All-American Tuna Slider

• Sliders have become common American fare, but tuna sliders put a twist on the new classic. Turn you slider into an all- American classic with Thousand Island dressing made with equal parts ketchup and mayonnaise, along with a little lemon juice and dill pickle relish. Top the slider with avocado slices, thinly sliced red onion, lettuce and tomato if you would like. Or, take a different American sauce direction and ladle on your favorite barbecue sauce, a zesty choice that pairs well with strongly-flavored tuna.

Flavors of France

• Aoli, a garlicky mayonnaise from southern France, matches your slider's strong flavor and is a classic sauce for tuna. Add its classic accompaniments, capers and tomatoes, on top of the slider as well. Another classic French pairing, this time from a salade, uses anchovy sauce with tuna. If those French sauces are too strong for your taste, simply dress the slider with a vinaigrette made with lemon juice, olive oil and Dijon mustard.

Asian-Inspired Sliders

• Just about any Asian-inspired sauce or dressing works in a tuna slider. Use a prepared Asian sauce, or add a bit of soy sauce or miso paste to a homemade dressing made with rice vinegar, olive oil and a few drops of sesame oil. Or, make a refreshing cucumber sauce with sesame oil and a splash of soy sauce. For sweet-sour flavors, make a glaze on the stovetop with cornstarch, soy sauce, sake, rice wine and sugar.

Hot and Spicy Sauces

• Tuna sliders can take the heat, whether you use Mexican or Asian hot sauce, a dash of wasabi paste or a spicy pesto sauce with fresh basil and lots of minced garlic. Stir these spicy ingredients into mayonnaise to create your own level of heat, or use them straight from the jar. For a lower level of heat, make the mayonnaise with zesty sumac, a Middle Eastern spice, or add in curry powder for Indian-inspired sliders.

Cooking the Tuna

• Cook either chopped tuna patties and whole fillets long enough to char them on the outside with an internal temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer for medium-rare. Or, cook sliders to 145 F in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture recommendations for safe, well-done fish.