The Ultimate Tuna Melt

cook time:

4 hr 55 min

total time:

4 hr 55 min

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Of course! Here’s a longer, brand-free, smooth-flowing version: — I know, I know—it’s so easy to grab a can of tuna and whip up a quick tuna melt. But once you try making confit tuna from scratch, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. It’s shockingly simple, and the flavor? On a whole different level. All it takes is a beautiful piece of fresh tuna, some good olive oil, and a few pantry staples. You slowly poach the tuna until it’s tender and silky, soaking up all that flavor as it cooks. Once it’s done, I crumble the tuna into big, chunky pieces—none of that shredded, mushy stuff. Then I mix it with crunchy celery, briny capers, a little mayo to bring it together, and a spoonful of Calabrian chilies for that perfect kick. Pile it high on a toasted bagel, top it with a slice of melty cheese, and broil or air-fry until everything’s bubbling and golden. It’s the kind of tuna melt that makes you forget the canned stuff even exists.

Ingredients

For the tuna:

  • 1 lb fresh tuna
  • 3 stems of fresh thyme
  • 1 orange, peel
  • 1 fennel, fronds
  • 1 tbsp peppercorn
  • ½ red chili, thinly sliced
  • Extra virgin olive oil (to cover the tuna)

Ingredients

For the sandwich:

  • 2 bagels, halved
  • 2 tbsp capers
  • 3 tbsp celery ribs, cubed
  • 2 tbsp mayo
  • 1 tbsp Calabrian chili paste (optional)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 4 slices of cheese

Ingredients

For the tuna:

  • 1 lb fresh tuna
  • 3 stems of fresh thyme
  • 1 orange, peel
  • 1 fennel, fronds
  • 1 tbsp peppercorn
  • ½ red chili, thinly sliced
  • Extra virgin olive oil (to cover the tuna)

Ingredients

For the sandwich:

  • 2 bagels, halved
  • 2 tbsp capers
  • 3 tbsp celery ribs, cubed
  • 2 tbsp mayo
  • 1 tbsp Calabrian chili paste (optional)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 4 slices of cheese

Ingredients

For the tuna:

  • 1 lb fresh tuna
  • 3 stems of fresh thyme
  • 1 orange, peel
  • 1 fennel, fronds
  • 1 tbsp peppercorn
  • ½ red chili, thinly sliced
  • Extra virgin olive oil (to cover the tuna)

Ingredients

For the sandwich:

  • 2 bagels, halved
  • 2 tbsp capers
  • 3 tbsp celery ribs, cubed
  • 2 tbsp mayo
  • 1 tbsp Calabrian chili paste (optional)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 4 slices of cheese

Lets Start Cooking!

step 1

Place the tuna in a container. Add all the ingredients right over the fish, give it a quick toss, cover, and let it chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours- overnight is even better.

step 2

Once it’s marinated, transfer the tuna into a small saucepan, strain the oil in, making sure the fish is snug and fully covered in oil.

step 3

Bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes. Then, take it off the heat and let the tuna cool right in the oil for 30 minutes.

step 4

You can use it immediately, or store it in the oil in the fridge for up to 5 days.

step 5

In a bowl, gently crumble the tuna into chunky pieces. Add in the capers, diced celery, mayo, Calabrian chili, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Mix everything together until just combined—be careful not to overmix, you want to keep those big, beautiful chunks of tuna intact.

step 6

Slice the bagels in half and generously pile the tuna mixture on each half. Top each one with a slice of cheese, then pop them into the air fryer at 205°C (200°C) for 5-8 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden and the bagels are perfectly crisp. Serve hot and enjoy!

step 7

YASSS!

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