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Not Running => Food => Topic started by: Natasha on September 10, 2012, 02:29:21 PM

Title: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: Natasha on September 10, 2012, 02:29:21 PM
Mine is super simple. Can of tuna, drained, mixed with mayo and pickle relish. Two pieces of toasted wheat bread. Dash of hot sauce and some pepper on top. I can usually get 2.5 sandwiches out of one can of tuna.

But I've tasted better at little lunch shops. Since it's a pretty healthy and easy meal, I'd like to make it a weekly standard and something to look forward to. Help?
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: teetime on September 10, 2012, 02:59:00 PM
Tuna melt!

Thomas' English muffin, tuna (made with lots of fine diced celery and onion), mayo, and a touch of mustard, a slice of sharp cheddar, and on one of the two English muffin halves, a slice of tomato.  Stick in hot toaster oven for a few minutes then turn to broil until cheese is all melty.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: Magic Microbe on September 10, 2012, 02:59:54 PM
My tuna mix is the same as yours but I like lettuce on top and I like it on really fresh sourdough bread.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: merigayle on September 10, 2012, 03:01:39 PM
I worked at a cafe that had a killer tuna salad, according to the patrons, since i do not eat fish, and when i made it, it was pretty standard, but a little bit of horseradish mixed into :)
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on September 10, 2012, 04:48:51 PM
I put lots of stuff in mine... same as yours, plus chopped red onions, chopped dill pickles, chopped hard boiled egg, some creole or spicy brown mustard, a little celery salt... normally served on one of the HEB southwest tortillas with some avocado slices. 
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: ihop on September 10, 2012, 04:52:07 PM
I put lots of stuff in mine... same as yours, plus chopped red onions, chopped dill pickles, chopped hard boiled egg, some creole or spicy brown mustard, a little celery salt... normally served on one of the HEB southwest tortillas with some avocado slices. 

I love it with a little egg and spicy mustard too.  But I prefer sweet to dill pickles.  And I like to add a little mild vinegar.  I love this style of tuna salad on toasted bread either with lettuce and tomato or cheese.

I also make a different version with capers, red onions, roasted red peppers, olive oil and vinegar.  I prefer this kind on crackers or crusty untoasted bread.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on September 10, 2012, 05:00:30 PM
I love it with a little egg and spicy mustard too.  But I prefer sweet to dill pickles.  And I like to add a little mild vinegar.  I love this style of tuna salad on toasted bread either with lettuce and tomato or cheese.

I also make a different version with capers, red onions, roasted red peppers, olive oil and vinegar.  I prefer this kind on crackers or crusty untoasted bread.

 :)  I think I could survive on Tuna Fish!  I put capers in mine quite a bit and I also make a different type for crackers or just as a salad and it's very similar to yours... some kalamata olives, artichoke... .

I'll even own up to liking Subway's tuna.  Subway is the only chain I'll eat at and that's the only thing I'll order.... whole grain, no cheese, all the onions, all the peppers, olives, spinach, oil and vinegar, salt and pepper. 
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: Natasha on September 10, 2012, 05:35:29 PM
I worked at a cafe that had a killer tuna salad, according to the patrons, since i do not eat fish, and when i made it, it was pretty standard, but a little bit of horseradish mixed into :)

I tried using horseradish and kalamata olives with the mayo today, and it was really good.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: blue sleep on September 10, 2012, 05:37:43 PM
Family variants

Standard:  tuna, lots of ground black pepper, onion, celery, mayo, sometimes relish

So-called "high-class tuna" recipe:  tuna, capers, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil (chopped), olive oil (or just the sun-dried tomato oil)
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on September 10, 2012, 05:51:22 PM
Ya'll flung a craving on me!  Had to go make a big batch!   :)
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: Magic Microbe on September 10, 2012, 05:51:38 PM
When I am really trying I add a bit of mayo, horesradish sauce, dill relish, mustard, and fresh ground pepper.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: moroccangirl on September 10, 2012, 07:51:58 PM
I chop the tuna so there aren't any big chunks. I add mayo, salt, pepper, finely chopped onion, a dash of mustard, boiled egg whites (sometimes i'll use the yolk too).

We have a chain restaraunt that has a Mediterranean Tuna sandwich that DH likes. I don't know what all they put in it, but it's not mayo based. There are olives and capers and some other things. I don't love it.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: MikoftheWat on September 10, 2012, 08:56:15 PM
Guac instead of mayo.  You're welcome.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: radial on September 10, 2012, 09:49:43 PM
Best tuna salad is the one where you leave out the tuna and substitute chicken.  Or use seared ahi tuna.  That stuff out of the can is cat food. 

:sneaking:
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: Cool Foot Luke on September 10, 2012, 11:12:24 PM
I used to use plain yogurt in place of mayo when I was more of a health nut. Spiced it up with mustard or turmeric. Unfortunately, it then takes on a very unappetizing orange color. :skep:

It is tasty to turn it into a tuna melt.

I've used mashed avocado in place of mayo as Mik suggested, but it didn't quite work for me.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: blue sleep on September 10, 2012, 11:55:15 PM
When making my "standard" recipe, I have to make two batches.  For me, I use a mix of greek yogurt and light mayo, lightly clinging to the ingredients.  DH will have none of it.  What he prefers might best be described as "tuna paste".  A mess of (light) mayo with a bit of tuna and onion mixed in.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: witchypoo on September 11, 2012, 03:33:49 PM
lately?  tuna, mayo, minced onion, chopped wasabi pickles, maybe some dill, maybe some mustard, and served with tomato in a tuna melt.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: VP of Tea on September 11, 2012, 04:11:24 PM
tuna + cheese is  :vomit:

 :chair:
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: witchypoo on September 11, 2012, 05:38:13 PM
tuna + cheese is  :vomit:

 :chair:

poor vp and her provincial palate.   :P
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: caribougrrl on September 12, 2012, 06:57:32 AM
for tuna salad sandwiches: tuna, plain yogurt, lemon, capers, red onion, on toasted bread with sliced cucumber

my mother's tuna salad is tuna, mayo, finely chopped celery, lots of black pepper


I sometimes make salad nicoise sandwiches: fresh baguette then layer: tuna (mixed with some lemon juice, but nothing else), blanched and chilled green beans, sliced cucumber, sliced tomato, slice hard boiled egg, anchovy filets, sliced kalamata olives, salt & pepper.

Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: VP of Tea on September 12, 2012, 09:07:53 AM
poor vp and her provincial palate.   :P

Heh.

I like all cg's options, so there! :P
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: witchypoo on September 12, 2012, 09:49:05 AM
i might ask, how do you folks tolerate the light mayo?  i find it incredibly sweet, with a funny texture.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: teetime on September 12, 2012, 09:53:51 AM
i might ask, how do you folks tolerate the light mayo?  i find it incredibly sweet, with a funny texture.

Have you tried Hellman's Light mayonnaise?  The fat free and even the low fat literally make me gag (ick ... even thinking of them makes my stomach turn) but we use the light all the time and I actually like it.  Not the lovely richness of real mayo but great in sauces that will have lots of herbs and garlic and yogurt anyway and for me even fine for a tuna or egg salad.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: witchypoo on September 12, 2012, 10:00:25 AM
my mother commonly has a jar of the cains fat free, or the hellmann's low fat dressing.  my childhood memories of sandwiches containing mayo are terrifying. 
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: caribougrrl on September 12, 2012, 10:03:12 AM
i might ask, how do you folks tolerate the light mayo?  i find it incredibly sweet, with a funny texture.

I don't tolerate mayo at all, unless I made it myself with sunflower or olive oil (which oil depends on the eventual purpose of the mayo).  I'm not going to make mayo in order to have a tuna sandwich, so I use plain yogurt.   If I have mayo around from some other culinary event, I would use leftovers for tuna.

I make a fantastic cumin mayo with olive oil for an orzo salad that does nicely for salmon sandwiches, but not for tuna.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: blue sleep on September 12, 2012, 10:05:14 AM
Have you tried Hellman's Light mayonnaise?  The fat free and even the low fat literally make me gag (ick ... even thinking of them makes my stomach turn) but we use the light all the time and I actually like it.  Not the lovely richness of real mayo but great in sauces that will have lots of herbs and garlic and yogurt anyway and for me even fine for a tuna or egg salad.

Yep... we use Hellman's.  Not too bad.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: Run Amok on September 12, 2012, 10:54:55 AM
I don't tolerate mayo at all, unless I made it myself with sunflower or olive oil (which oil depends on the eventual purpose of the mayo).  I'm not going to make mayo in order to have a tuna sandwich, so I use plain yogurt.   If I have mayo around from some other culinary event, I would use leftovers for tuna.

I make a fantastic cumin mayo with olive oil for an orzo salad that does nicely for salmon sandwiches, but not for tuna.

Funny how that is, isn't it? I can't do commercial mayo either. YUCK! But I love my own home made stuff. The commercial stuff has a weird fluffy consistency and sweetish taste that is off putting to me. My mom hates mayo so I just didn't eat it growing up.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: caribougrrl on September 12, 2012, 11:57:20 AM
Funny how that is, isn't it? I can't do commercial mayo either. YUCK! But I love my own home made stuff. The commercial stuff has a weird fluffy consistency and sweetish taste that is off putting to me. My mom hates mayo so I just didn't eat it growing up.


mom always made her own mayonnaise, but I didn't like it (eventually I figured out it's because I don't like canola oil)... I was always jealous of other people having jars of Miracle Whip in their homes... until I tried it, anyway. 
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on September 13, 2012, 10:19:15 PM
I don't tolerate mayo at all, unless I made it myself with sunflower or olive oil (which oil depends on the eventual purpose of the mayo).  I'm not going to make mayo in order to have a tuna sandwich, so I use plain yogurt.   If I have mayo around from some other culinary event, I would use leftovers for tuna.

I make a fantastic cumin mayo with olive oil for an orzo salad that does nicely for salmon sandwiches, but not for tuna.

Got any recipes, or directions?

Also, how does the olive oil mayo turn out?  I have looked this up out of interest, and found a lot of people saying that olive oil makes a bitter mayo.  Is that not so?
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: Magic Microbe on September 13, 2012, 11:37:37 PM
i might ask, how do you folks tolerate the light mayo?  i find it incredibly sweet, with a funny texture.

The nonfat mayo and some of the lights have sugar in them. Best Foods (or Hellmans for you people) light mayo doesn't.


I was inspired to have a tuna sandwich for lunch today! Tuna, mayo, horesradish sauce, dill relish, green onion, and a little mustard powder and garlic powder topped with lettuce. It was yummy!
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: caribougrrl on September 14, 2012, 07:10:43 AM
Got any recipes, or directions?

Also, how does the olive oil mayo turn out?  I have looked this up out of interest, and found a lot of people saying that olive oil makes a bitter mayo.  Is that not so?

I toast about a Tbsp of cumin seeds in a cast iron pan, coarsely grind, then set aside.  Beat the yolk of one egg, very slowly, as in a drop or two at a time, drizzle in good olive oil (xvirgin, of course, cold-pressed...  I tend toward ones that have a green tinge, but apparently it's an old wive's tale that these are better oils... nonetheless, I still look for a green tinge), whisking constantly and quickly all the time to emulsify... you should get about 3/4 c of olive oil incorporated before the egg can't really hold any more of it... I find with sunflower oil it will take closer to a full cup.  Your arm will be sore.  If you are better equipped in the kitchen than I am, a stand mixer would probably work, maybe even a food processor.  I like the process though, it feels more of an accomplishment doing it by hand. :)  Anyway, once it's mayo, I stir in the toasted cumin.  Voila, toasted cumin mayo.

Mayo is, however, really that easy.  Yolk of one egg + up to about a cup of oil.  The hard part is the whisking and having the patience to add oil drops at a time.

Regarding the bitterness with olive oil: the quality of the oil affects the taste... it might well be somewhat bitter regardless, but I don't mind a bit of bitter, but I don't notice it being particularly bitter.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: caribougrrl on September 14, 2012, 12:08:52 PM
Dagstag, this article doesn't say anything about bitterness from olive oil: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/dining/easy-homemade-mayonnaise.html?pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/dining/easy-homemade-mayonnaise.html?pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www)

but includes some tips for getting the emulsion to hold (sometimes you get seperation inexplicably); it did remind me that when I make the toasted cumin mayo, I squeeze a bit of lemon juice into the egg yolk at the start

and thanks to that article, I'm going to make some anchovy mayo soon
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on September 14, 2012, 01:05:54 PM
Oh Yum. I'll have to get on this. I will make anchovy mayo and eat it by the spoonful.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: triciaflower on September 15, 2012, 12:26:12 AM
I like to put boiled eggs in my tuna. The smell can be strong, but it tastes goooood!
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: diablita on September 17, 2012, 11:51:51 PM
Duke's light mayo is very good.  I don't like the other Lights, though.
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on September 18, 2012, 06:00:37 PM
Duke's light mayo is very good.  I don't like the other Lights, though.

We just started getting that here, I might try it. 

I've been using the hellmans full fat with olive oil.  Tuna is really the only thing I use mayo for and i don't use much so I don't fret over it too much.  Is Dukes light legit or is it some kind of frankenfood? 
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: diablita on September 18, 2012, 07:49:40 PM
um...Frankenfood.  Damn I wish I hadn't just googled that. :(
Title: Re: What's the best tuna fish sandwich?
Post by: monster2 on September 19, 2012, 03:02:37 PM
Dill weed, dill relish, tons of onion, celery, salt, pepper and light mayo.  Once I ran out of mayo... I used ranch dressing instead and actually it was pretty good. :-[