The Ultimate Tuna (Bonito) Sandwich 

Atuna sandwich is a timeless classic. Tuna from a can has always been accessible to generations of eaters, and its versatility is unmatched. Put it in a salad, mix it with mayonnaise, garnish it with olive oil or toss it in pasta. The options can feel endless. But, we are here for one thing and one thing only: the tuna sandwich. Or, in our case, the bonito sandwich. A special type of tuna inherent to the coast of Cantabria in Northern Spain. Its quality is unmatched, and makes for a truly gourmet tuna sandwich experience. 

First, it’s important to understand how to make a tuna sandwich. Making one could not be easier! For starters, you’ll simply want to have a good piece of bread and a few key ingredients to liven up that tuna. While many people might mix their tuna with mayonnaise to create a more traditional tuna salad (which we can always get behind), we are always more inclined to do so with high quality Spanish olive oil. Its rich and robust flavors elevate the quality of the bonito tuna to another level. Followed with a garnish of salt, and we have our tuna ready. A bonito tuna mix and high quality bread--the first step towards making a tuna sandwich. 

But what can you mix tuna with? This high quality bonita tuna mix with Spanish olive oil and salt is the perfect foundation for your sandwich. Now, it needs some veggie inspiration. Look no further than tomatoes and piquillo peppers. These vibrant Spanish ingredients provide a salty freshness to your sandwich to foster a beautiful mix of ingredients. The mix of tuna, tomatoes and piquillo peppers offers you a fresh and flavorful creation.

Tuna is a very healthy food! It’s packed with vitamins and protein, making it a nutritious option for you and your family. A tuna sandwich might only become bad for you when it is mixed with heavy amounts of mayonnaise and other saturated fats--but we use high quality extra virgin olive oil to aid in maintaining the natural nutrients of the tuna.

With all of this in mind, here’s our recipe for our Bonito Sandwich, which can also be found on our cafe menu at Despana Fine Foods & Tapas Cafe:

Bonito Sandwich 

This is a lovely sandwich to be made all year round. Packed with bonito tuna from Cantabria, and piquillo peppers from Navarra, it's simple and delicious. Here's what you will need:

First, the tuna. We love bonito from Don Bocarte. It's preserved in premium extra virgin olive oil, and is portioned perfectly to add to your sandwich:

Next, some piquillo peppers. These roasted red peppers from Navarra add delicious texture & flavor to each bite: 

Then, you'll need some tomatoes. Slice some up fresh, or grab some that are fully preserved straight from Spain: 

Finally, you'll need a good baguette (or any bread of your choosing) to assemble your bocadillo. We love a dash of Spanish salt and premium olive oil from Masia El Altet as well to finish it off and gently mix into your chunks of bonito tuna. Check out some options: 

Enjoy this classic tuna sandwich with a Spanish twist! Don’t forget to tag us in any of your bocadillo pics for a chance to be featured on our instagram @despananyc