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

Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:

  • Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
  • WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.

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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 sandwich healthy for weight loss? ›

Tuna is low in calories and carbs and rich in protein, which promotes rapid weight loss. But unfortunately, consuming tuna alone will cause nutrient deficiency. In addition, fresh tuna is the best for weight loss, but canned tuna packed in oil has more calories and unhealthy fats, leading to weight gain.

Is tuna with mayo still healthy? ›

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.

What is healthy to eat with tuna? ›

9) Tuna, white bean and spinach salad

Combine tuna, baby spinach, halved grape tomatoes, chopped red capsicum, drained cannellini beans, chopped cucumber and chopped oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Combine olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, crushed garlic and drizzle on top.

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.

What can I use instead of mayonnaise in tuna? ›

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. Stepanek Photography/Shutterstock. ...
  • Ranch dressing. RebeccaDLev/Shutterstock. ...
  • Sour cream. ...
  • Cottage cheese.
Jan 24, 2024

Can I eat tuna every day and lose weight? ›

While the tuna diet offers rapid weight loss, it's not a sustainable, long-term solution. In fact, it poses several risks, including slowed metabolism, loss of muscle mass, and mercury poisoning. For lasting results, the best option is to follow a balanced meal plan with sufficient calories to meet your needs.

Is Miracle Whip healthier than mayonnaise? ›

Although Miracle Whip is lower in fat and calories, mayonnaise is less highly refined and may be the healthier choice. However, you should seek out mayo that's made with healthy oils, such as olive or avocado oil, instead of inflammatory seed oils like soybean, canola, or corn oil.

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.

When should you not eat canned tuna? ›

If you are pregnant, avoid canned tuna altogether.

You can get omega-3 fatty acids from other seafood that are low in mercury, such as oysters, salmon, and sardines.

What's the difference between tuna and tuna melts? ›

A tuna melt is essentially a tuna salad sandwich that includes cheese. It's cooked in a pan until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted. Tuna: Use either oil- or water-packed tuna fish (just be sure to drain it well).

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.

How much sugar is in tuna melt? ›

Amount/Serving%DV*Amount/Serving
Sat. Fat 3.7g18%Dietary Fiber 3.1g
Trans Fat 0gSugars 5.8g
Cholesterol 47.2mg16%Protein 20.9g
Sodium 802.3mg53%
2 more rows

Can I eat canned tuna while losing weight? ›

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.

Is tuna with mayo good for weight loss? ›

A lot people who are on a weight loss diet will turn to tuna because of its high level of protein – 3 oz of albacore tuna has 20g of protein but only about 100 calories. However, if you're eating tuna as a traditional tuna salad with mayonnaise, you may be consuming unnecessary calories and fat.

Is 2 cans of tuna a day good for weight loss? ›

If you are looking to lose weight, canned tuna is a good option because it is low in calories yet high in protein. Diets that are high in protein have been associated with benefits for weight loss, including increased feelings of fullness and reduced cravings ( 7 , 8 ).

Is it okay to eat a 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.

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