Tuna Sandwich With Tapenade

This is one of my favorite sandwiches.  It is one of the things I make several times a year when it is hot out.  It is best with a crusty baguette (but still soft enough to make it sandwich-able.)  The tuna steak is grilled rare and then sliced to place on the sandwich.  There are lots of toppings.  Roasted red peppers, red onion, lettuce, dijon-aise and tapenade.  I can just eat tapenade with a spoon.  And I do.  

This is also a nice way to stretch a somewhat expensive type of fish.  One steak serves 4 people in this sandwich.  

I served this with a cucumber, radish, dill creamy salad and Boulder Canyon potato chips.  The salad is just thinly sliced cucumber and radish tossed with sour cream, salt, pepper and fresh dill.  

Tuna Sandwich with Tapenade

by Giade De Laurentils via Food Network

4 (6-inch long) pieces of baguette bread, halved horizontally

1/3 cup pitted green olives

1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives

1 tablespoon drained capers

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley leaves

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 anchovy, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 (12 to 14-ounce) tuna steak

1/3 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/2 cup purchased roasted bell peppers, drained and sliced into 1/2-inch wide strips

4 thin slices red onion

4 romaine lettuce leaves

Prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill the baguette pieces, cut side down, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Combine the olives, capers, 1 tablespoon of oil, lemon juice, parsley, lemon zest, and anchovy in a food processor. Pulse just until the olives are finely chopped. Season the tapenade with salt and pepper.

Drizzle the tuna with the remaining oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the tuna until golden and seared on the outside, and just opaque in the center, about 2 minutes per side.

Stir the mayonnaise and mustard in a small bowl to blend. (The tapenade and Dijon-mayonnaise can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate. Bring the tapenade to room temperature before using.)

Spread the Dijon-mayonnaise over the bottom and top halves of the baguette pieces. Top with red peppers and red onion. Cut the tuna steaks across the grain into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange the tuna slices atop the onions. Spoon the tapenade over the tuna. Top with the lettuce then the baguette tops, and serve.

(Servings: 4, Prep time: 30 min., Cook time: 5 min., Difficulty: Easy)

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