Pan Bagnato 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 (FRENCH TUNA SANDWICH)

Steps:

• Slice and store the sandwiches: With the sandwiches still wrapped in plastic, use a serrated knife to cut them into individual servings. The sandwiches are ready to eat now, or they can be packed into a picnic basket or lunch box and eaten within about two hours from now. The sandwiches taste best at room temperature.

TOMATO MOZZARELLA PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette, whisk the shallots, garlic, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, mustard, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, stir in the anchovies (if using), capers, and olives, and set aside.
• Core the tomatoes and slice them 1/3 inch thick. Place the bottom halves of the ciabattas, cut side up, on a sheet pan. Place a layer of tomato on each bread, spoon on 2/3 of the vinaigrette, add a layer of mozzarella, and sprinkle with the basil leaves. Spoon the remaining vinaigrette on the cut sides of the ciabatta tops and place them, cut side down, on the sandwiches. Place a second sheet pan on the sandwiches and put weights on top, such as cans of tomatoes. Allow the sandwiches to sit at room temperature for an hour for the flavors to blend.
• Heat an electric panini press and toast the sandwiches for 5 to 10 minutes, until the bread is toasted and the mozzarella starts to melt. Cut each sandwich in half and serve warm.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the optional anchovies, the garlic, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Slowly drizzle in oil, whisking constantly.
• If using a country loaf, pull out some soft interior crumb to form a cavity. If using a ciabatta, you won't need to eliminate anything.
• If using a Kirby cucumber, slice thinly. If using a regular cucumber, peel, halve lengthwise, and scoop out seeds from one half. Thinly slice seedless half. Add sliced cucumber to vinaigrette and toss well.
• Spread half the cucumbers on bottom of bread. Top with tomato and onion slices, then with tuna, basil, olives and egg slices. Top egg with remaining cucumbers and vinaigrette. Cover with second bread half and firmly press sandwich together.
• Wrap sandwich tightly in foil, waxed paper or plastic wrap, then place in a plastic bag. Put sandwich under a weight such as a cast-iron frying pan topped with a filled kettle, or have a child about 7 years old sit on it. Weight sandwich for 7 to 10 minutes, then flip and weight it for another 7 to 10 minutes (or as long as you can get the child to sit still). Unwrap, slice and serve immediately, or keep it wrapped for up to 8 hours before serving.

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 (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.

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.

HEALTHY VEGETARIAN PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Pull some of the soft middle from both halves of the roll out to make a well. Spread the cream cheese on the bottom of the roll. Top with the olives, artichoke hearts, tomato, roasted pepper, basil leaves, followed by the mixed sliced vegetables. Drizzle the artichoke marinade over the vegetables. Season with a pinch of salt and several cracks of black pepper. Sandwich with the top half of the roll and wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours up to overnight (this allows the flavors to meld).

PAN BAGNATO

Steps:

• Slice baguette in half crosswise, then slice each half lengthwise in two, making bottom halves larger. Pull out and discard the insides so you have hollow bread shells. In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together vinegar and mustard. Whisk in olive oil until emulsified, then season with pepper. Brush some of the vinaigrette over the insides of the bread shells.
• In a bowl, stir together the tuna, capers, onion, and olives; stir in the remaining vinaigrette until well combined. Mound tuna evenly in the bread shell bottoms. Arrange tomatoes and basil leaves over tuna, then put tops of bread on. Squish down to compress ingredients: you want the bread to get soaked with the flavors. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and parchment to transport. If made ahead, refrigerate up to 4 hours, wrapped.

PAN BAGNAT (CLASSIC FRENCH SANDWICH)

Steps:

• Place your eggs in a pot with cold water. Boil your eggs for about 10 minutes, from the time the water starts boiling. Remove the eggs and cool them off in cold water.
• Place your Wild Planet Tuna in a bowl and mash it with a fork. Then thinly slice peppers and chop scallions. Add to tuna, and mix it all together.
• In a separate bowl, combine olive oil with mustard and mix together (this mixture can stay a little lumpy).
• Cut your bread horizontally and scoop out some of the bread from the inside (you'll want to create sort of a boat that will hold all the ingredients well together).
• Brush olive oil/mustard mixture onto the bottom half of the bread. Add sliced tomatoes, sliced eggs, sliced cucumbers, sliced olives, and anchovies.
• Brush oil/mustard mixture on top of your bread, cover the sandwich and wrap in plastic foil.
• Place the sandwich in between two baking sheets, and put something heavy on top to weight it down (cast iron skillet, brick or heavy books). Place it into the fridge. Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours or overnight.
• Remove from the fridge and cut off the edges of the bread. Then cut the bread into 2" sandwiches and pack for a picnic.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Slice bread in half lengthwise. Using hands, remove interior of loaf, leaving 3/4-inch shell. Brush interior of both halves with olive oil and line with basil leaves in single layer.
• Combine undrained tuna, tomatoes, olives, onion, and lemon juice in medium bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon salad evenly into bottom bread shell. Cover with top half and wrap tightly with plastic. Place in shallow baking pan; top with another baking pan and weight with heavy cans. Let stand 20 minutes.
• Unwrap pan bagnat and cut into 1 1/2-inch slices. Place on platter, garnish with basil sprigs, and serve.

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.