Fennel, White Bean and Tuna Bruschetta

, from Issue #43. August, 2015
Photography by Melanie Jenkins.
Fennel, White Bean and Tuna Bruschetta

Use a good quality, dense bread for this easy and delicious open sandwich.

Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS

Fennel
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary
sea salt

White beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 x 400 gram tin cooked white beans, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
1 handful rocket, chopped
zest and juice 1 lemon
2 tablespoons sour cream
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan

To assemble
1 piece preserved lemon
2 x 185 gram tins tuna, drained and flaked
4 halves sundried tomato, thinly sliced
½ cup pitted black olives
1 handful rocket
1/3 cup picked flat-leaf parsley
4 large slices sourdough bread, grilled or toasted

METHOD

Fennel: Heat the oil in a large sauté pan and cook the fennel, onion, garlic and rosemary with a good pinch of salt until tender. Tip into a bowl and set aside.

White beans: Heat the olive oil in the sauté pan and cook the white beans, garlic and rosemary for a few minutes. Add the rocket and lemon zest and juice and turn to wilt. Stir in the sour cream, Parmesan and season.

To assemble: Scrape the flesh from the preserved lemon and discard. Slice the skin finely and add to the fennel along with the tuna, tomato, olives, rocket and parsley.

Spread the bruschetta thickly with the white beans and place on plates. Top with the tuna salad and a grind of pepper.