Solid white tuna generally makes a better tuna salad mix than chunk tuna. It’s got a thicker, heartier meat, so it holds up better with the condiments. Use whatever kind of tuna you like best.
If you like smoother tuna salad, you can mix this up in the food processor as opposed to the bowl-and-fork method. If you like relatively dry tuna salad, you only need to add 1–2 tablespoons (14. 8–29. 6 ml) of mayonnaise. Be careful not to add too much at first. If you want more mayo, you can add more at any point. Use however much you like. If you don’t like mayo, you can use any type of salad dressing or oil to bind together the tuna. Try using Italian salad dressing, or even just a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Brown mustard also makes for a good mayo substitute in tuna salad.
Onion and garlic make for good additions to tuna salad. Add a quarter teaspoon each of the dried versions for less potent additions, or chop up a small amount (half a clove of garlic, and an 1/8th of an onion) if you’re into the raw version. Add whatever tastes you like. A pinch of curry powder and hot sauce can make for a spicy Indian style tuna salad, while some Parmesan, chopped green olives, spring onion, and dried oregano can be a delicious Mediterranean alternative. Experiment and find what you like.
Rye bread and swiss makes for a delicious alternative. Parmesan and crusty Italian bread are likewise a good combination. Use whatever kind of bread and cheese you’ve got on hand, or whatever kind you like on other sandwiches.
If you don’t want the added calories of the butter, one alternative to a tuna melt is to toast the bread in the toaster and heat the tuna and cheese in the microwave. Scoop some of the tuna salad on a microwave-safe plate and lay the cheese slices over the top. Microwave in 10-15 second increments until the cheese is melted.
Make sure to watch for smoke. If you’ve already toasted the bread too much it can burn rather quickly. Keep the heat on low and watch the sandwich carefully. It won’t take long for the cheese to melt.
