Cook’s Illustrated (@cooksillustrated) is basically the gold standard for home cooks who care about precision. Known for rigorous recipe testing, careful attention to detail and a scientific approach to food, the brand is the place to go when you want to know not just how to make something, but why it works.
In a recent Instagram post, Cook's Illustrated shared what they call The Ultimate Tuna Melt and some tuna melt fans (or should we say stans) are taking issue with both the how and the why of the recipe. The culprit? A controversial slab of iceberg lettuce. Here's what you need to know.
Related: Tom Selleck's Easy Tuna Melt Is Creamy, Cheesy and Super Satisfying?? SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter??
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jeremy Jacobowitz Brunchboys (@jeremyjacobowitz)
Cook's Illustrated's version of the tuna melt, which is inspired by the sandwich at Palace Diner in Biddeford, ME, is a balance of flavors and textures.
The tuna salad has generous amounts of Dijon mustard and lemon juice. The mustard brings heat and tang, while the lemon juice adds brightness, giving the sandwich some extra zip. Bread-and-butter pickle chips take it just a bit further, cutting through the fat with every bite.
Drawing inspiration from the Palace Diner sandwich, Cook's Illustrated Associate Editor Erica Turner added a slab—and we do mean slab—of iceberg lettuce right on top of the tuna salad. Not a few shredded strands. Not a modest leaf. A full, cold, crunchy chunk of lettuce that looked more like it belonged in a wedge salad than in a sandwich.
And that’s when things got heated.
Some people were all in, calling the move genius. One commenter joked that they’d seen wedge salads with less lettuce. Others thought it was sandwich sabotage, including food creator Jeremy Jacobowitz, who had a lot to say about the recipe.
And then came Kenji López-Alt, chef, cookbook author and former Cook's Illustrated editor, who made a joke version of the sandwich with a comically large amount of romaine lettuce, with the caption, "How'd I do, @cooksillustrated?" He went on to say, "I think the CI sandwich actually looks really good. I love a good slab of iceberg."
And none other than Chrissy Teigen herself weighed in on López-Alt's post, saying, "...I went on a deep dive and have concluded that it's probably [expletive] amazing. Salad with bread."
Related: I Tried Adam Sandler's Famous 'World's Greatest Sandwich' and It's My New Favorite Lunch
Crunch Theory: Why This Works (Even if It Shouldn’t)
The secret is in the contrast. Sandwiches are better when there’s a mix of textures. Melted cheese, creamy tuna, soft bread—that’s all fine and good, but too much softness in one bite and the whole thing turns into a squish-fest.
Iceberg lettuce has a high water content, which makes it incredibly crunchy and refreshing, and when it's left in large pieces, it adds an almost shocking crispness to the bite. It’s not subtle, but that’s kind of the point.
Plus, the cold lettuce creates a temperature contrast that enhances the whole experience. Warm, rich tuna and cheese meet a cool, hydrating crunch for a sandwich that's full of surprises.
Still, it’s not for everyone. Purists argue that hot sandwiches shouldn’t include cold lettuce. Others worry that too much lettuce slides out and ruins the structural integrity. But fans of say the lettuce plank is the secret to a more balanced tuna melt. You can eat the whole thing and not feel like you need a nap afterward.
In the end, maybe this is less of a debate and more of a reminder that sometimes the weirdest ingredient is the one that takes a dish from good to unforgettable—and to not yuck somebody else's yum.
So go ahead, try the tuna melt with the iceberg slab. You might discover a next-level crunch that changes your sandwich game for good.
Up Next:
Related: How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich 10x Better, According to Legendary Chef Thomas Keller
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The Controversial Tuna Melt Recipe That Has People Talking )
Also on site :
- Defiant Serbian leader sends message to EU from Red Square (VIDEO)
- Smoke Signal? Motorcyclist Records Mysterious Black Ring Hovering In Sky Over Kansas (WATCH)
- Day Two of Cardinal Conclave: The World Awaits a New Pope