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Upper crust
No more soggy coleslaw: 10 inspiring combos for your next sandwich
Food writer Niamh O’Shaughnessy has some delicious ways to liven up the bread-and-filling formula.
SANDWICH: [NOUN] AN item of food consisting of two pieces of bread with a filling between them, eaten as a light meal.
Wherever you go in the world, sandwiches will pop up on your lunch menu. From the Philly cheesesteak to the Vietnamese Bành Mì, most destinations have their own twist on the bread-and-filling formula.
The sandwich itself is named after the Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, who was obsessed with the combination of bread and meat. His favourite snack gained popularity in society’s upper circles in the late 1700s, and the sandwich we know today was born.
A really epic sandwich rarely happens by accident and many variables need to be carefully considered: from the type of bread used to the balance of textures in the filling. We’ve rounded up ten glorious sandwich combos below, to bring your lunch to a higher plane…
1. A year-round Christmas sambo
While this might scream “Christmas”, a turkey, ham and brie sandwich is glorious at any time of the year. Food blogger Nollaig Bourke says the key to a great turkey and ham sandwich is in the bread. A sourdough is her favourite, she tells me, and you can’t forget the stuffing. Make sure it’s toasted and oozing with cranberry sauce to make it extra luscious.
2. Kimchi grilled cheese
Each mouthful of this next level toastie provides an umami flavour explosion which is perfectly balanced by creamy mozzarella. For the ultimate kimchi grilled cheese, brush the bread with some butter or olive oil and cook on a griddle pan. An edible work of art.
3. Sweet and salty pear and Brie
Another option for Brie, paired here with sweet pear and salty Parma ham. This is a number one for food obsessive Hazel Tunney, who says the recipe is “kind of stolen” from her favourite cafe. She finishes things off with a drizzle of honey. Best served on freshly cut toasted bread, this is a lunch that will hit the spot.
4. A Middle Eastern-inspired halloumi pita
This halloumi sandwich is next level, and something you could use to impress any last minute guests. First of all, slice some halloumi and marinade it in harissa paste for a few minutes (use a mixture of garam masala and olive oil if you don’t have harissa paste). Fry the halloumi, then assemble on a heated pita bread along with some sweet chilli sauce, avocado, rocket and hummus.
5. Croque Monsieur
The first step to making this moreish French classic is preparing a simple toasted sandwich with baked ham and gruyere. Smothering it in creamy béchamel sauce transforms a plain toastie into the famous Croque Monsieur. Hotel director Mark McGowan has his with “caramelised onion in between two slices of bloomer”. He adds Parmesan and shaved nutmeg too, and finishes off under the grill.
6. An antipasti board in a sandwich
This dream combo has all the flavours of an antipasti board, in a sandwich. A little bit of pesto mayonnaise or sun-dried tomatoes will add an extra savoury flavour punch. We’d recommend serving this on a ciabatta or fresh focaccia bread.
7. My NYC avo bagel
When I lived in New York I lived off “green bagels” which were a delicious combination of cream cheese, pesto, sliced avocado and bacon served in a toasted bagel. The flavour combination is epic and it’s still something I recreate all of the time at home – with the addition of tomato.
8. A classic caprese salad (in a sambo)
Lay your caprese ingredients in a ciabatta for a sandwich with Italian flavours in every bite. The key here is in the quality of ingredients: use buffalo mozzarella, vine ripened tomatoes and fresh basil for the full experience. Top it off with a drizzle of good quality balsamic vinegar and you have a delicious lunch in minutes.
9. Swedish prawn sandwich
Or “räksmörgås” as it’s known in Sweden. Best served on brown or dark rye bread, this satisfying yet low fat sandwich is incredibly simple to make, with a combination of prawns, cherry tomatoes and sliced egg. The Swedes call this the “food of the gods” and we can see why.
10. The upgraded crisp sandwich
Can any sandwich list really be complete without this? My call-out for sandwich suggestions led to quite a few “crisp sandwich” responses. Everyone agreed you had to do it correctly, with a good helping of real butter, batch bread a cup of tea on the side. There were also some more… unusual requirements, from adding American cheese to using peanut butter… and even marmalade.
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