Nicoise Style Pan Bagnats Recipes

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. While continuing to whisk, gradually add the olive oil. Whisk until an emulsion forms. Set aside.
• Slice the baguette horizontally into 2 pieces. Tear out some of the soft bread in the center of each side, making a slight well in the bread. Place the tuna, green pepper, red onion, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and tomato on the bottom side of the bread in that order. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the vegetables, top with the second piece of bread, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature for 2 hours before serving.
• Cut into 4 sandwiches and serve.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar and mustard. Continue whisking as you add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream to emulsify. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Slice the boule almost but not quite through the center, leaving the two halves attached on one side to help keep the filling tucked in. Pull out some of the soft interior crumb to make room for the filling. Rub the inside halves of the boule with the garlic clove.
• Layer the tomatoes, artichokes, favas, peppers, scallions, eggs, tuna, and olives onto the bottom of the loaf, seasoning with salt and pepper in between the layers. Drizzle with some of the vinaigrette (you won't need it all) and cover with the top half of the loaf.
• Wrap the sandwich foil or waxed paper. Let sit for a few hours at room temperature to let the flavors meld, or better yet, pack it at the bottom of your picnic basket so the weight on top compresses it a bit, commingling the flavors. When ready to serve, cut into wedges.

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.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan filled with enough water to cover 4 large eggs to a simmer. Add the eggs, adjust the heat, and simmer for exactly 12 minutes. Transfers the eggs to an ice bath to cool. When cool enough to handle, peel the eggs.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the olive oil, mustard and vinegar in a medium bowl. Chop the olives and add them to the bowl. Add the tuna with the oil. Thinly slice the red onion and add it to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Gently toss the ingredients together.
• Slice the baguette in half lengthwise. Drizzle each half lightly with olive oil. Top both halves of the baguette with the tuna mixture. Slice the eggs and top the tuna mixture evenly with the slices. Sprinkle the eggs lightly with salt and pepper. Top with arugula. Carefully flip the top half of the baguette onto the bottom half. Cut into 4 to 6 pieces and enjoy right away, or wrap the whole loaf tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate, slicing into sandwiches when ready to serve.

PAN BAGNAT LOAF STUFFED WITH SALADE NICOISE

Steps:

• Split the loaf in half lengthwise. Drizzle both cut surfaces with olive oil and scatter the vinegar and garlic on the bottom half. Sprinkle both cut sides with salt and pepper.
• Roughly chop the tomatoes and spread over the bottom half, then sprinkle over the capers and olives. Lay the anchovies on top, scatter with basil leaves and press everything down lightly.
• Cover the filling with the other half of the loaf and press down firmly.
• Wrap tightly in foil or greaseproof paper and place a weight on top for at least half an hour, longer if you have the time (4 hours maximum).
• Unwrap and cut into thick slices.

PAN-BAGNAT (A MEDITERRANEAN SANDWICH WITH SALADE NICOISE)

Steps:

• Cut the rolls in half, sandwich fashion. Pull out a small amount of the soft inner portion. Crumble and set aside.
• Brush each of the eight cut portions with a half teaspoon of vinegar and with a half teaspoon of oil.
• Put the reserved crumbled bread pieces into a bowl and add the tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, radishes, onion, green and black olives, capers, garlic, tuna, basil, remaining four teaspoons of vinegar, remaining 10 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, pepper and the hard-cooked eggs. Toss gently to blend thoroughly.
• Heap one-fourth of the salad onto four sandwich roll halves. Top each with a second half and press. Wrap each sandwich tightly in clear plastic wrap and leave at room temperature until ready to serve.