Constructing a delicious sandwich is only an inspiration away. Whether it's carefully planned, or thrown together with what is on hand, break away from tried and tired. Until you try it, you'll never know what you may be missing. Messiness is one sure fire clue to how good a sandwich is. A rigidly structured sandwich that holds its shape with nothing squirting out while it is eaten, is almost invariably dry and dull no matter how good the ingredients are. Check out the components of good sandwiches.
Components of a Great Unheated Sandwich
From the outside in, these components make sandwich eating a treat
- Bread in some form, the outside of a sandwich, holds it all together. It can be toasted or grilled.
- Condiments, such as mayonnaise and mustard are spread on the bread for moisture and flavor.
- Lettuce or other greens add both flavor and crunch
- Pickles, onions, bacon, cheese, avocado slices, cucumbers, baby corn cut in half lengthwise, mushrooms, olives, sun dried tomatoes, hot peppers, and sweet peppers are just a few extras to compliment the taste of the main filling
- The main filling, usually sliced meat or salads, such as tuna, egg, or chicken
Bread for Sandwiches
The first thing you see and taste when eating a sandwich is the bread. It makes a defining first statement about the sandwich. So make it visually, texturally, and tastefully interesting. The outsides of sandwiches can be a lot more than sliced sandwich bread. Try some or all of these variations, or think of your own.
- Bagels, try slicing into thirds to make a bagel club
- Croissants, buttery good with just a light toasting
- Sub rolls, good ones are a true treat
- Pita pockets, white or wheat
- Onion rolls, for an immediate mellow onion flavor
- Poppy seed rolls
- Baguettes
- Ciabatta
- Mediterranean flat bread
- Pumpernickel
- Rye bread
- Potato bread
- Cheese bread
- Focaccia
Condiments to Spread on the Bread
Mustard and Mayonnaise are the most common spreads. Have your tried them both, one on the top, and one on the bottom? Whatever you choose to spread your sandwich with, think of it as adding moisture and complimenting the other ingredients at the same time. Spread out with other choices, such as cream cheese, butter, olive oil, or your favorite salad dressing.
So, with 14 bread choices and 6 spread choices, you now have a minimum of 84 ways to start a sandwich. That doesn't even include the extras or the filling.
Extras to Compliment the Main Filling
Any unheated sandwich is improved by a lettuce leaf. Lettuce adds crunch and visual appeal, and there are many varieties from which to choose. Avoid the chopped shreds of lettuce sandwich shops like to add as filler. Lettuce can be replaced by other greens, such as spinach leaves.
Optional extras, 12 are listed above, add flavor to complement the main filling. Add to these fresh herbs, salt and pepper or other seasonings, and your 84 sandwich options explode exponentially. The distinctive features of New Orleans' famous muffaletta sandwiches are the olive salad served on the round bread with a stack of different kinds of deli meats. Why not try inventing a spread of your own?
The importance of good cheese shouldn't be overlooked in building a sandwich. American, Swiss, provolone, muenster, smoked cheddar, yellow or white cheddar, or jalapeno are just a few cheeses to choose from. Slices are a great convenience.
Main Sandwich fillings
Sandwiches can also be vegetarian. All of the variations listed above can liven up even a tofu sandwich. Or skip the tofu and load on the veggies. How about lettuce, tomato, cheese (if you eat dairy), onion, avocado and baby corn on your vegetarian sandwich?
Non-vegetarians can load up with any of the suggestions below, or a combination of 2 or more. Real Dagwood sandwiches have meat stacked about 6" high.
- salads - chicken, tuna, ham, turkey, salmon, or egg
- liverwurst
- ham
- bologna
- sliced roasted beef, chicken, turkey, or pork
- deli meats
- dried beef
- proscuitto
- leftover steak, thinly sliced
- spam
- Vienna sausages
Obviously, you won't have all of these ingredients on hand at one time. Next time you go into the kitchen for a quick sandwich, look around for things you don't normally put on your sandwich. Combine your favorite flavors. Entertaining is easy with 2 or 3 different kinds of sandwiches held together with fancy toothpicks. Creative sandwiches are not only easy and delicious, they are impressive to look at, requiring no cooking skill. May your sandwiches be messy and good.
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