Grilled Tuna Pan Bagnat Recipes

GRILLED CHICKEN PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Using meat mallet, pound chicken breasts between sheets of plastic wrap to 3/4-inch thickness. Combine 1/3 cup oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, herbes de Provence, and half of garlic in large resealable plastic bag. Add chicken to bag; shake to coat with marinade. Chill at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Remove chicken from marinade; shake off excess. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Grill chicken until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Cool. Cut chicken on diagonal into 1/2- to 3/4-inch-thick slices.
• Whisk anchovy paste, remaining 4 tablespoons lemon juice, and remaining garlic in small bowl. Gradually whisk in remaining 3/4 cup oil. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cut both bread loaves horizontally in half. Pull out and discard soft interior crumbs from top halves, leaving 1/2-inch-thick shell; drizzle 1/4 cup dressing over inside of each top. Drizzle 1/4 cup dressing over inside of each bottom half; sprinkle 2 tablespoons capers in each. Divide chicken, tomatoes, onion, and lettuce between sandwiches. Cover with tops, pressing to compact. Wrap sandwiches in foil, then place heavy skillet or food cans on top to weigh down. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)
• Cut each sandwich into quarters and serve cold or at room temperature.
• A dried herb mixture available at specialty foods stores and in the spice section of some supermarkets. A combination of dried thyme, basil, savory, and fennel seeds can be substituted.

RACHAEL'S TUNA PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Crisp baguette in hot oven, then cool to handle. Cut baguette in half lengthwise, on an angle, then split each half lengthwise.
• Put about 1 inch of water, the bay leaf, peppercorns, and juice of 1/2 the lemon into a small skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the tuna steak, cover, and simmer until cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove tuna from the water and allow to cool. Place tuna in a bowl and separate with a fork. Add capers, red onion, artichokes.
• For olives, if they're pitted, coarsely chop them. If the olives have pits, place an olive or 2 on your cutting board. Turn your knife sideways and place the flat of the blade on top of the olives -- just like peeling garlic -- whack the heal of your hand on knife and the pits of the olives will be exposed. Remove pits and chop.
• Add olives and parsley to tuna mixture. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the bowl. Squeeze lemon halves holding cut side upright, allowing juice to spill over sides. The seeds will stay with the lemon half, rather than falling into your salad. Add black pepper to the bowl and drizzle salad liberally with evoo, extra virgin olive oil. Toss tuna salad and adjust pepper and evoo to your taste. Pack the tuna salad on to baguette halves and set tops in place. Press down to set the bread and salad together. The bread will absorb the evoo and salad juices -- YUMMY! Cut each half baguette in half again, making 4 sandwiches, total.

PAN BAGNAT (PRESSED FRENCH TUNA SANDWICH)

Steps:

• Stir garlic into the olive oil and set aside.
• Partially hollow out the bread by pulling out about 50% of the insides. Brush the bread very generously with the garlic olive oil, reserving about 1 tablespoon for later use.
• Begin building the sandwich by placing a layer of sliced tomatoes on the bottom half, covering it completely. Season with salt and pepper. Top with sliced onion, olives, and banana peppers.
• Crumble the tuna over the top, pressing down slightly so it stays in place. Be sure to go as close to the edges as possible. Top with anchovy filets, capers, sliced eggs, and basil leaves. Top with another layer of tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with vinegar and reserved garlic olive oil.
• Place the top half of the loaf on and press firmly to compress the ingredients. Wrap in several layers of plastic wrap, then with aluminum foil, ending with seams at the top.
• Place into a large pan and place a sheet pan over the top. Weigh down with heavy cans, pots, a cast iron pan, or a cutting board, to press the sandwich as evenly as possible.
• Place in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, or up to overnight, turning halfway through if possible. Unwrap, slice, and serve.

BON APPETIT PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Mix oil and garlic in bowl. Hollow out inside of both bread halves, leaving 1/2-inch-thick sides. Brush inside of bread halves with garlic oil. Spread tuna evenly over bottom half. Top with onion, then tomatoes, pressing down to compact. Sprinkle anchovies and capers over, pressing to adhere. Layer peppers over, then olives. Top with remaining bread half; press together.
• Wrap bread tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Cut bread crosswise into six 3-inch-wide pieces.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Mix oil and garlic in bowl. Hollow out inside of both bread halves, leaving 1/2-inch-thick sides. Brush inside of bread halves with garlic oil. Spread tuna evenly over bottom half. Top with onion, then tomatoes, pressing down to compact. Sprinkle anchovies and capers over, pressing to adhere. Layer peppers over, then olives. Top with remaining bread half; press together.
• Wrap bread tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Cut bread crosswise into six 3-inch-wide pieces.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Halve a large loaf of crusty bread horizontally, and remove some of the crumb from each half to make it slightly hollow.
• Build the sandwich, layering on sliced tomatoes, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, red onion, olives, capers, basil leaves and anchovies (if you like them).
• Oil-packed tuna is classic; grilled chicken is also good. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, drizzle with red- or white-wine vinegar and douse with olive oil.
• Close the sandwich, wrap well in aluminum foil and weight it down with something heavy (a skillet, a milk jug, a rock, a brick, whatever).
• Refrigerate overnight or for up to 24 hours. Cut into pieces, and serve.