We observe meatless Fridays during Lent. For a family that loves meat, even allowing fish makes sticking to one meat-free day a week surprisingly challenging. After nearly seven years as a vegetarian, I still have to work at being creative when I set a restriction for myself.
That’s not to say I don’t enjoy vegetarian and seafood dishes — I do. I often browse mushroom and seafood recipes on Pinterest and imagine new meals. It’s the act of imposing the rule that trips me up; I generally avoid strict food limitations. But stopping to make a small sacrifice once a week is part of the point of Lent, and it’s a useful reminder for me.
Last year I bookmarked a spring sandwich idea from TheKitchn that seemed perfect for Lenten Fridays, then promptly forgot about it. Recently, spotting bundles of very thin asparagus at Aldi reminded me of that idea. I grabbed a couple of bundles, some fresh dill and a Parmesan peppercorn baguette at Wegman’s and felt clever for remembering the pin.
I toasted the baguette because toasted bread is, in my opinion, always better. I also planned to add olive-oil packed tuna to boost protein and keep my meat-loving family satisfied. Before toasting, I opened the can of tuna and brushed a little of the savory oil over the cut bread. That small step infused the bread with a hint of tuna, crisped the surface beautifully and gave the sandwich an undeniably French touch — a decision I’ll repeat often.
I roasted the asparagus; roasting brings out the best in asparagus, caramelizing the tips and making the stalks tender.
To assemble the sandwich, I spread grainy Dijon mustard on the toasted bread, layered the tender roasted asparagus spears, flaked the olive-oil packed tuna over the asparagus, and added thick slices of hard-boiled egg. A sprinkle of coarse sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper and a few sprigs of fresh dill finished the filling before I topped it with the remaining piece of toasted baguette.
It took a little effort to eat — the sandwich is delightfully full — but it was glorious. I ate mine quickly and then made more for the rest of the family. Some people remove visible vegetables from their sandwiches, including asparagus, which is fine with me: I gladly rescue any spears left behind.
This has become my go-to recipe for Lenten Fridays. It’s filling without being heavy: toasted baguette, grainy Dijon, roasted asparagus, hard-boiled egg, tuna in olive oil, dill, and coarse salt and pepper. Serve it with a simple side and a glass of wine for a satisfying meal.
Do you observe Lent? If so, what practices do you follow — meat-free Fridays only, or additional meat-free days? What are your favorite recipes or other things you give up or change during the season?
French Roasted Asparagus, Tuna and Hardboiled Egg Sandwiches | Lenten Friday Recipes
Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
- 1 crusty baguette or 2 crusty rolls
- 20 thin asparagus spears
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 can olive-oil packed tuna
- grainy Dijon mustard
- 2 fresh hard-boiled eggs peeled and sliced thickly
- coarse salt and pepper to taste
- fresh dill
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400°F. Trim any tough ends from the asparagus. Place the asparagus on a rimmed baking sheet, toss with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer and roast 8–10 minutes, depending on thickness and desired tenderness.
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Turn on the broiler. Cut the baguette or rolls in half and brush the cut surfaces with some oil from the canned tuna. Place 4–5 inches under the broiler and watch closely until golden brown.
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When the bread is cool enough to handle, spread grainy mustard on all cut surfaces. Layer the roasted asparagus, flake the tuna over the asparagus, add slices of hard-boiled egg, sprinkle with coarse salt and cracked black pepper, and top with fresh dill before closing the sandwich.
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Compress lightly, serve immediately, or wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before serving.
Nutritional information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. Calculate nutrition using the exact ingredients you use with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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