The Devil’s Tuna Melt

Simple and delicious, tuna melts always take us back to our childhoods. While Felix and I didn’t know each other as kids, we’ve learned from swapping stories that we share similar memories. For instance, both of us made tuna melts alongside our mothers and enjoyed them with lots of chips and lemonade or a soda. We know, it’s frowned upon now, but it was the 80’s after all, and so many of our lunches were rounded out with chips and soda. They just somehow make a tuna melt extra special, don’t they? Which is why Felix decided to add crushed chips to top these off, and wow, these turned out so amazing and tasty!

Felix couldn’t help himself as usual, and he decided to take this classic sandwich and twist it to an entirely new level of awesomeness by adding jalapeños, chipotles, pepper jack and spicy chips! I grew up eating chilies and spicy foods, so this recipe immediately became one of my new favorites. I could eat this almost every day forever and be quite content. You can always add more or less heat and use a milder cheese, like cheddar, to suit your desired spice level. Finish this sandwich with lots of fresh cilantro for extra flavor. This spicy makeover of the humble tuna melt will likely be your new hero for quick lunches or tasty weekend movie meals! And I had to have mine with a soda (diet, of course) just for old time’s sake.

Tips: Use a thick cut bread for best results, and lightly toast it before adding the tuna mixture. Also, chipotles are packed in a deliciously spicy red sauce (adobo) that we never throw out. It adds a deep level of smokiness and flavor to this recipe, but can be very spicy, so add a little and taste and add a bit more as desired. A hot oven is best for this but watch them closely as they can burn quickly.