TASTE
This picnic-perfect sandwich starts with 'soaked' baguette
By Jill Wendholt Silva
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Sure, fried chicken, potato salad and coleslaw are considered your standard, all-American picnic fare. But the movable feast begs a few modern questions: Is it lean? Is it convenient to make? And, once you make it, is it easily portable to your rendezvous site?
Looks like it's time to take a cue from the French. When heading for a grassy knoll under a shady tree, they tote along tuna pan bagnat (pronounced "pan ban-YAH").
A sandwich is by definition easy to make and easily portable. This version of pan bagnat is the perfect picnic sandwich because it must be made ahead of time. The name means "soaked bread."
In this case, a very crusty baguette is the perfect bread to use. The top and bottom slices are painted with olive oil, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat that keeps water-packed tuna, which has the tendency to be mealy or dry, moist. The sandwich ingredients - lean protein paired with antioxi- dant-rich tomatoes, onions, spinach and peppers - are also bathed in a white wine vinaigrette.
The idea is the flavors seep into the bread as it is pressed. Luckily no fancy equipment is required. To press it, simply place a narrow tray, small skillet or a couple of small plates on top of the sandwich, and then weigh that down with a can from the pantry.
Shopping tip: Be sure to use very crusty bread, such as a day-old baguette.
TUNA PAN BAGNAT
Split baguette in half lengthwise. With fingertips, gently scoop out soft center of each bread half, leaving a shell. (Reserve soft bread for other use.) Place bread shells, cut side up, on large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Combine wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic and pepper. Brush cut surface of bread with vinegar mixture; reserve remaining vinegar mixture.
Arrange half of spinach leaves in a single layer in one bread shell. Spoon tuna evenly down center of bread shell on top of spinach leaves. Layer, in order over tuna, shredded cheese, onion, tomatoes and red pepper. Slowly drizzle with remaining vinegar mixture, pouring so that it soaks down over vegetables in sandwich. Arrange cucumbers (overlapping as necessary) over sandwich, then place remaining spinach leaves on top of cucumber. Top sandwich with second bread shell.
Wrap sandwich very tightly in aluminum foil. Place on tray. Weigh down top of sandwich. Refrigerate 2 to 24 hours.
Makes 6 servings.
