The sandwich is such a splendid concept. Place some food between two slices of bread and dig in without the need of fork, knife or spoon. You can take it anywhere and eat it anytime. Talk about amazing inventions! So why is such an innovative idea treated so ho-hum on an everyday basis?
Innovation like this deserves a little attention. Whether it’s swapping out your regular sandwich spread, experimenting with different breads or toying with new cooking techniques, we’ve got a few ideas of our own that’ll take your sandwich from blah to ta-da in a matter of minutes.
Turn up the heat: Sandwiches don’t have to be relegated to the cold food line. Consider sandwiching grilled, braised and roasted meats between slices. Grilled and roasted veggies like eggplant, red bell pepper and zucchini make a hearty vegetarian filling when they’re served warm. If layering seems like too much effort, fill your bread and heat open faced under a broiler. Or, prepare the whole thing and grill on the stovetop or in a Panini machine. Or use this recipe for inspiration.
Savor your flavors: One of the reasons peanut butter and jelly make such a classic combo is they provide the ultimate sweet and salty taste sensation. A sandwich is naturally a perfect palette for layering flavors, but that doesn’t mean you need to include the kitchen sink to get it right. Focus on combining complimentary flavors that play off each other to maximize taste. Salty smoked meats with sweet fruity jams or caramelized onions can do the trick. Try this Pulled Pork with Peach Olive Jam and you’ll find out for yourself.
What’s on the outside counts: Sandwich slices are always tasty, but there are plenty of other varieties that deserve your attention as well. Fluffy foccacia can make a simple grilled cheese with ham taste like a trip to Tuscany. French baguette elevates a traditional sub sandwich and ciabatta adds crunch when you need it most. Flatbreads like lavash and pita can also provide the perfect edible plate. Our Olympic Souvlaki Sandwich is a winner in this game.
Get your crunch on: When it comes to sublime sandwiches, texture plays as important a role as flavor. A perfectly crisp piece of iceberg could do the trick (and it does in many a BLT ), but other veggie slaws can achieve maximum crunch while providing additional flavor as well. In this Salmon Slaw Sandwich, cabbage and carrots seasoned with just a bit of vinegar, basil and California Ripe Olives makes this sandwich something to remember.
Spread the love: Give thought to your condiment choices. The simple addition of horseradish to your basic mayo will give a roast beef sandwich some serious zip. Yellow mustard is great on hot dogs, but a sweet honey mustard compliments sliced ham in our Country Olive Biscuits. When turkey’s calling your name, consider pureeing avocado or pesto into an aioli and let the flavor sing.
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