Ottolenghi Fricassee-Inspired Tuna Melt

25m
Serves 2
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Directions

  1. 1Flake up tuna into nice chunky pieces.
  2. 2Mix tuna with mayonnaise.
  3. 3Dice red onion finely.
  4. 4Add diced red onion to the tuna and mayonnaise mixture.
  5. 5Put olives, garlic, lemon juice, maple syrup, harissa and reserved tuna oil in a food processor.
  6. 6Blend the ingredients to a chunky paste.
  7. 7Slice potatoes into half-moon shapes.
  8. 8Heat olive oil in a frying pan.
  9. 9Add sliced potatoes to the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 10-12 minutes, flipping often.
  10. 10Remove potatoes from the pan and drain on kitchen paper, then season with salt.
  11. 11Spread harissa tapenade on each slice of sourdough.
  12. 12Sprinkle grated mozzarella over the tapenade on each slice.
  13. 13Divide the tuna mix between two of the slices of bread.
  14. 14Top the tuna mix with the fried potatoes.
  15. 15Place parsley leaves on top of the potatoes.
  16. 16Carefully close each sandwich by putting the two tapenade and cheese-topped bread slices on top.
  17. 17Fry sandwiches in the pan for about six minutes, flipping once halfway through, until golden and toasted on each side and cheese is melted.
  18. 18Remove from the pan and drain on a rack or plate lined with kitchen paper.
  19. 19Slice each sandwich in half and serve immediately.

Ingredients

  • 200 g jarred (or tinned) tuna in olive oil (drained weight)
  • 100 g mayonnaise
  • 0.5 a red onion red onion, finely diced
  • 0.25 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 0 few grinds black pepper
  • 150 g pitted black olives
  • 2 cloves garlic cloves
  • 1.5 tablespoons red harissa paste
  • 1.5 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons reserved olive oil from the drained tuna
  • 0.5 teaspoon maple syrup (or runny honey)
  • 100 ml olive oil for the potatoes
  • 1 potato potato, unpeeled, halved lengthways, then cut into ½cm-thick half-moons
  • 4 slices large slices sourdough
  • 200 g grated mozzarella, or low-moisture mozzarella
  • 20 g parsley leaves

Equipment

knifefrying panfood processor

Tips

  • Use Lamiri harissa for smokiness, otherwise, rose harissa or regular Tunisian harissa works too.
  • Leave olive oil in the pan after frying potatoes to fry the sandwich.