What is Genovese tuna?

Genovese tuna refers to a style of tuna preparation inspired by the southern Italian "alla Genovese" onion sauce. It includes oil-packed tuna mixed with sweet caramelized onions, capers, and roasted red peppers, often served warm or at room temperature in sandwiches or over pasta.

What is the Italian dish beef and tuna?

That dish is likely Vitello Tonnato —a cold classic made with thin slices of chilled roast veal covered in a creamy tuna and caper sauce. While it pairs meat and tuna, it’s completely different in texture and temperature from the buona tuna Genovese sandwich.

How to beef up tuna salad?

To make tuna salad heartier, add chopped hard-boiled eggs, roasted vegetables, cooked pasta, or even beans like cannellini. Use bold herbs, mustard, or chili flakes for a punch. The Genovese approach adds sweet onions and capers for depth without mayo.

What is an Italian tuna sandwich?

It’s typically a crusty bread roll filled with tuna in olive oil, tomatoes, roasted peppers, and sometimes olives or greens. Unlike the American deli style, it rarely uses mayonnaise and relies on olive oil and vinegar for richness.

Buona Beef Tuna Genovese Recipe – 1 Healthy Sandwich Idea

Name: Buona Beef Tuna Genovese Recipe – Bold, Healthy Italian Flavor
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced; 1 tbsp olive oil (plus more for tuna mix); 8 oz oil-packed tuna, drained; 1 tbsp red wine vinegar or lemon juice; 1 tsp capers; 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced; 1/4 cup roasted red pepper strips; 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional); Salt and black pepper to taste; 2 Italian rolls or crusty bread

Ingredients

Scale

2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

1 tbsp olive oil (plus more for tuna mix)

8 oz oil-packed tuna, drained

1 tbsp red wine vinegar or lemon juice

1 tsp capers

2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced

1/4 cup roasted red pepper strips

1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)

Salt and black pepper to taste

2 Italian rolls or crusty bread

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Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pan and add sliced onions.

2. Cook onions over medium-low heat for 30–40 minutes until soft and golden.

3. Boil eggs (8–10 minutes), peel and slice.

4. Toast sandwich rolls until crisp.

5. In a bowl, flake tuna with 1 tbsp olive oil, vinegar, capers, parsley, salt, and pepper.

6. Layer cooked onions on the bottom half of each roll.

7. Add tuna mixture evenly on top of onions.

8. Place roasted pepper strips and egg slices over the tuna.

9. Top with the other half of the roll and press gently.

10. Serve immediately or let sit 5 minutes for flavors to meld.

Notes

Use sun-dried tomatoes if roasted red peppers aren’t available.

Add hot sauce or mustard for extra kick.

Keep tuna and onion mix refrigerated up to 3 days in airtight containers.

Avoid pre-assembling to prevent sogginess.

Author: Adam Moretti
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Lunch
Method: Stovetop, No-bake
Cuisine: Italian-American