Mediterranean Tuna Sandwich: A Fresh, No-Mayo Albacore Tuna Tartine with Pesto & Cannellini Beans
Are you ready to redefine your idea of a classic tuna sandwich? Forget everything you thought you knew about those mayonnaise-heavy, often-drab lunchtime staples. This Mediterranean Tuna Sandwich offers a fresh, elegant, and decidedly modern twist on a beloved classic. It’s a vibrant, open-faced masterpiece, also known as a tartine, designed to delight your palate with bright, clean flavors and wholesome ingredients. Bid farewell to gloppy tuna salads and embrace a lighter, more sophisticated approach to this pantry hero.
This post is brought to you by Portofino.
While a good, crusty loaf of bread always holds a special place in my heart, I firmly believe there’s no better way to enjoy it than in the form of a classic tartine. For those unfamiliar, a tartine is an open-faced sandwich, a culinary concept that originated in France. It’s an artful presentation where beautiful, simple, and high-quality ingredients are piled generously atop a single slice of bread. This design allows each component to shine, both visually and gastronomically, creating a more refined and elegant experience compared to its enclosed American cousin.
In a tartine, the bread, though crucial for its quality and texture, gracefully takes a backseat, allowing the vibrant filling to command the spotlight. This Mediterranean tuna tartine perfectly embodies that philosophy. It’s the latest and much-welcomed addition to my arsenal of easy lunch recipes, which also doubles perfectly as a casual, yet impressive, dinner option. These fresh and flavorful tartines are a delightful departure from the typical, often overwhelming, mayonnaise-laden tuna salad sandwiches that have seemingly dominated the sandwich landscape for far too long.
Now, while I don’t entirely mind mayonnaise on occasion – especially if it’s a luscious homemade version like the one used in this egg salad sandwich – I am generally not a huge enthusiast. My personal confession? I often perceive mayonnaise in tuna fish sandwiches as more of a crutch than an enhancement. It’s too frequently used to mask subpar flavor, compensate for dry tuna, or simply to add moisture when the tuna itself lacks quality – which, let’s be honest, is the worst kind of tuna experience!
The secret to a truly exceptional tuna sandwich, and one that doesn’t rely on excessive mayo, lies unequivocally in the quality of your tuna. Using extra virgin olive oil-packed tuna makes an unparalleled difference. This seemingly small detail elevates the entire dish, transforming it from ordinary to extraordinary. It provides a richness, tenderness, and depth of flavor that water-packed tuna simply cannot replicate, ensuring your sandwich is moist, delicious, and utterly satisfying without a dollop of mayo in sight.
For today’s recipe, I had the pleasure of teaming up once again with my esteemed friends at Portofino. These exquisite Mediterranean tuna tartines are crafted using their meticulously hand-selected Albacore tuna, packed in premium extra virgin olive oil. This specific choice of tuna is pivotal to the recipe’s success and its distinctly fresh, gourmet profile.
I consistently gravitate towards traditional Albacore tuna for sandwich applications because it boasts a naturally milder, richer, and more nuanced flavor profile compared to Yellowfin tuna. When packed in high-quality extra virgin olive oil, its texture becomes incredibly tender and succulent, and its taste truly shines. This superior quality and preparation method eliminate any need for mayonnaise, as the tuna itself provides all the moisture and depth of flavor you could wish for. Once you try oil-packed Albacore tuna, especially one as fine as Portofino’s, you’ll understand why it’s a game-changer and you truly won’t miss – or even desire – the mayonnaise. It’s that good!
[While you’re exploring delicious tuna recipes, you might also want to give these refreshing tuna avocado boats a try – another fantastic way to enjoy quality tuna.]
My inspiration for these delightful tartines comes from an age-old, classic Italian pairing: “tonno,” or tuna in extra virgin olive oil, served alongside creamy cannellini beans. This combination is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine, celebrated for its simple elegance and robust flavors. To infuse this traditional duo with a modern and vibrant pop, I’ve taken the cannellini beans and tossed them with a simple yet incredibly flavorful homemade pesto. This pesto is crafted from fresh basil leaves, more high-quality extra virgin olive oil, aromatic garlic, and seasoned perfectly with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. The bright, herbaceous notes of the pesto complement the rich tuna and earthy beans extraordinarily well, creating a harmonious and addictive flavor profile.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its swift assembly. Once your pesto-tossed cannellini beans are ready, the rest comes together in mere seconds. Begin with thick slices of perfectly toasted sourdough bread – the toasting not only adds a wonderful crunch but also enhances the bread’s inherent tangy flavor. Spoon a generous amount of the pesto cannellini bean mixture onto each slice. Next, arrange tender, chunky pieces of the Portofino Albacore tuna on top. Finish with a handful of fresh, peppery baby arugula, lightly tossed with thinly sliced red onions and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. The peppery bite of the arugula, the subtle sharpness of the red onion, and the bright acidity of the lemon juice cut through the richness of the tuna and beans, creating a perfectly balanced bite. The result is a sandwich that is incredibly tasty, remarkably easy to prepare, and bursting with Mediterranean freshness. Prepare to have your expectations of tuna sandwiches completely transformed!
Beyond its incredible taste and ease of preparation, this Mediterranean Tuna Tartine is also a nutritional powerhouse. Albacore tuna is an excellent source of lean protein and heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain function and reducing inflammation. The cannellini beans contribute a significant amount of fiber, promoting digestive health and sustained energy. Fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil offer a wealth of antioxidants, while arugula and red onion pack vitamins and minerals. This isn’t just a delicious meal; it’s a wholesome one that nourishes your body with every bite, perfectly aligning with the principles of the Mediterranean diet. It’s proof that healthy eating can be incredibly flavorful and satisfying. Serve these tartines for a quick and elegant lunch, a light dinner, or even as an impressive appetizer at your next gathering. They are versatile, beautiful, and absolutely irresistible. Once you try this recipe, tuna sandwiches just got a whole lot better and more exciting!
Mediterranean Tuna Sandwich
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Ingredients
- 2 (4½-oz) cans Portofino Solid Albacore Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil chunked
- 1 medium garlic clove peeled
- 1 ounce fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans drained and rinsed
- 2 cups baby arugula
- ¼ small red onion very thinly sliced
- juice of ½ lemon
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 4 (¾-inch thick) slices sourdough bread toasted until dark golden brown
Instructions
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In a mini food processor, combine the garlic clove, fresh basil leaves, and 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Pulse until the mixture is mostly smooth, periodically scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure all ingredients are evenly incorporated into a vibrant pesto. Transfer the prepared pesto to a medium bowl and toss it thoroughly with the drained and rinsed cannellini beans. Season the pesto-bean mixture generously to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set this delicious combination aside.
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In a separate medium bowl, gently combine the baby arugula, very thinly sliced red onion, and the freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon. Toss these ingredients gently with your hands until the arugula and onion are lightly dressed and glistening. Taste and add additional lemon juice if you desire a brighter flavor, and season with a pinch of salt and a dash of pepper.
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To assemble your Mediterranean tuna tartines, take your four slices of dark golden brown toasted sourdough bread. Evenly spoon the pesto cannellini beans onto each slice, spreading them slightly. Next, artfully arrange the chunked Portofino Albacore tuna pieces over the bean mixture. Finally, pile a generous amount of the lemon-dressed arugula and red onion mixture on top. Serve these fresh and flavorful tartines immediately to enjoy their optimal taste and texture.
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This post was created in partnership with Bella Portofino and I received compensation for my participation. Opinions are my own. Thank you for your support!