Provencal Tuna Melt Recipes

PROVENCAL TUNA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Add the red onion; set aside.
• Rub the inside of the bread pieces with the garlic, then with the halved tomato and season with salt and pepper; discard the garlic and tomato skins. Arrange the tomato slices on the bread bottoms.
• Add the tuna to the vinaigrette, breaking it into pieces. Stir in the bell pepper, cucumber, parsley and capers; season with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture among the bread bottoms. Close the sandwiches and press down on the bread tops gently. Wrap the sandwiches tightly in plastic wrap and place a heavy skillet on top. Let sit 15 minutes to soften the bread, then unwrap and cut in half.

TUNA PROVENCAL

Steps:

• In a large bowl flake tuna with a fork. Stir in capers, black olives, onion and tomatoes. Pour in oil and vinegar and toss to coat. Season and serve with watercress on whole grain bread. Alternative: Arrange mixed greens on plate and top with a quartered boiled new potato, quartered boiled egg and steamed green beans. In center place a scoop of the tuna salad.

TUNA PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, cumin, fennel seeds, garlic, thyme leaves, and lime zest; season, to taste, with pepper. Rub the marinade all over the tuna steaks. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, fennel, a pinch of cumin, and a pinch of fennel seeds and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes (don't let the vegetables brown). Add the zucchini and bell peppers, season to taste with salt and pepper, and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
• Separately, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the fava beans and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the cherry tomatoes, orange segments, lemon zest and segments, half of the basil leaves, olives, and pistachios.
• While the vegetables are cooking, heat a grill pan over high heat. Brush the pan with vegetable oil and grill the tuna steaks for 4 minutes on each side for medium rare. Let rest for 5 minutes before cutting each steak into 4 slices.
• Divide the vegetables among 4 warm dinner plates. For each plate, top with the remaining basil leaves and put 2 slices of tuna on top of the vegetables. Season the tuna with fleur de sel and spoon the citrus-fava mixture around the plate. Serve immediately.

MARY PAT'S TUNA MELT

Steps:

• Mix tuna, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard together in a small bowl. Stir in pickle and red onion. Spread tuna mixture on 2 slices of bread. Top each with 2 slices of Cheddar cheese.
• Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese on each of the remaining 2 slices of bread. Place on top of the Cheddar cheese.
• Place crushed chips in a shallow bowl. Spread top side of each tuna melt with 1 1/2 teaspoon mayonnaise and press into the chips. Repeat on other side.
• Heat a dry grill pan over medium-high heat. Toast tuna melts until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

HOW TO MAKE A TUNA MELT

Steps:

• Place tuna into a mixing bowl and lightly break apart with a fork. Add green onion, celery, capers, chile paste, and mayonnaise. Pinch small pieces from mozzarella cheese into the tuna salad and stir to mix. Season with salt and black pepper; refrigerate tuna salad until needed.
• Heat oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Spread butter generously on both sides of French bread slices.
• Broil buttered bread until golden brown on top, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip bread slices and broil other side until toasted, 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove from oven and turn bread slices over on the baking sheet so the darkest sides are on the bottom.
• Gently spread tuna salad onto bread slices using 2 forks. Press the salad onto the bread and spread tuna all the way to the edges of the bread. Spread shredded sharp Cheddar over each sandwich. Dust tops with cayenne pepper.
• Place sandwiches under broiler and cook until cheese is melted and bubbling, 5 to 6 minutes.

SIMPLE TUNA MELT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place bread slices in the oven to toast while it preheats, and while you make the tuna salad.
• In a small bowl, mix together the tuna, mayonnaise, salt, balsamic vinegar, mustard and dill pickle until well blended. Remove bread from the oven, and pile the tuna mixture onto one slice. Sprinkle cheese over the other slice of bread.
• Bake for 7 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is melted and tuna is heated through. Place the cheese side of the sandwich on top of the tuna side. Cut in half and serve immediately.

TUNA MELTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a mixing bowl, combine sweet onion, drained tuna, mozzarella, and mayonnaise. Mix thoroughly.
• Spread tuna mixture on slices of French bread to form a sandwich. Place sandwiches on a cookie sheet.
• Bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes.