Tuna Sandwiches Nicoise Style Food

TUNA NICOISE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Gently lower the eggs into the boiling water with a slotted spoon. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook for 10 minutes, until both the whites and yolks are fully set (hard-boiled). Transfer to a large bowl filled with ice water to stop the cooking. Peel the eggs, then thinly slice.
• Meanwhile, place the red onion in a small bowl and cover with ice water. Soak for 5 to 15 minutes (this will remove some of the sharp, raw onion flavor). Whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Drain all of the oil from the tuna fillets, then break up into bite-size pieces. Fold the tuna into the dressing until evenly coated.
• Cut the demi baguette in half crosswise, then halve each piece lengthwise to create 2 sandwiches. Spread the tapenade on the inside of the sandwich tops. Layer the tomato, red onion, egg and tuna on each sandwich bottom, dividing evenly. Top with the cucumber and spring greens, then close the sandwiches. Wrap each sandwich in parchment and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 4 hours. Alternatively, cut each sandwich in half and serve immediately.

FOODCHANNEL EDITOR

Steps:

• 1 To make the Provençal vinaigrette, in a blender, combine the lemon juice, mustard, garlic and olive oil and blend until thickened. Season with salt and pepper. You will need about 1/4 cup of vinairgrette for the sandwiches. Reserve the remaining vinaigrette for another use. 2 Season the tuna on both sides with salt and pepper. 3 In a fry pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil until almost smoking. Add the tuna and cook, turning once, until the fish is well browned on the outside and still red in the center, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the tuna to a cutting board and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. 4 Drizzle 1 teaspoon vinaigrette onto the bottom of each baguette. Top with the arugula, tuna, eggs, bell peppers, tomatoes and olives, dividing evenly. Top each sandwich with 2 anchovy fillets and drizzle with 1 teaspoon vinaigrette. Cover the sandwiches with the tops of the baguettes. 5 Serves 6.

NIçOISE TUNA SANDWICH (PAN BAGNAT)

Steps:

• Combine the red and white onion with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil,1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of black pepper in a bowl.
• Using your hands, mix and squeeze everything together for 5 minutes. (Don't rush through this part; the onions need time to release their juices and mellow.)
• Work in can of tuna in olive oil, including the oil. Season with fresh lemon juice, red-wine vinegar, and salt, then add pepper to taste.
• Cut kaiser rolls in half crosswise and spread each bottom half with lettuce leaves. Use a couple of varieties-whatever looks good-for the difference in texture.
• On top of each lettuce layer, arrange 4 tomato slices (skip this step if you don't have good-really good-tomatoes on hand). Then add about half the tuna mixture and 3 to 4 slices of hard-boiled egg.
• Crisscross each sandwich with 2 drained anchovy fillets and strew with Niçoise olives (pit them if desired), chopped scallion greens, and sliced radishes. Then drizzle generously with more olive oil and top with the remaining kaiser halves, pressing gently but firmly.

TUNA SANDWICHES, NICOISE STYLE

Steps:

• .Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the green beans. When the water comes back to a boil, take the green beans out and add to a bowl of ice water. Once they are cooled, drain them, pat dry and chop.
• Combine the mayo, olives and lemon juice in a food processor and process until just about smooth. Transfer this mixture to a bowl.
• Drain the tuna and stir it into the mayo mixture. Add the eggs, tomatoes, green beans, dill, and the salt and pepper (to taste) and mix together.
• Toast the bread slices. Divide the tuna onto 4 slices of the bread, top with lettuce and remaining bread slices.

TUNA NICOISE SANDWICH

Steps:

• For the White Bean Puree: Soak the beans overnight. Or place beans in a pot, cover with cold water and bring to a boil over high heat; remove from heat and set aside, covered, for 1 hour. Drain the beans; transfer to a 2-quart pot with the diced onion, smashed garlic, bay leaf, thyme sprigs, 5 cups of stock, and salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat; simmer until beans are very tender and are breaking apart, about 2 hours. If the mixture becomes dry, add some of the remaining stock. Drain the beans; discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Puree the beans in a food processor, adding a few drops of oil. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper, to taste, along with the lemon juice, white vinegar, and walnut oil, if desired. Reserve.
• For the Olive Tapenade: In a food processor or mortar, combine the olives, capers, lemon zest, garlic, parsley, and salt and pepper, to taste. Slowly add the oil and pulse or work with the pestle into a coarse paste, retaining some bits of olive and caper for texture. Taste to adjust the seasonings. Reserve.
• Sandwich Assembly: Smear with white bean puree on 4 pieces of potato bread. Arrange sliced tuna on top. Drizzle tapenade over tuna. Add sliced tomatoes, sliced egg and dressed French green beans. Top with greens and toasted bread. Garnish with basil and arugula.

TUNA NICOISE SANDWICH

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and mustard; season with salt and pepper. Transfer 2 tablespoons dressing to another bowl; toss with tuna. To remaining dressing, add cucumber and onion; toss to combine.
• Cut bread in half horizontally; remove most of soft interior crumb. Spread tapenade on bottom half. Top with basil leaves, then egg slices; season with salt and pepper. Top with tuna, then cucumber mixture; close sandwich.
• Wrap sandwich tightly in plastic and place between two baking sheets. Weight with a heavy skillet. Let stand 1 hour (or refrigerate, up to overnight). To serve, cut into quarters.

TUNA NICOISE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Put onions, 1/4 cup oil, vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; season with pepper. Toss to combine. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Add tuna and its oil to onion mixture. Add lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt; season with pepper. Gently toss to combine.
• Cover bottom halves of rolls with lettuce. Top with olives, eggs, and tuna mixture, dividing evenly. Drizzle each with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Cover with top halves of rolls. Serve with lemon wedges.

SALADE NIçOISE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Combine all tuna, capers, mayonnaise and fresh lemon juice in medium bowl. Season with pepper. Cut each bread loaf crosswise into 3 pieces, then halve each piece lengthwise. Pull out centers of bread pieces, leaving 1/2-inch-thick crusts. Spread olive paste on inside of each bread piece. Cover olive paste with generous amount of arugula. Spread 1/2 cup tuna mixture onto each bottom piece of bread. Top with sliced tomato and sliced onion, then with top pieces of bread. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead.)

FRESH TUNA NICOISE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Beat the lemon juice, anchovy paste and olive oil together and brush this mixture on both sides of the tuna. Preheat a grill or broiler to very hot. Grill or broil the seasoned tuna briefly, two minutes or so on each side, enough to sear the outside but keep the center very rare.
• Slice the breads in half horizontally as if making hero sandwiches. Lightly toast the cut sides under the broiler or on the grill, then rub them with the cut sides of the garlic.
• Mix the mayonnaise with the olive paste and spread on the bread. Slice the tuna one-half inch thick and arrange the slices on two of the bread halves. Top with tomato slices. Remove cores from lettuce heads and arrange leaves over the tomatoes, then cover with the remaining bread. Cut each sandwich in half and serve.