Classic grilled cheese tuna salad sandwich with tarragon. Tuna melt recipe with French loaf bread, canned tuna, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, parsley, lemon, tarragon.
What is a tuna melt, other than a grilled cheese sandwich dressed up with tuna salad?
Two favorite food groups, merged together. I used to love these sandwiches as a kid, and was inspired by a Karen Tedesco recipe in Better Homes and Gardens to make this slightly more fancy version with tarragon.
Do you like tuna melts? If so, how do you like yours? Please let us know in the comments.
Tarragon Tuna Melt Recipe
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 thinly sliced green onion, including the greens
- 3 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh tarragon leaves or 2 teaspoons dried tarragon, crumbled
- Zest of one lemon
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 6-ounce cans of solid white tuna, well drained and flaked
- 8 1/2-inch slices French or Italian loaf bread (or your favorite bread)
- 1 thinly sliced tomato (8 slices)
- 4 ounces grated sharp white cheddar cheese (about 1 cup)
- 2 Tbsp softened butter
Method
1 Make the tuna mixture: Mix the green onion, parsley, tarragon, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, black pepper, and mayonnaise in a medium sized bowl. Add the drained tuna, mixing with a fork to break up the flakes.
2 Prepare the tuna melts for the griddle: Lay out four slices of bread. Divide the tuna mixture evenly onto the slices. Top each bread slice with tomato slices and grated cheese. Spread one side of the remaining four bread slices with butter. Place bread slices, buttered side up, on top of the cheese.
3 Cook tuna melts on a griddle: Heat a large griddle, on medium heat (or couple cast iron skillets). Place the sandwiches, buttered side down, onto the hot griddle. Gently spread butter on top of the bread slices. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until nicely browned on one side.
Then use a metal spatula to lift up the sandwiches and carefully turn them to the other side. Cook for another 3 minutes or so, until the second side is browned.
Serve immediately.
