Looking for a simple, hearty, and comforting meal that is sure to satisfy your taste buds? Look no further than this classic Breton tuna and white bean gratin. A specialty from the region of Brittany in France, this casserole-style dish features tender, flaky tuna, creamy white beans, a velvety béchamel sauce, and a crispy, golden brown crust. Each bite offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures, making it a true crowd-pleaser. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a beginner in the kitchen, this recipe is easy to follow and can be customized to suit your preferences. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Brittany!
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
BRETON TUNA AND WHITE BEAN GRATIN
Like a tuna casserole given a makeover, this pantry dinner is modern, sleek and a whole lot more elegant than anything your grandmother used to serve. The key is using really good-quality tuna, preferably the kind packed in extra-virgin olive oil and imported from Italy or Spain. If you can find a large 7-ounce can, use that. But the more typical size (5 3/4 ounces) will work perfectly well if you can't. Serve this over toasted slices of crusty bread that you've drizzled with oil. A crisp green salad or platter of sliced, salted cucumber is all you need to make a satisfying meal.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories casseroles, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for until fragrant and soft, another 2 to 4 minutes. Drain one can of beans and add to the skillet, then add the other can with its liquid. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste, then reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
- Transfer bean mixture to a food processor and blend to a purée. Add cream and milk, and pulse to combine. Scrape mixture into a large bowl and stir in tuna, chile and half the cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Scrape mixture into a 1 1/2-quart shallow gratin dish (no need to grease it). Sprinkle with bread crumbs and remaining cheese, and dot with butter. Bake until top begins to turn golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes, then scatter parsley over top and bake for another 5 minutes, until top is golden and bubbling.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 444, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 49 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 10 grams, Protein 31 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 718 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
WHITE BEAN TUNA SALAD
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 10m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large bowl, add the tuna, reserving the olive oil in a separate small bowl. Break tuna into bite-size pieces with a large fork. Add the beans and capers. Into the bowl of olive oil, add the red wine vinegar. You should have 1 part vinegar to 2 parts oil - add more extra-virgin olive oil if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing on the tuna, bean and caper mixture and allow the flavors to infuse while slicing the vegetables. Add the onion and tomatoes to tuna mixture and toss gently.
- Place the arugula on large decorative platter and top with tuna mixture. Tear fresh basil leaves over the top and serve immediately.
WHITE BEAN AND TOMATO GRATIN
Categories Bean Tomato Side Bake Casserole/Gratin Fall Thyme Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Vegan Vegetarian Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Combine 12 cups water, beans, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until beans are tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Drain. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves.
- Transfer beans to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Add canned tomatoes with juices, sun-dried tomatoes, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon chopped thyme, 3/4 teaspoon pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Toss gently to blend. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate.)
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix breadcrumbs, lemon peel, and remaining 1/2 tablespoon chopped thyme in small bowl. Sprinkle over beans. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon oil over. Bake until juices are bubbling around edges and breadcrumbs are golden, about 55 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
ONE-PAN TUNA-WHITE BEAN CASSEROLE
This is not the classic, cream-of-something soup tuna casserole you may be familiar with. It's based on a recipe for a Breton tuna and white bean gratin from the food writer Diana Henry's cookbook, "Simple" (Mitchell Beazley, 2016). Several steps were eliminated, and an essential potato chip topping was added, which may put it squarely into tuna casserole territory. But you can call it whatever you like. (This recipe is part of the From the Pantry series, started in the days after the coronavirus lockdown.)
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, casseroles, seafood, main course
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. In an ovenproof skillet, sauté a chopped onion (or shallots, scallions or leeks) in olive oil over medium-high heat until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add red-pepper flakes, salt and garlic cloves. Throw in the rosemary sprig, if using. Add anchovy fillets, if using. Cook for another 2 minutes, until the garlic is slightly golden and very fragrant.
- Add the white beans and the wine. Let it simmer until the liquid evaporates and the beans are soft, about 5 minutes, then mash the beans with a potato masher or a fork. Make them as smooth or lumpy as you like. You just want to release some of their starch. Turn off the heat.
- Now, add the milk and the tuna. If you have the oil-packed kind, add the oil. If you have the water-packed kind, drain them, and drizzle in more olive oil.
- Mash the tuna into the beans, leaving it a little chunky. Mix in the herbs, lemon zest and add lots of black pepper. Finally, mix in 2 to 4 tablespoons of any kind of grated cheese. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Spread the mixture evenly in the skillet, and top it with potato chips. Scatter on more grated cheese, about another 2 tablespoons, and dot the top with little nuggets of butter.
- Bake until the tuna mixture bubbles around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes. If you want the potato chips to get more brown, you could run the whole pan under the broiler. Finish with lemon juice.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh, flavorful ingredients will make a big difference in the final dish.
- Don't overcook the tuna: Tuna is a delicate fish that can easily become dry and tough if overcooked. Cook it just until it is opaque throughout.
- Use a variety of vegetables: This recipe is a great way to use up leftover vegetables. Feel free to add any vegetables that you like, such as carrots, celery, or bell peppers.
- Season the dish well: Don't be afraid to add plenty of salt and pepper to the dish. This will help to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Serve the dish immediately: This dish is best served hot out of the oven. The gratin will start to lose its crispy texture if it sits for too long.
Conclusion:
Breton tuna and white bean gratin is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover tuna and vegetables. The creamy sauce, crispy breadcrumb topping, and flaky tuna make this dish a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal that is both delicious and nutritious, give this recipe a try.
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