Tuna Melt with Avocado

Add some chopped avocado and tomatoes and you will have transformed your plain old tuna melt recipe. The lemon juice also gives it a nice fresh flavor that goes well with the tuna. 

This is a very easy lunch or dinner dish that is perfect if you don't have much time, don't want to break the bank but still want to provide something healthy for your family.

I used some delicious large rolls from Trader Joe's, but feel free to use whatever bread you want. Some of my favorites include focassia, ciabatta, french or sourdough bread.

**Found this recipe in a Cooking Light Magazine. Check out the original recipe here.

Tuna Melt Recipe 

Serves: 4 Prep: 10 minutes  Cooking Time: 3 minutes

2 1/2 TB olive oil
2 TB shallots or red onion, thinly sliced

1 TB Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1 (6oz) can of tuna, packed in water and drained
1 1/2 TB fresh lemon juice
1 avocado
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered or halved (depending on how chunky you like it)
1/3 cup Swiss or Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
french bread, halved lengthwise and toasted (or whatever kind of bread you want)

 1. Preheat broiler to high.
2. Place first 6 ingredients in a large bowl, and combine well.
 3. Put lemon juice in a small bowl, and add chopped avocado to it, toss well. Add avocado mixture and tomatoes to tuna mixture, toss well.
4. Sprinkle cheese over cut sides of bread, broil for 3 minutes or until bubbly. Divide tuna mixture evenly among bread slices.
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Plan and Prep Ahead 

Here are some helpful techniques to make life a little easier once dinner time hits. These tips will especially help those that work full-time and don't have a lot of time to prepare dinner. 

 ~Chop Avocado ahead of time. Leave in a bowl with the seed so they won't turn brown.

~Grate cheese ahead of time and keep in fridge until time of use. 

~Chop tomatoes ahead of time and keep in fridge until time of use. 

~Make tuna mixture ahead of time and keep in fridge until time of use.

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Who likes to CHANGE IT UP? 

 ~Use dried tomatoes instead of fresh.

~Use a different kind of cheese like gouda or brie. 

~Add a little lemon pepper to the mix.