Lazy Tuesday: The Ultimate Seafood Kimchi Melt Sandwich

Travelling from Narnia to the Metro and vice-versa twice a week can be really tiring and sometimes it just takes a toll on my body. Come Monday or Tuesday when I'm back in here from the long travel, I feel lethargic and too lazy to do anything. And when I can't wake up early to cook a decent meal to serve my husband, I whip up a handy and hearty sandwich in a flash so he can take it with him and eat while he's on his way to the clinic. Oh yeah, that's me, the good wife, nyahahahaha. I can't afford him to not have his most important meal of the day: breakfast. 

And since I usually haven't done any market shopping yet at this time, I just rely what's in the pantry and in the fridge. Today, I found some leftover crab flavored seafood sticks that I usually use for maki and kimbaps, some canned tuna that's been sitting in our pantry for quite sometime, and homemade kimchi! I have been making my own easy Kimchi since the great Maangchi personally taught me how to do it when she visited us here for her Gapshida Tour. It's nothing like those crappy kimchis in tetra packs that you find in the grocery, which are usually reeking of preservatives and MSGs! Here's her easy, healthy, super tasty recipe for Easy Kimchi.

Okay, this may not yet be THE ULTIMATE Seafood Kimchi Melt Sandwich but let the word "Ultimate" make up for all my short-doings this morning and lure you to this little thing that's so jam packed with foodie goodness. Convinced yet? =) Let's go make one! 

What you'll need: (makes 2 sandwiches)

- 1 can tuna; about 180 grams

- 2-3 tsp of Liquid Seasoning (e.g. Knorr Liq. Seasoning; Maggi Savor)

*if you don't have any liquid seasoning, use light soy sauce

- 1 tsp white sugar

- drizzles of sesame oil

- toasted sesame seeds

- 2 pcs of crab flavored seafood sticks

- 1 tbsp Kimchi juice (yes, its that liquid in the kimchi)

- 2 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise

- some Kimchi

- 4 slices of your choice of bread (I used wheat bread slices)

- some Romaine lettuce leaves

- some onion rings

- slice of cheddar cheese

"crab flavored seafood sticks"

Directions:

1) First, drain the tuna from the can very well. Squeeze out all liquid using your kitchen paper towels. 

2) Heat some non stick pan and drizzle with some sesame oil. Stir fry the tuna flakes and season with 3 tsp of liquid seasoning and 1 tsp of sugar. Stir fry over high heat for a minute and add toasted sesame seeds. Remove from heat and drizzle with some sesame oil. Set aside.

3) In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp of Japanese Mayonnaise and 1 tbsp of Kimchi Juice. Mix well.

4) Shred the crab stick into small pieces and mix in the Kimchi-Mayo. Stir well to combine.

5) Let's begin the sandwich assembly! Put on a plate your choice slice of bread and layer it first with the crab stick seasoned with the Kimchi-Mayo.

6) Top it with a Romaine Lettuce leaf.

7) Top that with the seasoned tuna flakes.

8) Fourth layer will be some onion rings.

9) Fifth layer is the mouth watering Kimchi!

10) Lastly, some good old sliced American Cheddar Cheese.

11) Heat the same pan you used for your tuna, and just heat the sandwich on both sides for a minute or so until the cheese melts.

12) Sliced into 2 before serving. I garnished and served mine with some sweet rice crisps to balance this spicy, savory sandwich.

 "Lookie lookie! Just look at that melted cheese that sticks to the delicious Kimchi!"

Kimchi has become one of my kitchen staples and it is as versatile as the pasta. There are about a million things you can come up with using kimchi and this deli-sandwich is just the first one in this blog list. Expect me to come up with more unique dishes that incorporates this Korean side dish! =)

I am pretty sure that this sandwich can make up for my lazy morning. I may have ran out early of Kitchen prowess  to run my kitchen; but a little creativity here and there using available ingredients in your pantry and fridge can still get you a loooong, loooong way! =) That's just the magic with food, it's like love match matching, you'll never know who goes well with who until you pair them! =) Haha, good luck with food match making! =)

Happy Eating! =)