Baked, cheesy, tuna melt recipe, that is Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 friendly!
Sometimes, life just calls for a delicious gooey cheesy dish that is easy to make - right!?
Thankfully, with this recipe, you can have this comfort food feeling without having to grab unhealthy fast food. This recipe is not only grain-free but it is gluten and dairy-free too - making it ideal for many different lifestyles and allergies too.
Organic peppers stuffed with tuna, avocado mayonnaise and a delicious creamy cashew cheese sauce, that can also be used for drizzling or dipping over our Keto/Paleo celeriac chip (french fry) recipe. Check it out!
What is the Keto diet?
If you are interested in hearing more about the Keto diet, we have a whole blog dedicated to this - check it out here.
Why can't I have cheese if I follow Paleo?
Paleo is short for Paleolithic. This is the period in human history where this template for eating is pulled from. Basically, it's a way of eating only the foods that our ancient ancestors would have been able to get ahold of. Dairy would not have been part of our ancient ancestor's diets, therefore milk and cheese is not included as part of a paleo lifestyle template. You can make delicious alternatives, however, such as this cashew cheese.
Read more about the Paleo Diet in our:
Beginners guide to understanding the Paleo Diet and Lifestyle
Can I make this recipe keto with cheese if I wanted too?
Yes, you can, just emit the cashew cheese and replace it with your favorite cheese instead.
What is the best Tuna to buy if I am following Paleo or Keto?
When looking for the best canned tuna if following a Keto or Paleo lifestyle, be sure to opt for wild, line-caught Tuna, which is thought to be the least invasive to other marine species.
What about eating tuna in oil or in brine if I follow Keto or Paleo?
This a really important factor for you to consider when shopping for canned tuna. Tuna can come in brine (which is salted water) or oil. There are benefits to both - however be sure to avoid canned tuna that utilises sunflower or seed oils and opt for a tuna in olive oil to avoid inflammatory, highly processed oils - if you prefer the oil route over brine.
Should I only use Organic Peppers?
Of course, this is totally up to you. Personally we would recommend using organic peppers as "bell peppers" have made the Dirty Dozen list of fruits and vegetables and peppers themselves are more likely to be treated with pesticides. Organic is not always essential and we take a steer from the clean 15 list. Avocados, asparagus, onions, cauliflower and broccoli are all hailed as being among the "cleanest" in terms of pesticide residue and use.
Cheese Tuna Melt Recipe
What you need (Ingredients):
- 4 organic peppers (can be mixed colours)
- 4 cans tuna in Olive Oil or Brine (roughly 400 grams)
- 6 tablespoons Hunter and Gather Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Pink Himalayan Salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried onion or onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill (optional)
Cashew Cheese Sauce
- 150 grams of cashews
- 115-175 mls non-dairy milk (coconut, almond etc)
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 tsp Pink Himalayan salt
- 1 clove garlic (optional)
What You Do (Method):
- To start, place the cashews in a small bowl and cover them in boiling water. Side aside.
- Preheat the oven to 400f or 200c and line a baking sheet.
- Cut each of the pepper in half and remove the seeds and stem. Place the peppers cut side down on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
- While the peppers bake, combine the tuna, mayonnaise and all of spices into a bowl. Mix until combined.
- Drain the cashews and place them into a blender or food processor with all of the other cashew "cheese ingredients." Pulse until smooth – stopping to scrape down the sides, as necessary.
- Once the peppers have cooked for 10 minutes, remove them from the oven and turn the oven on to BROIL or GRILL. Place the peppers cut side up and divide the tuna mixture evenly between all of the pepper halves. Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of the cashew cheese on top of each pepper.
- Pop the peppers under the broiler or the grill for 3-5 minutes, or until the cashew cheese is slightly golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
All information provided on our website and within our articles is simply information, opinion, anecdotal thoughts and experiences to provide you with the tools to thrive.
It is not intended to treat or diagnose symptoms and is definitely not intended to be misconstrued for medical advice. We always advise you seek the advice of a trained professional when implementing any changes to your lifestyle and dietary habits.
We do however recommend seeking the services of a trained professional who questions the conventional wisdom to enable you to become the best version of yourself.
