Healthy Tuna Melt | Slimming Eats Recipe (2024)

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The Perfect Healthy Tuna Melt, satisfy those cravings with this delicious cheesy topped lunchtime favourite.

Healthy Tuna Melt | Slimming Eats Recipe (1)

Tuna Melt Sandwich

If you have ever been to Ireland or visited an Irish themed pub where you live, one item you are very likely to see on the menu is a Tuna Melt Sandwich. Usually this is served on delicious Irish Soda Bread with Irish mature cheddar - yum!!

Recently I had to make a trip to Ireland and when I returned I had serious cravings for this popular sandwich.It's funny how a trip somewhere can spark cravings for certain foods, right? It's a sandwich that is a real comfort food for me.

Healthy Tuna Melt | Slimming Eats Recipe (2)

Classic Traditional Tuna Melt

If you are going the traditional route, this would usually be served on soda bread with lashings of butter and regular mayonnaise.

Keeping this on plan, I chose 100% Whole Wheat Bread instead and skipped the butter altogether, opting for a low-fat mayonnaise and wait for it, a little cottage cheese.

Do I have to use the Cottage Cheese?

Okay, I know you are saying right now - cottage cheese? No thank you. But trust me, it's a teeny amount and works much better than yoghurt or quark as it doesn't have that sour taste you tend to get. When combined with the little bit of mayo, it works perfectly. I am not a fan of cottage cheese as it is, but this is really delicious.

If you want to use quark instead, then by all means do, or you can just use mayonnaise.

Healthy Tuna Melt | Slimming Eats Recipe (3)

Pickles in a Tuna Melt

I also add one other ingredient that you don't tend to see in a traditional Tuna Melt and that is pickles, or gherkins, whatever you want to call them. They really take this tuna melt to a whole other level, by all means, omit if you hate them, but I love them on my tuna melt.

Open Sandwiches

Whenever I make a sandwich or melt, I tend to make it as open sandwich, that way it feels a bit more filling and you can add as much of that topping as you want.

Because we are not using butter, I like to crisp up the bread by baking it in the oven until golden and crisp.

If you have a bit more time to make this sandwich, you could even make this yummy Soda Bread Recipe.

Healthy Tuna Melt | Slimming Eats Recipe (4)

Sides for Healthy Tuna Melt

This delicious healthy Tuna Melt would be perfect served with a mixed salad or speed packed bowl of soup. Below are some of my favourites:

  • FRESH TOMATO AND BASIL SOUP
  • HEARTY VEGETABLE SOUP
  • EASY ROASTED VEGETABLE SOUP
  • CARROT AND BUTTER BEAN SOUP
  • ROASTED PUMPKIN SOUP
  • CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP

or head on over to theFULL RECIPE INDEXwhere you will find over 900 delicious Slimming Eats and Weight Watchers friendly recipes all fully searchable by meal type, ingredients, value and smart points etc

Healthy Tuna Melt | Slimming Eats Recipe (5)

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Healthy Tuna Melt | Slimming Eats Recipe (6)

Healthy Tuna Melt

The Perfect Healthy Tuna Melt, satisfy those cravings with this delicious cheesy topped lunchtime favourite.

Ingredients

  • 140g (5oz) of tuna in water, drained
  • 1 spring onion, sliced
  • 2 slices of pickle (gherkins), finely diced
  • 1 tablespoons of low fat mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons of fat free cottage cheese
  • salt and black pepper to season
  • 2 slices (60g/2.2oz) of 100% Whole Wheat bread
  • 30g (1oz) of mature cheddar or Red Leicester, grated

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 200c/fan 180c or 400f (gas mark 6)
  2. Add the tuna, mayonnaise, cottage cheese, spring onion, pickle and some salt and black pepper to a bowl and mix to combine, set aside.
  3. Line a baking tray with foil, Spray with some cooking oil spray and add the bread to the tray, spray over the top with more cooking oil spray.
  4. Place in the oven and bake until lightly golden (approx 5-8 mins)
  5. Remove from the oven and top each slice with the tuna mixture.
  6. Top with the grated cheddar.
  7. Place bake in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted.
  8. Serve and enjoy!!

Notes

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  • Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janet says

    Does the Tuna have to be in Water for a particular reason? or will brine be ok?

    Reply

    • Shevy (Slimming Eats) says

      Brine is fine - enjoy!!

      Reply

  2. Tina says

    This is delicious!! Probably my new favourite lunch! Thank you

    Reply

  3. Louise says

    This is delicious. Not a big tuna fan usually but I'm slightly addicted to this. Its fab.

    Reply

  4. Paula says

    Condolences to you. Not an easy trip I did that one a couple of years ago and it’s hard.
    I spent a few months after I got back to usa cooking/baking anything Irish
    Can’t wait to try this one.

    Reply

  5. Angie says

    What can I use instead of gherkins?

    Reply

    • Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says

      just omit if you don't like them, should be okay.

      Reply

  6. Alycia says

    Fab tasty and filling lunch. I used Greek yogurt as I didn't have any cottage cheese. I also highly recommend stirring 1 tbsp of the gherkin vinegar into the tuna mix. Delicious!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Healthy Tuna Melt | Slimming Eats Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is tuna with mayo healthy for you? ›

Tuna is a healthy food. But when folks make tuna salad, they tend to go overboard on the mayo adding tons of extra calories and fat. One cup of mayo has a whopping 1440 calories, 160 grams fat, and 24 grams saturated fat. It'll also tack on almost 50 percent of your daily recommended amount of sodium.

Are tuna melts high in calories? ›

While some restaurant and deli tuna melts pack a modest number of calories, others are real diet busters. A large tuna melt from Quiznos, for instance, has 1,520 calories. For some people, that's a whole day's worth of calories.

Is a tuna and cheese sandwich healthy? ›

Cheese provides calcium, which is important for strong bones and teeth. Tuna is a good source of protein to help you feel full throughout the day. -It is a good source of vitamin D, which is essential for healthy teeth and bones. -Very easy to prepare, so you can enjoy it at home or on the go.

What can I eat with tuna to lose weight? ›

The simple combination of tuna and avocado is easy to prepare, and the taste will excite your taste buds for more. Besides tuna's low calories, it is a source of healthy carbs and fibres, making the dish a definite addition to the weight loss diet.

What can I use instead of mayo in tuna? ›

When you're ready to elevate your next lunch or dinner, here are 12 delicious substitutes for mayo in your tuna salad.
  • Greek yogurt. Maslova Valentina/Shutterstock. ...
  • Avocado. Irina Rostokina/Shutterstock. ...
  • Hummus. Tempura/Getty Images. ...
  • Olive oil. Maryia_K/Shutterstock. ...
  • Dijon mustard. ...
  • Ranch dressing. ...
  • Sour cream. ...
  • Cottage cheese.
Jan 24, 2024

Why should you not eat canned tuna every day? ›

Certain types of tuna are high in mercury, which can have harmful effects on health in high amounts or in certain populations. For most healthy adults, it's recommended to consume at least 2 servings of fish per week, which can include tuna.

Is tuna melt bad for cholesterol? ›

Tuna is a lean protein source that is low in saturated fat, which can help to lower cholesterol levels. Some types of tuna, such as canned light tuna, are also low in total fat and calories.

Is tuna fish a fat burner? ›

As mentioned, tuna is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids have been shown to increase the rate of fat oxidation, or in layman's terms, fat burning. In addition, eating them can help you lose belly fat and have a flatter tummy.

Does chicken or tuna have more calories? ›

As you can see, chicken is higher in calories, protein and fat (which includes saturated fat) than a can of tuna calories, but they're still pretty comparable. The real differences lie in the rest of their nutrients.

Is it OK to eat tuna sandwich everyday? ›

Canned tuna typically contains either albacore or skipjack tuna, and cans are usually marked as either “albacore” or “chunk light.” Albacore tuna typically has higher concentrations of mercury than chunk light tuna and should be eaten only once or twice a week. Chunk light tuna is safe to eat two or three times a week.

What is the healthiest sandwich to eat? ›

Good sandwich choices include sliced deli or rotisserie chicken, turkey, ham, lean roast beef, canned salmon or tuna, nut butter, grilled tempeh or tofu, smashed cooked beans, and reduced-fat cheese. Unsure about serving size?

Should I eat pasta or a sandwich? ›

Generally, foods lower in fiber are easier to digest. Considering bread contains less fiber than pasta, with less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, and pasta contains about 2.5 grams of dietary fiber, pasta might be slightly harder to digest.

Will I lose weight if I eat tuna everyday? ›

Tuna, including canned tuna in spring water or brine, is low in fat and calories, but high in protein, making it a useful inclusion in a weight loss diet.

What is the 3 day tuna diet? ›

For 3 days, you eat 1 to 1.5 grams of protein (in the form of tuna) per pound of body weight, and you drink 2 to 4 liters of water. The diet is extremely restrictive and could cause all kinds of short- and long-term side effects as well as nutrient deficiencies.

What can I mix with canned tuna? ›

Dress up your canned tuna in these healthy recipes.
  • 01 of 05. Tuna Cakes: Add Eggs, Herbs & Breadcrumbs. ...
  • 02 of 05. One-Pot Pasta: Add Pasta, Olives & Lemon. ...
  • 03 of 05. Tuna Melt: Add Greek Yogurt, Veggies, Cheese & Bread. ...
  • 04 of 05. Niçoise Salad: Add Potatoes, Hard-Boiled Eggs, Green Beans & Dressing. ...
  • 05 of 05.
Aug 19, 2022

Can I eat tuna with mayo while on a diet? ›

Tuna mixed with mayo may not be the healthiest choice for weight loss. Mayonnaise is typically high in calories and fat, which can hinder weight loss efforts. Opting for healthier alternatives such as using Greek yogurt or light mayo can help reduce calorie intake while still enjoying the flavors of tuna.

What is the healthiest way to eat canned tuna? ›

13 Healthy Recipes with Canned Tuna
  1. Open Faced Tuna Sandwich with Avocado. As you'll see on this list, my favorite way to make tuna salad sandwiches is open-faced. ...
  2. Canned Tuna Ceviche. ...
  3. Tuna Croquettes. ...
  4. Tuna Pasta Salad. ...
  5. Tuna Egg Salad. ...
  6. Tuna Noodle Casserole. ...
  7. Open-Faced Tuna Melt Sandwich. ...
  8. Tuna Salad Wraps.
Jun 9, 2023

Why is tuna with mayo so good? ›

“It brings a classic background flavor to tuna salad, since it's not too tangy or too sweet, and the texture is smooth and creamy.” Hellmann's works because it balances fishy flavors of the tuna, Boone said.

Can you eat canned tuna with mayo? ›

Tuna salad is a light and fresh comfort food classic. Made with a few simple ingredients such as canned tuna, mayonnaise, onion and celery, it's the perfect combination of creamy and crispy. Serve this in a sandwich, wrap it in lettuce, or stuff it in avocado halves for a healthy, throw-together lunch.

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