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Low Carb Tuna Melt

February 18, 2018   10 Comments

This low carb tuna melt will make you forget bread. Tuna melts use to be a staple in my college dorm. One cup mayonnaise, a little tuna, and say the word "green" and you had lunch!

Low Carb Tuna Melt

As you age, you learn a few things. For example, ketchup is not a vegetable and mayonnaise should be used sparingly. Does anyone else remember PBS featuring a song on "Drowning your food"? You can't taste the fish when it is swimming in mayo!

I happen to love fish and have written a couple posts about salmon – baked salmon with mustard and baked salmon and asparagus recipe – but I love the price and convenience of tuna packed in water. My pantry has a stack of cans ready to go when I run out of other food.

For this tuna melt, I have used only a tablespoon of mayonnaise. Some of you might be wondering why I don't use more of a light mayonnaise to make it creamier. I did buy and write about light mayonnaise and my conclusion was that it didn't taste very good.

Hellmann's used starch to thicken the product and it was just awful. I threw out the jar without finishing it. So, I made a new rule.

None of Snack Girl's recipes will have light mayonnaise as an ingredient. I don't care how many samples they send me - it is NOT going to happen.

What is special about THIS tuna melt is that it is packed with protein, 43% of your daily value of vitamin A, 129% of your daily value of vitamin C, and 6% of your daily value of iron in ONE half of a bell pepper (gluten-free, too).

When you heat it under the broiler, you get a hot cheesy tuna taste and a warm crunchy sweet pepper taste. It is so fresh and lively that you won't miss the bread.

I had a few left over so I put them in a container for lunch the next day. These are great to bring to work and then heat up for about 20 seconds in a microwave (or eat them cold). You don't need a fork or knife - just grab them like a sandwich.

Red bell peppers can be expensive. I was able to find some for $2 per pound and I was psyched!

Have you lightened up a tuna melt? Please share.

Lightest Tuna Melt Recipe

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(makes 4)

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Ingredients

5.0 ounce can tuna in water, drained
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 scallions, sliced
2 ounces cheddar cheese (four small slices)
2 red bell peppers, halved, core and seeds removed
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Mix tuna, mayonnaise, celery, and scallions in a small bowl. Add mixture to 1/2 red bell pepper and place a small slice of cheese on top. Heat broiler to high. Place peppers and roast under broiler for 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Peppers can be stored in the refrigerator for three days.

Nutrition Facts

For one half bell pepper = 142 calories, 6.5 g fat, 3.4 sat fat, 5.4 g carbohydrates, 3.6 sugar, 14.9 g protein, 1.6 g fiber, 264 mg sodium, 3 Freestyle SmartPts

Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes

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10 Comments:

I'm doing Keto and this recipe looks awesome. Thank you for sharing!

Love it! My kids hated tuna till I introduced tuna melts. They are now teenagers so the family can go through 3 cans for tuna melts even though there are always veggies on the side. Because of this I mix one drained, rinsed can of white kidney beans that I mash and mix in. It has a mushier texture but is still good. You get more fibre, still good protein, use less mayo and it’s cheaper. They are “ok” with it. I will definitely use the pepper base though as they will love that too. Will likely do half with peppers and half with bread. Tx!

I've struggled with loving tuna salad for years due to many decades of mercury warnings. I enjoyed it rarely, only once or twice a year. Although I reasoned if mercury was poison why would I eat poison in any amount? Still, my craving for a tuna salad would win out over my logic, leaving me half satisfied and half disappointed in myself. Eventually as the organic, vegetarian lifestyle became more mainstream and easier for conflicted busy people like me, I learned how to lighten up a tuna salad, big time, LOL! I've not only switched to a creamier and more yummy product, called Nayonnaise [honestly, it rivals my old favorite, Hellmann's] but nowadays I've also ditched the tuna! In this case, smashed chickpeas was an easy sub for tuna texturally and with celery, onion, and a few herbs and spices, it is incredibly tuna-satisfying! Today's nut cheeses for ‘’tuna’’ melts are amazing as well.

Has anyone else transformed their tuna?

I made the Salmon/Asparagus recipe when we had unexpected company for supper. The husband said he didn't like asparagus but I didnt change our supper. Well, he admitted it was 'pretty darn good'! We will fix it again! I am lucky enough to have fresh salmon from up around Michigan! Nothing better!

Thank you for sharing your recipes!

Bravo! This is a great recipe. Red bells are so good, I eat them almost everyday. They have a lot of vitamin C and antioxidants for the eyes to prevent macular degeneration. I have been ditching the buns on hamburgers and use one slice sourdough for some sandwiches to lose weight and control my blood sugar. This tuna melt will be a nice addition especially for Lent too. Thanks Snack Girl! :)

Love the idea of using peppers and Susanne's idea of adding white beans. I've used Follow your Heart vegan mayo for years now and love it. Sometimes I will make "tuna salad" using Jackfruit which I like.

I love peppers & this is such a great idea! And it could be used with other fillings too. Thanks for sharing.

I use non fat Greek yogurt in plane of mayo.

I add celery, dill pickles, boiled egg and cottage cheese with just a tiny bit of mayo. Talk about a protein packing lunch! Its delicious!

I’m not that picky about flavor - more interested in low points on Weight Watchers. So for tuna or egg salad, I use Fage nonfat Greek yogurt, nonfat cottage cheese, and a minimal quantity of light mayo.🌻

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