Best Pan Bagnat Recipes

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.

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.

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.

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:

• 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 SANDWICH WITH TUNA, ANCHOVIES, AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Cut baguette in half crosswise with a serrated knife, then split each half lengthwise. Drizzle cut sides of bread with oil and rub with garlic. Arrange 2 anchovies on top half of each baguette.
• Toss onion and vinegar in a medium bowl and season with 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper. Let stand 5 minutes. Add tuna and parsley and toss gently to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pile tuna mixture on bottom half of each baguette. Top tuna mixture with eggs and olives.
• Arrange tomato slices on top of anchovies and close sandwiches. Wrap sandwiches tightly in foil and place a heavy pot or skillet on top. Add a few heavy objects such as cans to weigh down pot and press down on sandwiches. Let sit at room temperature at least 40 minutes and up to 1 hour. Unwrap, slice each sandwich in half crosswise (if desired), and serve.

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.

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 (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.

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.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• slice the bread in half lengthwise, nearly all the way through.
• Carefully open the loaf and spread the garlic on one of the cut sides.
• Drizzle the olive oil on both sides.
• Layer the tomato, cucumber, onion and olives and any of the optional ingredients on one half of the bread.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
• Close the loaf and wrap in tightly in plastic wrap or aluminium foil.
• Weight the full length of the Pan Bagnat with a heavy book[or several] for 1-3 hours.
• Slice and 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.

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.

GRILLED TUNA PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Brush the tuna steaks with the 1 tablespoon of oil and season and salt and pepper. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes on both sides or until just cooked through. Let rest for 5 minutes then flake with a fork. Transfer to a bowl with the red onion and tomatoes.
• Whisk together the anchovy paste, lemon juice, mustard, red pepper, and 1/2 cup olive oil in a small bowl. Add the capers and then season with salt, to taste, if necessary. Pour the dressing over the tuna, add the basil, and gently mix to combine.
• Place the baguette on the grill, close the cover and let heat through, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the grill and slice lengthwise. Remove some of the inside of the bread. Spread the tuna mixture evenly over the bottom half of the bread, place the top bread on, and press down firmly on the sandwich. Wrap the sandwich in foil and place a heavy pan on top. Let stand 30 minutes before serving and then cut into 4 pieces.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Halve the baguette lengthwise, then cut it crosswise into 4 portions.
• Remove some of the light, fluffy bread from the center and reserve for another use (such as bread crumbs).
• In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and 1 Tablespoon of the oil.
• Place a few lettuce leaves on both halves of each baguette portion.
• top the bottom halves with the tuna mixture, tomatoes, onion, olives, basil and capers (if using).
• Drizzle with the remaining oil.
• Cover with the top half of each baguette portion and press gently but firmly.
• Enjoy or wrap and tote to your favorite outdoor activity.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine beans, onion, fennel, tomatoes, pepper, olives, capers, tuna, and watercress with 3/4 cup of the vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper.
• Slice open rolls, and scoop out some of the top halves. Brush remaining vinaigrette on insides of rolls. Pile salad mixture on bottom pieces, and top with egg slices. Cover with tops of rolls; serve.

CHICKPEA PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Drain the chickpeas, reserving the liquid (aquafaba) and chickpeas separately.
• Make aquafaba mayo by placing 1/4 cup of the aquafaba (liquid from the can of chickpeas), the 2 grated cloves garlic, vinegar, mustard and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender and pulsing to combine. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the avocado oil, blending until a smooth emulsion forms.
• Combine the chickpeas, 1/4 cup of the aquafaba mayo (save the rest for another use), lemon juice and lemon zest, the remaining 1 whole clove garlic and salt and pepper to taste in a food processor and pulse until well combined. The mixture should look similar to tuna salad; it's okay to have a few whole chickpeas remaining. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl. Add the parsley, basil and capers and mix until combined.
• Open the baguette pieces and lightly drizzle the inside top and bottom with the olive oil. Spread with the chickpea mixture, then layer with the mixed olives, cucumber, tomato, shallot and red pepper.
• Wrap the sandwiches tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place on a baking sheet; top with another baking sheet and weight the top down with a cast-iron skillet for 10 minutes.

PAN-BAGNAT PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees with rack in lower third lined with a pizza stone or baking sheet. Drizzle a rimmed baking sheet with oil, place pizza dough on sheet and stretch to a 13-inch round. Season lightly with kosher salt; drizzle with more oil. Stir together tomato sauce, anchovies, and a pinch of salt; spread over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with mozzarella, roasted-pepper strips, and capers. Bake until cheese has melted and bottom is crisp, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss 1/3 cup packed flat-leaf parsley leaves with 1/2 teaspoon white-wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon oil, and a pinch of red-pepper flakes. Top pizza with parsley mixtureand more pepper flakes; serve.

PAN BAGNAT

Steps:

• Mix the tomatoes, onions and basil leaves in a bowl. Season with vinegar, salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate for 5 minutes.
• Cut the baguette in half lengthwise and pull out about two-thirds of the middle, leaving a crusty bread shell. Rub the insides with the garlic halves and drizzle generously with olive oil.
• Fill the cavity with the tomato mixture. Spoon any remaining juice over the top of the baguette and the rest over the tomato mixture. Make a layer of olives. Lay the sliced egg over top, season with salt and pepper, and put the top of the bread back on, pressing down well. Wrap in parchment until serving. The longer it sits, the more the flavors will soak into the bread.