Tonno y Fagioli (Tuna and Beans)

Tuna and Beans – Italian style. Tonno y Fagioli is usually served as an appetizer or salad course, but sometimes I serve it for dinner. The ingredients are items you can easily keep on-hand, so Tuna and Beans is also a great recipe to serve unexpected guests, especially as it just takes a few minutes to prepare. Don’t hesitate to embellish on this basic recipe – you will often find slivered red onion and capers tossed in with the beans in Italy – or take it over-the-top by using a jar of Italian tuna. The beans and tuna are a bit blandly-colored, so jazz it up with a few tomato wedges.
 
DRESSING:
1 teaspoon fresh oregano leaves, minced fine (or ½ teaspoon dried)
¼ teaspoon salt
Ground black pepper, to taste
1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
 
SALAD:
14 ounce can white beans (butter beans, cannellini or white navy beans),
     drained and rinsed
6 ounce can solid white albacore tuna (packed in oil or water) drained
 
Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to blend well. In a small bowl, pour most the dressing over the beans (reserve about one Tablespoon for the tuna). Stir gently to coat. Arrange the beans on the bottom of a serving dish, leaving a small hole in the center. Carefully turn the tuna out into the center of beans and gently break into large chunks with a fork. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the tuna. Garnish with oregano sprigs and tomato wedges, if desired.
 
Serves 4 as an appetizer or 2 as a main course salad.