First of all, I need to confess that I’m not really into tuna. There were no times when I ever had a tuna salad on my lunch sandwich and I never put it on any salads either or ordered it as a choice of a fish meal in a restaurant.

My creamy noodle casseroles always feature chicken, not tuna. Except for the best tuna melt.

And this is not just any old Tuna Melt either; this is the Best Tuna Melt (New Jersey Diner Style) that I stumbled across whilst browsing Allrecipes long before I became a writer for them.

Going back years ago when I was working as a waitress in New Jersey during my summer holidays (a true tale – honestly!), and over 15 years ago, at least, out of sheer curiosity about it I prepared this meal for my family. To my surprise at that time, it tasted great.

Recently though, nostalgia took hold of me and so decided to have one last bite with an old buddy. The broiled open-faced sandwich was as amazing as ever.

What Exactly Is A Tuna Melt?

A tuna melt is an open-faced warm sandwich consisting of toast topped with tuna salad, tomato slice, and melted cheese grilled until heated through and bubbly. It’s easy to make and cheap, which has made it the norm in eateries within New Jersey where they are served opened as tradition has dictated.

Ingredients Required for Making the Best Tuna Melt

The ingredients may be simple but when combined together they form a savory and quick dinner option worth trying out during your cooking activities.

• Drained canned tuna: opt for water or oil-packed tunas
• Mayonnaise: use top-quality mayo if you want maximum flavor
• Celery chopped: finely chop for texture
• Onions chopped: also finely chopped
• Parsley chopped: adds a touch of freshness
• Red wine vinegar: to bring some acidity taste to boost the flavor
• Salt and pepper: as per taste
• Slices of ripe tomato: best during summer months when tomatoes are at their peak, but also plum tomatoes work well in the off-season.
• Seedless rye bread: or any type of bread that you like
• Swiss cheese slices: if you want it cheesier, then use double the quantity here
• Paprika (Optional): just for garnish.

How to Make the Best Tuna Melt Recipe

While this sandwich is quick to whisk together, making your tuna salad ahead of time can make it even faster after a long day at work.

1. Make the tuna salad by mixing in the tuna, mayo, celery, onions, parsley, vinegar salt, and pepper. Set aside or refrigerate.
2. Toast the bread under the broiler.
3. Assemble the sandwich by topping toasted bread with tuna salad and slice each piece with cheese then put a slice of tomato and another slice of cheese on top.
4. Broil until the cheese melts and becomes bubbly. Sprinkle paprika if desired.

Expanding on Tuna Melt Magic

My favorite is still the classic New Jersey Diner Style Tuna Melt but there are countless ways to take this humble sandwich up a notch.

Getting Crunchy!

To add some crunchiness into your tuna melt consider doing so using such ingredients as thin slices of cucumber or crispy lettuce leaves underneath your tomato.

This will not only give it a texture but also create a fresh contrast against rich creamy taste produced when mixing up melted cheese with creamy fish

PLAYING AROUND WITH FLAVOURS

Should you like spices, sprinkle a bit of cayenne or a few drops of hot sauce into your tuna salad mixture.

To give it a Mediterranean touch, you may add some olive slices, sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese sprinkles on top. That is why they say that the sandwich can be personalized to match your preferences.

GOING GOURMET

For such high-end version substitute canned tuna with seared ahi tuna slices. Alternatively, instead of regular mayo one could try garlic aioli or even spicy sriracha mayo.

Finally, change the bread to freshly baked artisan loaf and use something fancy like gruyère or aged cheddar for cheese.

TUNA MELT VARIATIONS THE WORLD OVER

The tuna melt has spawned variations from across the globe despite its origins in American diners.

BRITISH STYLE TUNA MELT

One popular variation found in UK involves adding sweet corn to the tuna salad. It mellows out the savory flavors of the fish and melts well with cheeses while providing an incredible taste profile.

JAPANESE TUNA MELT

In Japan, you might find a tuna melt that incorporates wasabi or pickled ginger into the tuna salad which gives it a tangy flavor that’s familiar and contrasts nicely with the rich melted cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN TUNA MELT

Typical ingredients in these versions can include roasted red peppers, capers and artichoke hearts among others. These additions are responsible for bringing in a very tangy vibrant taste that matches really well creamy tuna and cheese.

TUNA MELT AS COMFORT FOOD

There’s something about having a deliciously warm meal under melted cheesy goodness that feels comforting at least I think so because I love my food warm especially when it comes to classic homemade comfort foods like this…

Although quite hard to explain, there’s always something about a tuna melt that makes it a comfort food.

A tuna melt can be a comforting meal on a cold day, or even a quick dinner after work, or also can be that satisfying lunch on your lazy weekend.

CONCLUSION

Whether you’re one of those people who are undecided about canned fish or just an ardent fan of all things tuna related, the New Jersey Diner Style Tuna Melt is an item worth considering. It’s an easy and tasty meal that combines elements of comfort food with fast cooking.

You can always personalize this classic sandwich as there are numerous options available for you to do so then why not make it your own..

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So whenever you feel like eating something heavy and delicious better try out this tuna melt – it might change your mind.