Tangy Tuna Panini Food

TUNA PANINI MELT

Steps:

• Mix tuna, mayonnaise, balsamic vinegar, onion, and dill pickle together in a bowl.
• Spread tuna mixture over 2 slices of bread. Top with American cheese and remaining 2 slices of bread.
• Cook in a panini press until bread is crispy and cheese is melted, 3 to 4 minutes.

CROSTINI WITH TUNA TAPENADE

Steps:

• Drain all but a tablespoon of olive oil from the tuna and then flake the fish into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the anchovy paste, thyme, parsley, lemon zest, and garlic and pulse a few times. Add the lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and the mascarpone and process until almost smooth. Add the olives, capers, salt, and pepper and pulse just to incorporate. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, heat a gas or charcoal grill or preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Brush the bread lightly on one side with olive oil. Grill the crostini on both sides until lightly browned or arrange the bread on a sheet pan and bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.
• Mound the tapenade on each toast, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

TUNA AND GRUYERE PANINI

Steps:

• See note below for directions on roasted the garlic. Do this before preparing the paninis.
• Mix the mayo with the 1 Tablespoon of the reserved tuna oil, the lemon juice, Dijon mustard, celery, garlic, parsley, capers and celery seeds. Mix in the tuna. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Spoon the tuna mixture onto 4 slices of the bread, then top each with 1 oz of Gruyere and then top with another slice of bread.
• Toast the sandwiches in a panini press until they are golden and the cheese is melted.
• *Note* To roast the garlic, place the unpeeled cloves on a sheet of aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil. Seal the foil and roast the cloves at 300 degrees F. If I'm halving the recipe and only roasting 2 cloves, I roast them for 30 minutes. If you roast the whole garlic bulb it would take about 1 hour. You can always peek at them and touch to see when they are completely tender. let the cloves cool, then squeeze them out of their skins and mash them.