For the Associated Press

When you think of hot, hearty supper sandwiches, tuna melts, Reubens and open-faced turkey sandwiches probably come to mind.

But with all that high-fat meat, cheese and greasy gravy, these heaping sandwiches aren’t exactly virtuous.

For example, a grilled Reuben: Between the meat, cheese and dressing, this sandwich can be a nutritional nightmare, weighing in with as much as 49 grams of fat.

But you can make a hot sandwich that’s bursting with flavor, low in fat and filling enough to make a satisfying supper.

French-toasted tuna and hummus sandwiches certainly fit this bill. Sophisticated, with a decidedly Mediterranean flare, it’s loaded with protein, fiber and most importantly flavor.

The tuna salad that’s at the heart of this sandwich is made with store-bought hummus as a healthier stand-in for the more traditional mayonnaise. Plus, shredded carrots and fresh spinach are mixed in for added nutrition.

The sandwiches are built on multi-grain bread, then dipped in egg, French toast-style, before being griddled to golden perfection.

Make sure to grill the sandwiches covered over very low heat to ensure that the egg will be completely cooked.

French-toasted tuna and hummus sandwiches

Start to finish: 35 minutes (15 to 20 minutes active)

Servings: 4

6-ounce can water-packed solid tuna

3⁄4 cup prepared hummus

1 cup finely shredded fresh spinach leaves

1 cup grated carrots

1 teaspoon cumin

8 slices multi-grain bread

1⁄2 cup low-fat milk

1 large egg

2 large egg whites

1 teaspoon olive oil

Press all liquid from tuna. Crumble the tuna into a bowl. Add the hummus, spinach, carrots and cumin, then mix thoroughly. Make four sandwiches with the bread and tuna mixture.

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the milk, egg and egg whites. Dip one side of each sandwich at a time into the egg mixture until it is lightly soaked. You should use up all of the egg mixture.

In a large nonstick skillet over very low heat, heat oil. Add the sandwiches and cover the skillet loosely with a lid or piece of foil.

Cook until the undersides of the sandwiches are well-browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn the sandwiches over and cook, still covered, until browned on the second side, about 8 minutes more.

Nutrition information per serving: 324 calories; 9 g fat (2 g saturated); 62 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrate; 25 g protein; 7 g fiber; 662 mg sodium.