Tuna Melt

Ingredients

• Tuna Salad
• One 12oz can tuna in water, drained
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise, and more if you prefer it creamier (homemade recipe below)
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped (mostly white and light green parts)
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 1/2 tbsp. basil, chopped
• 1/2 tbsp. cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 tbsp. Italian parsley, chopped
• 1/2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Sandwich Assembly
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
• 4 slices sourdough bread
• 4 slices Cheddar

• Homemade Mayonnaise
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 tsp dry mustard
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 pinches of sugar
• 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
• 1 cup oil (safflower or grapeseed)

Recipe

1. If making homemade mayonnaise, combine and whisk together egg yolk with dry ingredients in a medium bowl. In another small bowl, combine lemon juice and vinegar. Whisk half of the vinegar mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Whisk and then while whisking, add oil one drop at a time until the mixture thickens and becomes light and fluffy. Then, add oil in a slow steady stream but continue to whisk so it is well incorporated. Once half of the oil is whisked in, add the rest of the lemon juice mixture. Whisk until all oil is mixed in. Leave the mayonnaise at room temperature for 1 hour then refrigerate for up to 1 week.
2. In a large bowl, mix together tuna salad ingredients. While mixing, break up tuna into smaller pieces. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed (add more salt, pepper, lemon juice, and mayonnaise if needed).
3. Use half of the softened butter to butter one side of each slice of bread. Place 2 of the bread slices buttered side down on a parchment paper. Divide tuna salad into two portions and add to the bread. Then top each bread with two Cheddar slices.
4. Heat the other half of the butter in a medium or large skillet over medium heat until melted and hot (lightly browned). Place the two bread slices with tuna salad on it onto the skillet. Take the other two slices of bread and put on top of the sandwiches, buttered side up. Use a spatula to gently press down on the two sandwiches.
5. Cook for 2 minutes then use a spatula and hand (or rubber tongs) to carefully flip the sandwich. Cook for 2-3 more minutes on the other side until browned. Slice in half and serve.