One of the world’s all-time great sandwiches is making comeback
to do that?)
The former chef in van Olphen hacks the classic by making a homemade ketchup to serve as a dipping sauce for the tuna melt. It’s a good, tangy, sweet tomato mix. But if you love a ketchup in a bottle, use that. Whether you want to go the extra step of making homemade sourdough bread for the sandwich is up to you.
The following recipe is adapted from The Tinned Fish Cookbook.
Tuna Melt With Ketchup
6-oz. can of oil-packed tuna, drained
¼ cup diced red onion1 scallion, white and light green parts, finely chopped
3 tbsp. coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 tbsp. mayonnaise
Hot sauce, such as Tabasco Salt and freshly ground pepper 4 slices of rustic bread
2 tbsp. unsalted butter 4 slices of sharp cheddar cheese Ketchup (recipe follows), or your favorite store-bought bottle
In a medium bowl mix the tuna, red onion, scallion, parsley, mayonnaise, and a few dashes of hot sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
Butter each slice of bread on one side. Divide the tuna mixture on the unbuttered side of 2 bread slices and top with the cheddar and then the other 2 bread slices, buttered sides up. Warm a griddle or cast-iron skillet over moderate heat and fry the sandwiches, carefully turning once, until the bread is crusty and the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side. Serve hot with ketchup. Ketchup
Makes about 2 cups
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
½ cup chopped red onion
One 14-oz. can peeled whole tomatoes
1 ½ tbsp. tomato puree
1 tbsp. dark brown sugar, plus more to taste
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and red onion and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar, and vinegar and cook over low heat, breaking up the tomatoes, until thick, about 8 minutes. Let cool, then transfer to a small blender and puree. Season the ketchup with salt and pepper, and more brown sugar, if desired.