For the Spicy Pesto Aioli:
1/4 cup pesto
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chili crunch
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
Fine salt and ground black pepper, to taste
For the Sandwich:
5 ounces canned tuna, drained
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon drained capers
2 teaspoons anchovy paste, or 3 anchovy filets
1 tablespoon dried dill or 2 sprigs fresh dill
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 teaspoon fine salt, more to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 thin slices whole wheat flatbread, Sourdough, or focaccia
4 slices tomato
1 large ripe avocado, sliced
Pickled sliced banana peppers, for serving
The Sauce:
Gather the ingredients.
In a small bowl, stir together the pesto, mayonnaise, chili crunch, honey, and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside until it’s time to assemble the sandwiches.
The Sandwich:
Gather the ingredients.
Place the tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon zest and juice, garlic cloves, capers, anchovy, and dill in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on high until smooth and an almost “whipped” consistency is achieved, stopping as needed to scrape down the sides of the food processor, about 1 minute.
Stir in the chopped onions, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasoning as desired.
Preparing the bread can depend on the type of bread chosen—the end result should be thin and crispy. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high, then add 2 pieces of bread at a time, cut side-down. Weigh down using a small skillet or pot and cook until the pieces are golden brown and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the skillet (just brown the interior of the bread) and toast the remaining 2 slices.
To assemble the sandwiches, divide and spread the spicy pesto aioli over the toasted side of each piece of bread.
Divide and spread the tuna mixture across two pieces of the bread. Then layer each tuna-topped piece of bread with 2 slices of tomato and as much avocado as desired.
Top with banana peppers for a slightly spicy-briney punch, if desired. Close sandwiches, slice in half and serve.
(per serving)
1178 Calories 65g Fat 116g Carbs 41g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 1178
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 65g 84%
Saturated Fat 10g 52%
Cholesterol 53mg 18%
Sodium 2606mg 113%
Total Carbohydrate 116g 42%
Dietary Fiber 18g 64%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 41g
Vitamin C 33mg 165%
Calcium 207mg 16%
Iron 8mg 45%
Potassium 1285mg 27%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.