Tuna Tahini Pepper Panini

Raise your hand if you need something new in the rotation!? ⁣Oh you do? #FridgeForage and PRESS that Pepper, friend! Contrary to what you may think – this is not ANY messier than a lettuce boat or lettuce wrap. It’s sturdy, satisfying and so versatile. You can easily sub the tuna for turkey and dairy free pesto – leftover steak and chimichurri. Make this yours, rock it and tag me when you press your pepper. #cookbycolor

For someone who can’t do mayo, this tahini harissa sauce is the little black dress of my sauce world. If you aren’t familiar with harissa, you can buy it in most grocery stores. It is a hot chili pepper paste that breathes life into anything. ⁣

And tahini? Oh you have to make friends with the silky sesame seed sauce. So, I use this sauce on salads, as a dip, or to mix up a tuna/salmon salad, or egg salad for Nick. ⁣⁣

Feel free to make this YOUR own. Use your favorite meat, veggies, mix ins. Press your pepper filled with your favorite things.

Tuna Tahini Pepper Panini

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• Author: Stephanie Stanley

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Ingredients

Tahini Harissa Sauce⁣⁣

• 1/3 Cup + 1 Tbsp tahini⁣⁣
• 1/3 Cup extra-virgin olive oil⁣⁣
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice⁣⁣
• 1/4 cup water⁣⁣
• 2.5 Tbsps. harissa⁣⁣
• 1/2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest,⁣⁣
• 6 cloves roasted garlic⁣⁣
• Salt and pepper to taste⁣⁣

Tuna Tahini Pepper Panini

• ½ tsp avocado oil to season the grill pan⁣⁣
• 1 red, orange, or yellow bell pepper, halved, seeded⁣⁣
• 1 can of @wildplanet tuna⁣⁣
• + any tuna additions, use what YOU love (I love pickles*, fennel, and parsley) *make sure they are compliant⁣⁣
• + a healthy serving of the sauce – you know how you like it⁣⁣

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Instructions

Tahini Harissa Sauce⁣⁣

Start with the tahini and cold water, whisk until it’s smooth and creamy. The tahini + cold water will seize up briefly before getting creamy and smooth. Add remaining ingredients to a food processor and blend, store for up to a week.

Tuna Tahini Pepper Panini

1. MIX up the tuna salad to your preferences.⁣⁣
2. FILL the pepper, and sandwich together.
3. PREHEAT a grill pan OR a cast iron over medium heat.⁣⁣
4. OIL the grill pan.⁣⁣
5. PLACE pepper on oiled pan, pressing down on the top with another heavy pan to smush and flatten a bit. ⁣⁣
6. COOK for 2-3 minutes until grill marks sear in and pepper has softened. ⁣⁣
7. FLIP (carefully)⁣⁣
8. ENJOY! ⁣⁣