So you (and the hoards you are travelling with) are hungry – what about making a sandwich.
What is a Sandwich?
A Sandwich or Sanger (as we call them in Australia) is a versatile and convenient meal made by placing fillings between two or more slices of bread. Ranging from casual packed lunches to gourmet creations, sandwiches can be easily tailored to your preferences, dietary requirements, and local seasonal ingredients.
Sandwiches are simple, iconic, healthy and unbelievably good. And they are easy to make when travelling, backpacking and camping. They don’t require a lot of utensils to make and hunger pains are met.
When to Eat Sandwiches?
Sandwiches are perfect to eat anytime. Traditionally enjoyed for lunch, but great for breakfast or a quick dinner.
Best Types of Bread to Make Sandwiches
The best type of bread to use for a sandwich is probably the type of bread that you like and what you are making. That could be white bread, wholemeal bread, grain bread or sourdough bread.
Depending if you will be toasting your sandwich, you may want a thicker bread.
The Sandwich Formula
Shall we get technical here? Ok, we will. The best sandwiches rely on a balance of flavours and textures. Within your two pieces of bread you can have a variety of fillings. Fillings that are plain or flavoursome. Fillings that are soft like a deli meat, or crunchy like shredded iceberg lettuce. How technical is that?
Crust On or Off?
As a kid, my mum use to cut the crusts off my sandwiches because I didn’t like the crusts, they were a bit on the hard side and only ate the inside soft bread. She’d always say, “if you eat your crusts it will make your hair curly”. My hair is straight! The crust is just the outside of the bread. Still, I think sandwiches are better with the crust off, unless the crust is soft!
To Butter or Not to Butter
I’ve grown up having butter on my sandwiches but many replace the butter with a filling like mayonnaise or avocado. While some have both the butter and mayonnaise! That is the luxury of sandwiches – the choice of filling is yours!
Condiments
Instead of butter, you may prefer a condiment. Condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard, BBQ sauce or tomato sauce.
Sandwich Filling Suggestions
Once you’ve chosen your bread, it’s time to choose your filling. I choose my fillings in a variety of ways. It usually depends on what I have available in the pantry or fridge. I’ve you are looking for some suggestions, here are many of my favourites.
Vegemite – well I did grow up in Australia, and this is a tasty sandwich filling. Though many would beg to differ, it is one of those foods that you either love or hate.
Vegemite and a slice of cheese.
Egg, egg and mayonnaise, curry egg, egg and lettuce.
Cheese, cheese and tomato, cheese and ham, cheese and tuna.
Ham, ham and cheese, ham, cheese and tomato, ham and salad.
Salad – lettuce, tomato, cucumber, grated carrot, bean sprouts.
Banana.
PBJ – Peanut Butter and Jelly (Jam).
Jam.
Chicken, chicken snitzel, cheese, lettuce and mayo, roast chicken and cheese.
Devon and pickle, devon and cheese.
Cream cheese and pickle.
Meat. Roast lamb. Corned meat. Pork and apple sauce. Bacon and egg. Bacon and cheese.
Tuna, tuna and cheese, tuna, cheese and onion, tuna mayonnaise.
To Toast or Not to Toast!
Toasted sandwiches or Toasties are a great variation to your sandwich. Often toasting your sandwich makes it taste different. Well, I think so. Like melted cheese changes your sandwich. It can help warm you on a cold day!
What are You Having on Your Sanger?
