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Fish, Maghreb and Middle East

Tunisian tuna sandwich (casse-croûte tunisien)

The Tunisian tuna sandwich is a loaded sandwich for 4 people, ready in 35 minutes, very easy to make, for about €2.80 per person. It combines flaked tuna, potatoes, hard boiled egg, olives and a touch of thinned harissa inside crusty bread. The key to success is brushing olive oil on the bread, which ties all the fillings together.

A Tunisian sandwich is the treat sandwich, tuna, harissa, potatoes, a hard boiled egg and olives packed into good bread.

Tunisian tuna sandwich (casse-croûte tunisien)
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€2.80
Calories per person
730 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

The Tunisian tuna sandwich plays on contrasts, crusty bread against soft potatoes, salty olives and capers against the gentle heat of harissa. The hard boiled egg adds structure and the oil packed tuna keeps the filling moist. It's a generous sandwich that somehow still holds together in your hands.

It's the kind of meal you throw together on a busy weeknight, or pack for a spontaneous weekend picnic. Kids usually prefer the mild version with little harissa, while adults can spoon more onto their own half. Easy to adjust for everyone, it works just as well for a family lunch as for friends.

The ingredients

4 people

Bakery

  • Baguettes or small rolls 4

Pantry

  • Tuna in olive oiloften in the pantry 2 can
  • Black olivesoften in the pantry 60 g
  • Capersoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Harissaoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 400 g
  • Tomatoes 2
  • Green bell pepper 1
  • Red onion 1
  • Lemon 1

Dairy

  • Eggs 4

Allergens Gluten, Eggs, Fish

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the peeled potatoes and the eggs in salted water, then let them cool slightly. 20 min

    Plunge the eggs into cold water as soon as they're done cooking, they peel without a fight.

  2. Cut the potatoes into rounds, the eggs into wedges, and dice the tomatoes, bell pepper and red onion finely.

    Cut all the vegetables into small, even dice, the sandwich is easier to eat that way.

  3. Mix the tomatoes, bell pepper and onion with the lemon, a spoonful of oil and the salt.

    Add the salad at the last moment, so the bread doesn't get soggy.

  4. Split the bread open, spread it with harissa thinned with a little oil, then fill with flaked tuna, potatoes and egg.

    Thin the harissa with a bit of oil, it spreads more evenly and tastes less sharp.

  5. Add the salad, olives and capers, close the sandwich and serve right away.

    Wrap the sandwich in paper and press it for five minutes, the flavors soak into the bread.

Our tips to get it right

  • Drain the tuna well before flaking it, otherwise the bread soaks through faster.
  • Pick bread with a loose, airy crumb, it soaks up the oil and harissa without turning pasty.
  • Prep the vegetable salad and thinned harissa ahead of time, so all that's left is assembling the sandwich.

The variations

  • Swap the tuna for drained sardines in oil for a bolder, more intense flavor.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the tuna and add extra potatoes with a second egg per sandwich.
  • For kids, serve the harissa on the side instead of mixed into the bread, so everyone controls the heat.

What to serve it with

  • Sweet mint tea
  • Cucumber and mint salad
  • Fresh squeezed lemon juice

Storage

Potatoes, eggs and vegetable salad prepped ahead keep for 2 days in the fridge in separate sealed containers. Assemble the sandwich just before eating, it doesn't freeze and doesn't keep well once filled.

Questions about this dish

Can you prep the ingredients ahead of time?

Yes, cook the potatoes and eggs the day before and keep them in the fridge. Prep the vegetable salad ahead too, so all that's left is filling the bread right before eating.

Can you swap the harissa if you don't like spice?

You can cut the harissa in half or replace it with a bit of tomato paste mixed with sweet paprika. The sandwich loses some heat but keeps its color and background flavor.

What kind of bread works best for this sandwich?

A classic baguette or a small round roll with a soft crumb both work well. Avoid very dense bread, which makes the filled sandwich hard to bite into.

How do you keep the sandwich from getting soggy?

Add the vegetable salad and olive oil at the very last moment, right before serving. Drain the tuna and potatoes well too, to keep excess moisture out of the bread.

How long does it take to make a Tunisian tuna sandwich?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a Tunisian tuna sandwich?

About 730 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Tunisian tuna sandwich cost?

About €2.80 per serving, or €11.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs, fish. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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