Ultimate Tuna Melts Recipes

Steps:

• Combine ½ medium onion, thinly sliced, and 1 cup seasoned rice vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Gently mix two 5-oz. cans tuna packed in olive oil, drained, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 Tbsp. chopped celery, and 1 Tbsp. chopped pickles in a medium bowl until just combined. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Heat a dry large cast-iron skillet over medium-low. Spread mayonnaise over 1 side of 2 slices sourdough bread. Place bread, mayo side down, in skillet; top 1 bread slice with 2 slices sharp cheddar. Cover with a lid and cook until bread is golden brown underneath and cheese is melted, about 4 minutes. (The cheese should form a crispy skirt around the bread.)
• Uncover skillet and top bread with melted cheddar with one fourth of tuna salad, then some drained reserved pickled onion. Close up sandwich and gently press down on sandwich with a spatula. Transfer to a cutting board and slice in half on a diagonal. Repeat cooking process 3 more times with more mayonnaise and remaining tuna salad, pickled onion, 6 slices sourdough bread, and 6 slices sharp cheddar to make 3 more sandwiches.
• Serve sandwiches on plates with dill pickle spears if desired.

Steps:

• You can substitute Swiss or cheddar cheese for the provolone. It's important to use the albacore tuna called for in the recipe; albacore is a firm, white tuna that holds up better than flaked tuna.
• When picking lemons, look for ones that are firm with skin that is smooth and bright. They will keep for two to three weeks if stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. To get more juice out of your fruit, let the lemon return to room temperature, and then roll it across the counter top while applying pressure with the palm of your hand. You'll get about 3 tablespoons of juice from one lemon. Since you only need 1 tablespoon of juice for this recipe, you can either squeeze just one-half of the lemon (and section the rest for use in drinks), or you could squeeze the entire lemon and store the remaining juice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
• Preheat broiler. Combine first 8 ingredients in a medium bowl. Divide evenly among muffin halves; sprinkle with cheese. Place on a baking sheet; broil 5 inches from heat for 4 minutes or until golden brown.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven broiler.
• In a bowl, mix the tuna, mayonnaise, celery, onion, parsley, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place the rye bread slices on a baking sheet, and broil 1 minute in the preheated oven, until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and spread with the tuna salad. Place 1 cheese slice over the tuna salad on each piece of bread, layer with a tomato slice, and top with remaining cheese slices.
• Return layered bread to the preheated oven, and broil 3 to 5 minutes, until cheese is melted.