And what’s better than watching a TV series with friends or family whilst munching on something delicious at the same time?
If you’re looking for the perfect comfort food to accompany your viewing – or if you’re a Heated Rivalry fan who wants to keep savouring its atmosphere – we invite you to try the tuna melt, the sandwich Ilya prepares for Shane during one of their secret days spent together within the walls of their ultra-luxurious apartments.
The tuna melt is a popular sandwich made with two slices of buttered, toasted bread filled with melted cheese and tuna salad – canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise, herbs and spices.
Crispy on the outside, irresistibly soft on the inside: comfort food that tastes like home and desire – exactly the mood that runs throughout Heated Rivalry.
Have we made your mouth water? Follow the simple recipe steps and get ready to experience the thrill of this Heated Rivalry-inspired tuna melt.
Heated Rivalry tuna melt: ingredients
For 2 sandwiches
- 160g canned tuna in water or oil (well drained)
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tbsp finely chopped celery
- 1 tbsp finely chopped red onion
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 4 slices sandwich bread (or rustic bread)
- 80-100g cheese that melts well (Cheddar, Emmental, Gouda or fontina)
- Butter, as needed (for toasting)
How to prepare the Heated Rivalry tuna melt
1. Prepare the filling
In a bowl, combine the drained tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, celery and onion.
Mix well and season with salt and pepper.
2. Assemble the sandwiches
Spread the tuna mixture over 2 slices of bread.
Add the cheese on top of the tuna and close with the remaining 2 slices of bread.
3. Pan-toast
Lightly butter the outside of the bread slices.
Heat a pan over medium heat and cook the sandwiches for 3–4 minutes per side, until the bread is golden and the cheese fully melted.
4. Serve
Cut in half and serve immediately – gooey and crispy.
Tuna melt: light, oven-baked and veggie variations
The tuna melt is a classic snack to awaken even the sleepiest palates. If the original recipe doesn’t quite convince you, here are a few variations that might suit you better.
If you’re an athlete like Shane and Ilya, and wondering how they can devour such a calorie bomb, know that a lighter version of the tuna melt exists: replace the mayonnaise with Greek yoghurt or skyr, use wholegrain bread instead of white sandwich bread and choose a light scamorza cheese.
If, instead, you’re planning a Heated Rivalry-themed party – perhaps for a binge-watching session with friends – and need to prepare many sandwiches at once, opt for an oven-baked tuna melt. After assembling the bread, tuna and cheese, bake at 200°C for 8–10 minutes, before switching to the grill setting for the last two minutes – guaranteed success.
Do you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet? No problem: you can make a plant-based version of the tuna melt by replacing the tuna with 150g of cooked chickpeas or cannellini beans, roughly mashed. For a 100% plant-based option, use vegan mayonnaise and cheese. We can’t guarantee you’ll catch the attention of a Scott Hunter, but we can assure you the flavour will be just as good as the original.
