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Nookies (at home) Tuna Melt

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Serves 4 sandwiches

Ingredients

Garlic Mayonnaise Aioli

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 3 cloves garlic crushed in garlic press
  • 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Tuna salad

  • 2 5 oz. canned tuna in oil, drained
  • 1/4 cup aioli/garlic mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped onion (blanched in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes) removed with slotted spoon to ice bath, then drained
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
  • 3/4 tsp red wine vinegar
  • pinch salt and pepper
  • 1/4 tsp sugar
  • 8 slices American cheese
  • 8 slices rye bread
  • softened butter

Directions

Garlic Mayonnaise Aioli

  • Mix mayonnaise, mustard, and salt together in a bowl.
  • Stir in garlic and lemon juice.
  • Cover and refrigerate until preparing tuna mixture.

Tuna salad

  • In a bowl, mix the tuna, aioli, celery, onion, sugar and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
  • In a large cast iron or non-stick skillet over medium heat melt a nob of butter.
  • Add 2 bread slices on first side until nicely browned and crisp, about 3 minutes; using a cooking weight or spatula, gently press down on bread slices while toasting to ensure even heating and browning. Remove bread from pan to a cutting board.

Build Your Sandwich!

  • Place one slice of cheese on top of each toasted side bread slice.
  • Mound tuna salad on top of cheese, spreading it in an even layer, then top each with remaining slice of cheese.
  • Top with bread slice, toasted side down. Add an additional nob of butter to pan and return your sandwiches. Press with burger press and cook for about 3-minutes, being careful not to burn.
  • Flip tuna melt, cloche (a stock pot lid will do) with a spritz of water and cook until second side is well toasted and cheese is melted.
  • Slice in half and serve with a pickle.
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