can usually be found in the snack display of trendy coffe establshments everywhere, and you too can make this sumptious grilled delicacy at home with your 3-in-1 sandwich maker.
Tuna Tomato & Mozzarella Melt
I accept that tuna might not be everyone's choice, but to those of us who love it, this is surely a most accessible ingredient, coming as it does in tinned form, preserved either in oil or brine. The tuna melt therefore is incredibly easy to put together and the result is a rich, indulgent and very satisfying snack.
With this delicious sandwich I have used a light, creamy mozzarella which provides a luxurious melt with an almost elastic texture, perfect for toasties, but you can always opt for your own particular favourite cheese.
The juicy, sliced tomatoes provide the perfect compliment to the cheese, but once you have mastered the method, you can substitute ingredients or add a few of your own to your personal preference.
What you will need for the perfect Tuna Tomato & Mozzarella Melt
I would recommend the use of thick sliced bread, either white or 50/50 white/wholemeal. For me, the thicker the better, often referred to as "super toastie" or "doorstep" as the thick crusts, when squeezed between the grill plates, virtually form a sealed sandwich similar to that formed by the toastie plates.
For this recipe I have used two "doorstep" thick white slices per sandwich.
The tuna here is of the tinned flaked variety in brine (but this can just as easily be in oil if you prefer). It is most important to drain all or as much of the liquid off as possible to avoid the sandwich filling being too wet. This is then mixed through with a good tablespoon of rich, creamy mayonnaise (although you can use a low-fat alternative here if required).
The cheese I have chosen to provide the important "melt" of the title is mozzarella. This provides that beautiful elasticity when you cut through the hot sandwich and pull the two halves apart. Unlike when using the toastie plates, when a pre-grated cheese is handy to fill the shaped recess, here with the grill plates fitted, a nice pre-sliced mozzarella is just as good.
You will also need 2 or 3 good sized tomatoes, quite thickly sliced to place on top of the tuna and provide a little texture to the melt. I also prefer to spread a teaspoon of American mustard (the mild type you would use in hot dogs, etc.) on to one of the inner surfaces of the bread, just to add another layer to the rich, creamy flavours, as well as a touch of ground black pepper seasoning to the tuna mayonnaise mix to your own taste.
The Recipe
Tuna Tomato & Mozzarella Melt
EQUIPMENT
- 3-in-1 snack maker with grill / panini plates
PREPARATION TIME : 5 minutes
COOKING TIME : 5 minutes (approx.)
SERVINGS : 1
INGREDIENTS
- 2 slices extra thick white bread
- 15g butter or similar
- 30g grated or sliced mozzarella cheese
- 75g tinned tuna
- tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 or 3 good sized tomatoes (sliced)
- tsp mild / American mustard
- pinch of ground black pepper
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
- Turn on the snack maker
- While the appliance is heating up gather all the ingredients to hand.
- In a bowl, combine the tuna with the mayonnaise and season with the black pepper
- Butter one side of each of the 2 slices of bread
- Turn over 1 of the slices and spread the mustard paste over it
- On top of the mustard covered slice (butter side down) start to build your sandwich
- Firstly cover with a layer of the grated or sliced mozzarella chesse (keep just inside the crust edge)
- Cover with the tuna mayonnaise mix spreading evenly but keeping away from the edge
- Carefully position the tomato slices to cover most of the tuna
- Place the remaing mozzarella cheese on top
- Then finish with the other slice of bread with the dry side onto the cheese and the buttered side uppermost
- When ready, place the sandwich in the centre of the bottom hot plate
- Close the top plate carefully so as not to move the top slice and keeping the sandwich in position as it compresses and click the handles to lock in place
- Cook for approximately 5 minutes or until golden
How to make the perfect grilled sandwich
The tuna melt as described here is actually a conventional sandwich placed between the two fitted grilling plates (rather than the toastie plates which actually seal the edges into trianglar shapes with a recess for the "filled" ingredients).
However, even when using the flat grill plates, it is still possible to create the "sealed effect" particularly with a good thick sliced bread as the crusts, when compressed, form something of a barrier to the sandwich filling escaping. That said, you are not looking for something perfect, and if there is some escape where the melted cheese has run, simply embrace it. It will come away from the non-stick surface along with the sandwich (and who doesn't love a piece of grilled cheese!).
To achieve the beautiful golden grill lines shown, the outer surfaces of the bread need to be lightly buttered or oiled if you prefer. You will find from experience that cooking time is normally 5 to 6 mintes, but it is not advisable to lift the lid too early, as if you want to continue cooking and replace the lid, your sandwich may move and the singular grill lines disturbed.
The simplicity of using the grill plates is that the sandwich can be pre-assembled and the whole thing lifted into place on the bottom plate with care. It is important however to close the top plate slowly ensuring nothing has moved before the lid is locked into place.
Once your sandwich is cooked switch off the appliance at the socket. NEVER lift your finished toastie out with your fingers. The plates will still be extremely hot! Always use wood or plastic tools. I use a plastic fish slice and the sandwich slides away from the non-stick surface easily.
Or you could try...
If you wanted to change things around with this tuna melt you could substitute the tomatoes for sliced red peppers or even diced chillies for a bit of heat.
Another possibility would be to use diced red onions or chives instead of or as well as the tomatoes.
And of course, it doesn't have to be a tuna "mozzarella" melt. A light cheddar or indeed any favourite of yours or even whatever you might have left in your fridge will suffice to provide the "melt".
For another variation, try a teaspoon of tomato puree mixed with the mustard to add another layer of flavour to this delicious sandwich. (I prefer the puree in a tube. In fact I always have a tube of tomato puree in my fridge as a great addition to many a delicious snack and you can reseal and keep for ages in the fridge}.
Perfect with...
The Tuna Tomato & Mozzarella Melt is perfect on it's own or as a snack.
On it's own, I find it best served with some freshly sliced bell peppers plus some nice, crisp lettuce or baby salad leaves on the side, just to cut through those rich creamy tuna and cheese flavours.
Other Suggestions...
Tuna Cheddar Melt with Green Pepper
How does your sandwich maker compare?
For most of the recipes shared here I use my trusty Tower Deep Fill 3-in-1 Sandwich Maker, so obviously you may need to adjust your ingredients slightly if you are using a different appliance. Having said that, most sandwich makers are very similar in design and size, and the amount of each filling is a guide only and you can increase or decrease, add or subtract, according to your personal taste.
This tuna melt uses the interchangeable grill plates on the Tower Deep Fill 3-in-1 Sandwich Maker, but you could also use any grill or even a frying pan to achieve similar results (except you wouldn't get those golden grill lines with a frying pan!).
Never be afraid to experiment, and remember you won't always get the perfect result first time, so if at first you don't succeed try, try and try again. It's great fun!
If you want to check out some of the alternative 3-in-1 machines available check out our guide...
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