One day, a while back, I was real sleepy when I arrived home from work. I hadn’t slept well the night before, and I felt tired. I was hungry, but not in the mood for cooking anything elaborate. Then I remembered that I had a can of that good Italian style tuna packed in olive oil. Tuna packed in olive oil is the only kind of tuna I have bought for decades. It’s a favorite of mine.
Now, there isn’t a lot to this recipe. It is really very simple. I really like bold flavors, and the shallot shines through nicely. Most grocery store jalapeños aren’t very hot these days. Twenty years ago, if I made this sandwich, it would be quite hot, but now, with the mild jalapeños, there is just a slight bite to it. If it worries you, you can substitute some bell pepper.
If you make this, use real mayonnaise, not that ‘light’ stuff or the ‘salad dressing’. The tuna is healthy enough. You don’t want to overdo it. Also, use a hearty bread. If you don’t use homemade, pick a good deli style bread. Don’t skimp either. One can of tuna per sandwich, please. Here’s how I made this.
5 oz. of tuna packed in olive oil
1 medium shallot, minced finely
1 large jalapeño, minced finely
Cajun seasoning
Mayonnaise
Lettuce
2 large slices of Tuscan pane bread
Preparation
Empty the can of tuna, oil and all, into a bowl. Break it up with a fork. Add the minced shallot and the minced jalapeño pepper. Sprinkle on some cajun seasoning. Stir with a fork until well mixed.
Lightly toast two slices of a hearty pane style bread, or better yet, some whole wheat homemade bread. Place them side by side on a plate, and spread a thick layer of mayonnaise on each slice. Place a layer of lettuce on one slice.
Carefully, pile the tuna on top of the piece of bread with the lettuce. You’ll have to kind of use your hands to help pile it up and get it all on. Set the other slice of bread over the tuna. Gently press down to get the tuna into the mayo. Use a knife to slice the sandwich in half.
Serving
Serve this sandwich with a fork nearby. Some of the tuna will sneak out as you take a bite. You also want a big kosher dill pickle to go with your sandwich. If you want you can add some kettle chips too. A nice crisp light bodied white wine that is ice cold will go good too.
How about that! A tuna sandwich. And you thought I never eat healthy.
