5 Tips to Make Your Sandwiches Stand Out
Week in, week out, day in, day out, lunch is an integral part of your routine, but it often comes down to just a sandwich. That doesn’t mean that you should settle for ordinary! The possibilities are endless when it comes to putting a little “wow” in your sandwich. Give these lunch ideas a try.
1. Try a New Type of Bread or Replace It with Lettuce
Today, you can choose from an almost infinite number of bread types: baguette, pita, ciabatta, cottage loaf, flat bread, wrap, rectangular bagels … there is no reason to fall into the rut of eating sliced bread every day. Beyond shape, breads made from different grains are now available on the market, like rye, Kamut, spelt, buckwheat, multi-grain or even sprouted grains. They’ll bring a healthy touch to your lunches while keeping things fresh!
A good way of breaking up your routine is to replace your bread with a leaf of Boston lettuce. Here’s a fresh and satisfying sandwich recipe: garnish a lettuce leaf with the protein of your choice, such as cooked chicken or canned tuna, add a dab of mayo, a few julienned vegetables, like radishes, carrots, cucumbers, some sliced avocado and a few slices of Havarti cheese.
2. Vary Your Toppings
Beyond lettuce and tomatoes, there are tons of ingredients that can take your sandwich to the next level, like sprouts and fine herbs. In your pantry, keep little pots of grilled peppers soaking in oil, marinated eggplant or artichoke, garlic pickles or even olive tapenade to vary your flavours.
Fruits are guaranteed to bring a little sweetness to your concoctions. Sandwich ideas to try: apples, ham and old-fashioned mustard or maybe chicken, red grapes and Friulano cubes. Dried fruits, like cranberries or dates, can contribute texture and flavour to your sandwiches.
In terms of cheeses, have you thought of some mild Bocconcini, savoury sliced Provolone, or Swiss cheese? There are so many choices!
3. All-purpose Mayo
Mayo is perfect for bringing out all these flavours. A drop of hot sauce is all you need to make spicy mayo. Add a spoonful of pesto made with basil or dried tomatoes for a Mediterranean-style sandwich, or you can add BBQ sauce for a Texan experience. A few cloves of garlic with chives, mixed into a homemade mayo, and you’ve got the basics for making a sophisticated sandwich with grilled vegetables and fresh Mozzarella.
4. Put Some Crunch into It!
To get a nice crunchiness in your sandwiches, you definitely have options. Finely chopped fried shallots, pecans or walnuts bring taste and texture to your sandwiches. For something that’s cheesy and crunchy at the same time, make yourself a few Parmesan chips. Nothing could be simpler! Cover a baking tray with parchment paper and make little mounds of grated Parmesan. Bake until the cheese takes on a golden colour (about 5 minutes) and let them cool on a paper towel.
5. Take Advantage of Plant Protein
Cold cuts have a bad rep these days and the demand for plant protein has grown to fill the need. Tofu spread (commercial or homemade), grilled slices of tofu or tempeh, veggie pâté, lentil creton or hummus are tasty and nutritious substitutes to deli meat. Add a slice of Havarti with jalapeño cheese and you get the perfect vegetarian lunch!
