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eat well on a budget with easy recipes from Jessica Fisher

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Pan Bagnat – Delicious & Budget-friendly

Jessica Fisher · May 4, 2011 · 10 Comments

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Enjoy the flavors of the Mediterranean and low cost ingredients in the classic Pan Bagnat. Simple to make, it’s a perfect tuna sandwich.

Pan Bagnat | Good Cheap Eats

After all that talk last week about tuna fish sandwiches, I started to get a craving for the version that is popular in the South of France. You may remember that I studied at the Universite in Bordeaux during college. I also had a sweet family in Toulouse “adopt me” for weekends and holidays. The Durieux were particularly adept at introducing me to traditional flavors and explaining their history.

They made sure that I tried any number of culinary delights and specialties from France, focusing on the areas where Jean-Marc and Michele had grown up, Savoie and Catalogne du Nord, respectively. They took me on trips to both regions, though because of proximity we traveled to Collioure most often, where they have a small vacation home.

When we vacationed on the Mediterranean, this sandwich was among them. I wish I had good food pictures from back then. Sigh…. So, while I was walking down Memory Lane the other day, reading all your comments, I felt this extreme urge for this sandwich.

A pan bagnat is “bathed bread”. You want it dripping with good French vinaigrette dressing. Drizzle it liberally over your sandwich. Michele says that for best flavor you should use tuna packed in oil. It’s messy, but it’s supposed to be.

A close up of a Pan Bagnat sandwich

How I make this cheap:

Here are some of the strategies I use to make this recipe more economical:

  • Buy in bulk. I know that Costco is the best place to buy ingredients in bulk, like canned tuna. In fact, their Kirkland albacore is my preferred brand since it is soy-free. Costco is also my go-to destination for organic eggs.
  • Shop the sales. Each week I scan the sales to see what produce is on sale. Unless I have a particular recipe in mind, I buy what’s on sale and work those into the menu.

Tools I use to make this recipe easy:

You don’t need much in the way of kitchen tools to make this recipe, but having the right kitchen tools can really make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. Over time, I’ve honed my collection so that they are perfect for my needs. Here are the tools that I like to use in this recipe.

  • plastic cutting boards – I have blue boards for veggies and white boards for meat.
  • Ergo Chef chef’s knife – I’ve had my set for several years and they work well.
A close up of a Pan Bagnat sandwich on a plate
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Pan Bagnat

Enjoy the flavors of the Mediterranean and low cost ingredients in the classic Pan Bagnat. Simple to make, it's a perfect tuna sandwich.
Prep Time15 mins
Total Time15 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: French
Servings: 4
Calories: 463kcal
Author: Jessica Fisher

Ingredients

  • 2 French baguette
  • 2 5-ounce cans albacore tuna drained
  • 4 eggs (hard-cooked) peeled and sliced
  • 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
  • 2 tomato sliced or chopped
  • 1 bell pepper (any color) cored, seeded, and sliced
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives though nicois would be more authentic
  • Dijon Vinaigrette
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Split the baguettes horizontally through the center but not all the way through the crust on the other side. Leave a hinge if you can. Cut each baguette in half crosswise, resulting in four pieces total.
  • Divide the tuna, eggs, lettuce, tomato, pepper, and olives among the four sandwiches.
  • Drizzle with vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

Notes

Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days.
Nutritional values are approximate and based on 1 sandwich.

Nutrition

Calories: 463kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 187mg | Sodium: 1098mg | Potassium: 432mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2659IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 5mg

Originally published May 4, 2011. Updated July 23, 2017.
Pan Bagnat | Good Cheap Eats

Filed Under: Recipe, Sandwiches, Seafood Tagged With: 30-minute meals, dairy-free

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says

    May 4, 2011 at

    Oh that sandwich looks awesome! Would love one of those for lunch today!

    Reply
  2. Jen Blacker says

    May 4, 2011 at

    Thank you for hosting. I shared my Buttermilk Cheddar Jack Biscuits. They were gone so quick!

    Reply
  3. Katie says

    May 4, 2011 at

    I love all the fresh looking toppings on that sandwich. I shared a Cinco de Mayo idea #9.

    Reply
  4. Barb @ A Life in Balance says

    May 4, 2011 at

    Oh, wow! That sandwich does look good. I can’t wait for fresh tomatoes; they would be wonderful on a sandwich like that. Please share more recipes that you picked up while in France!

    My recipe today used up old banana chips I found in the cabinet. I would say that it didn’t receive rave reviews from the kids, but it tasted fine to me. Perhaps they’re just not fond of banana bread?

    Reply
  5. amanda says

    May 4, 2011 at

    yum, they all sound so good! just linked up!

    Reply
  6. Liz @ Wonder Woman I'm Not says

    May 4, 2011 at

    Thanks for hosting the link-up. A lot of these recipes look delicious.

    Reply
  7. Chels R. says

    May 4, 2011 at

    I linked up my tart. Thanks for hosting 🙂

    Reply
  8. Katie from Katie's Cucina says

    May 5, 2011 at

    Thank you for hosting this link party! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Suzy says

    May 8, 2011 at

    Its great to see what other people are cooking up. Thanks for hosting!

    Reply

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