Nicoisesandwich Recipes

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook green beans until bright green and tender, 3 minutes. Drain, rinse under cool water, and chop. In a medium bowl, whisk together mustard, vinegar, shallot, and olive oil. Drain tuna, then break into chunks and add to vinaigrette, along with green beans. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir to combine. In a food processor, pulse together tomatoes, olives, and parsley. Split baguette lengthwise and scoop out most of the insides. Arrange a few lettuce leaves on bottom half; top with tuna mixture and eggs. Spread tomato-olive mixture on top half of baguette and place on sandwich. To serve, cut crosswise into 4 pieces.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and garlic; cook until the bacon starts to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the ground beef; cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add the brandy, shallots, carrots, celery and tomato paste; cook until the vegetables soften, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Crush the tomatoes into the pan with your hands and add any juices from the can. Stir in the broth, bay leaf, orange peel and olives. Bring to a simmer and lower the heat; cover and cook 20 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat and bring to a boil to thicken the sauce.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil the gnocchi until one floats to the top, about 1 minute. Drain immediately to prevent the gnocchi from becoming mushy. Remove the orange peel and bay leaf from the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Toss the gnocchi with the sauce.

Steps:

• 1. Place the potatoes in cold salted water in a medium pan and bring to a boil. Simmer until tender, about 15 minutes, then cool, peel, and quarter.
• 2. Combine the vinegar and mustard in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper and mix well. Stirring constantly, pour in the oil in a steady stream. Dress the quartered potatoes with about a tablespoon of dressing.
• 3. Place the lettuce in a large salad bowl. Add salt and pepper and enough dressing to lightly coat the lettuce (all but about 2 tablespoons). Toss, mixing well. Arrange the eggs, onions, tomatoes, radishes, olives, capers, anchovies, and tuna over the lettuce. Sprinkle the eggs, onions, tomatoes, and radishes with salt. Drizzle the salad with any remaining dressing, then toss gently and serve.
• Variation:
• Split 1 large or 2 small baguettes. Pull out and then discard some of the white bread inside and then fill with salad. Set aside for about 20 minutes, then cut into 8 pieces and serve.

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Gently lower the eggs into the boiling water with a slotted spoon. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook for 10 minutes, until both the whites and yolks are fully set (hard-boiled). Transfer to a large bowl filled with ice water to stop the cooking. Peel the eggs, then thinly slice.
• Meanwhile, place the red onion in a small bowl and cover with ice water. Soak for 5 to 15 minutes (this will remove some of the sharp, raw onion flavor). Whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Drain all of the oil from the tuna fillets, then break up into bite-size pieces. Fold the tuna into the dressing until evenly coated.
• Cut the demi baguette in half crosswise, then halve each piece lengthwise to create 2 sandwiches. Spread the tapenade on the inside of the sandwich tops. Layer the tomato, red onion, egg and tuna on each sandwich bottom, dividing evenly. Top with the cucumber and spring greens, then close the sandwiches. Wrap each sandwich in parchment and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 4 hours. Alternatively, cut each sandwich in half and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Combine all tuna, capers, mayonnaise and fresh lemon juice in medium bowl. Season with pepper. Cut each bread loaf crosswise into 3 pieces, then halve each piece lengthwise. Pull out centers of bread pieces, leaving 1/2-inch-thick crusts. Spread olive paste on inside of each bread piece. Cover olive paste with generous amount of arugula. Spread 1/2 cup tuna mixture onto each bottom piece of bread. Top with sliced tomato and sliced onion, then with top pieces of bread. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead.)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, parsley, olives, onion, tuna and green beans. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
• In large bowl, toss greens with vinaigrette and top with chilled potato mixture. Garnish with eggs, tomatoes, capers and anchovies.

Steps:

• In medium bowl, gently mix all ingredients except 1/2 cup of the dressing, the rolls and romaine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Cut slit in top of each roll, being careful not to cut all the way through. If necessary, remove excess bread from interior of each to allow room for filling.
• Stuff each roll with 1/4 cup lettuce and rounded 1/2 cup chicken mixture. Drizzle each sandwich with 1 tablespoon dressing.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and mustard; season with salt and pepper. Transfer 2 tablespoons dressing to another bowl; toss with tuna. To remaining dressing, add cucumber and onion; toss to combine.
• Cut bread in half horizontally; remove most of soft interior crumb. Spread tapenade on bottom half. Top with basil leaves, then egg slices; season with salt and pepper. Top with tuna, then cucumber mixture; close sandwich.
• Wrap sandwich tightly in plastic and place between two baking sheets. Weight with a heavy skillet. Let stand 1 hour (or refrigerate, up to overnight). To serve, cut into quarters.

Steps:

• Char bell peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides.
• Wrap in paper or plastic bag and let stand 10 minutes to steam and soften.
• Peel and seed.
• Cut bread in half horizontally.
• Remove centers of each half, leaving a 1 inch thick bread shell all around.
• Combine oil, vinegar, basil and garlic in a small bowl.
• Brush inside of bread shell with this mixture.
• Layer anchovies, bell pepper, eggs, tomatoes, tuna, olives and parsley on bottom half.
• Season generously with pepper.
• Cover with top half of bread and press gently.
• Wrap tightly in foil.
• Cover with a tray or cutting board and place 3, 5 lb weights (various large cans) and refrigerate atleast 30 minutes.
• (can be prepared up to 6 hours ahead – this is great picnic fare).
• Cut into 6 wedges.
• Pierce each with a long toothpick and serve.