Go Back
a closed sesame sub roll cut across the middle, with pale flaked tuna, small browned roasted-fennel pieces and tiny green-olive pieces in a light creamy dressing over butter lettuce, without celery, cheese or garnish
Andrew Fowler

Tuna Sub

Roast the fennel until its edges brown, then cool it completely before chopping it into the tuna dressing. The softened vegetable and chopped green olives give this filling a different texture from a celery-heavy deli salad, while yogurt and a little mayonnaise bind the flakes without burying them. Keep the filling chilled separately if lunch is still hours away, and put dry lettuce beneath it when you finally assemble the rolls.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 55 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium fennel bulb about 12 oz, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp fine salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 4 cans 5 oz each tuna in water, thoroughly drained
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup pitted green olives drained and finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
  • 4 large butter-lettuce leaves washed and dried
  • 4 soft sesame sub rolls 8 inches long

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 425°F. Toss fennel wedges with oil, salt and pepper and roast on a small sheet pan for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once, until tender and browned at the edges.
  2. Spread fennel in a shallow container and refrigerate promptly for 30 minutes until cold. Chop into small pieces, leaving any loose liquid behind.
  3. Whisk yogurt, mayonnaise, olives, lemon juice and zest in a bowl. Flake in the drained tuna and fold gently with the cold fennel until lightly coated.
  4. Split the rolls and toast their cut faces under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, then cool completely on a rack. Put one dry lettuce leaf along each bottom.
  5. Divide tuna filling equally among the rolls and close gently. Cut across the middle and serve one sub per person, or refrigerate covered until eating the same day.