Tuna Nicoise Sandwiches

Tuna Nicoise Sandwiches

You know how when you talk about something for too long it starts to take on a life of its own? We live in an open concept condo that was amazing when Ben and I were the only ones in it, was still okay when we had Esme and now that there are four of us, is a dumb joke where the punch line is always me tripping over a wheelie bug. A move is not in our immediate future but it doesn’t stop  us from talking about “when we move to a house” quite a bit. We’re going to have a big garden (flowers and vegetables, natch), a playroom, a big kitchen and a pantry, a coach house that doubles as a studio for SPC (or a home office for Ben depending on who is daydreaming), a laundry room and a cat. And full time staff. Why let reality come into it?

Nicoise Sandwich 8160

photo by Maya Visnyei

Until then, we have the parks. Like many urban families we spend hours at the two near us – the little park and the big park. Yesterday, the kids and I spent the better part of the day at the big park, Trinity Bellwoods. When you want to make sure your kids have enough time to run off their crazies, the last thing you want to do is go home for lunch. I made this enormous tuna nicoise sandwich in the morning to give it enough time in the fridge but I really should have done it the night before. The result was delicious but could have had more time being pressed flat. It’s a Martha Stewart recipe with a few small tweaks to suit my crew. I like that it appeals to kids or adults. I only used the olive tapenade on one side thinking the kids wouldn’t like it. Then I brought that piece to the park. They didn’t even notice, so there you go. They both loved our lunch. Julian had to pull his open and pick out the pieces. Mostly it was great to be picnic-ing. Of course, it takes a long time to eat your lunch when you’re taking hide-and-go-seek breaks, picking clover and stalking your prey (little brother) through the tall grasses.

Tuna Nicoise Sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf bread
  • 2 x 7 oz cans of tuna
  • 3 hard boiled eggs
  • 1/4 English cucumber, sliced
  • handful fresh basil
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 or 2 Tbsp black olive tapenade

Method

Whisk together oil, vinegar and mustard until you have a smooth dressing.

Drain your tuna well - particularly if you're bad like me and can't stop buying the Italian, oil packed variety which is the most delicious - and dump it in a bowl.

Add 2 Tbsp of the dressing to the tuna and mash it up with a fork and mix well.

Toss the sliced cucumber in the remaining Tbsp of dressing and  give it a stir.

Cut the loaf of bread horizontally and use your fingers to pinch out a good bit of the soft bread inside. You're making a little nest for your sandwich ingredients and allowing the sandwich to flatten out a bit. You want to pinch out about a cup's worth of bread.

Spread a thin layer of tapenade on piece of bread.

Place a layer of basil leaves, followed by a layer of sliced egg.

Now use a spoon to mound the tuna next.

Follow with a layer of sliced cucumber.

Place the top of the bread and press down gently

Wrap the whole sandwich in plastic.

Put it on a plate and weigh it down with something.

Put the whole works in the fridge for at least an hour or over night.

You want the flavours to blend but also for the sandwich to compact so it's easier to slice.

For adults you could cut it into quarters, for kids I split them in half again.

Not an ingredient, but what’s a picnic without watermelon?

 

 

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5 Comments

  1. T
    July 31, 17:20 Reply

    Just awesome,that’s one mouth watering thing :)!
    Two actually and a watermelon :)) for sure :)!

  2. Ceri Marsh
    August 01, 08:15 Reply

    Glad you like it! Let us know if you try it!!

  3. Barbara Yankoski
    August 18, 10:48 Reply

    I completely forgot about this sandwich and therefore, I am so happy you have re-invented it. At one point I subscribed to Martha Stewart Living and that cute guy I married and I enjoyed the sandwich as a supper item quite regularly, especially in the summer. I will definately try your version as we both love tuna. I really love olive tapinade and I am quite sure that my sweet man, like your children, won’t notice it is in there.

    • Ceri Marsh
      August 18, 21:13 Reply

      I love this combo in any format! Let me know if you and that cute guy give it a try.

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