Are you sick of having the same boring sandwiches for lunch every day, but don’t have the time or facilities at work to make something more interesting? Then do I have the post for you today!
For a very long time I avoided eating sandwiches as I found them unexciting, flavourless and all around unappealing. This quite possibly stems from memories of my childhood when we used to make our school sandwiches out of frozen bread and sometimes the bread would still be frozen when lunchtime rolled around. And yep, they were as bad as that sounds! Recently though I have gone back to sandwiches for my work lunches, but with a few key changes that have turned them from drab to delicious (and no, I don’t use frozen bread!)
Mix Up Your Bread
There are so many different options on the market these days that you don’t have to always just use sliced bread for your sandwich. I like to mix it up and use pita pockets, wraps and crusty rolls as well. That way, even if the ingredients inside don’t change much it doesn’t feel like you’re just bringing the exact same thing each day!
Change Your Spread
Butter is a good starting place for sandwiches but if you really want to take them to a new level then it’s worth considering switching your butter for something that packs more of a flavour punch. Avocado works really well, but my favourite is to use a dip like hummus. Not only is it good for the overall taste, but it can also help to make sure the sandwich fills you right up by giving an extra dose of protein. If you need some dipspiration (see what I did there!) then check out my variations of hummus here, here & here as well as a super delicious cannellini bean dip!
Think About Your Textures
Texture is such an important part of an eating experience and that includes sandwiches too! Try and make sure you include a range of textures – particularly crunch! Crispy vegetables like carrot work well, or I like to throw in some sprouts too. If I’m going for Vietnamese flavours then I love to add some fried shallots to give that all important crunch!
Use Ingredients In New Ways
A simple salad sandwich can become so much more if you just use a couple of the ingredients in new ways. Rather than just chopping up fresh salad ingredients, think about swapping your capsicum or tomato for a marinated version or, my current favourite, swap plain ol’ carrots for pickled carrots. I’ve been doing this a lot lately and it really does make a huge difference to the overall flavours of the sandwich and I’ve been putting them in everything! I’ve been using this recipe from Here’s the Veg and I highly recommend it!
Don’t Forget The Herbs & Spices
Just like anything you’re cooking herbs and spices can really make a dish – so don’t forget them for your sandwiches either! Adding fresh herbs like coriander, basil or parsley will really make a difference to the flavour balance, and chopping some chilli for a kick of spice can really add another great element to the humble sandwich.
And there we have it! My top tips for jazzing up your sandwiches!
What’s your favourite sandwich combination? How do you stop them from getting boring and repetitive?
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I Spy Plum Pie is Liz, an early 30s kiwi-born, Melbourne raised girl who is passionate about the environment and sustainability, food, exploring and learning new things. Join me on my journey to a happy, sustainable life!
Elizabeth
August 17, 2014 at 10:08 am (10 years ago)I love sandwiches, your right a bit of pickled veg can lift the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Elizabeth recently posted…Udon noodle miso soup with Asian vegetable stock
I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
August 18, 2014 at 8:40 pm (10 years ago)It really is amazing how much of a difference some pickled veg can make, isn’t it!
Bernadette Eden
August 20, 2014 at 10:11 pm (10 years ago)I have sandwiches every day for lunch, I love them. However, I entered a whole new world the other day when I tried gherkin on my sandwich for the first time…I know, madness, it was so good!
Bernadette Eden recently posted…Simple Home-made Bread Recipe (without a bread-maker)
I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
August 21, 2014 at 12:26 pm (10 years ago)Do you have the same sort of sandwich every day? I’m not really a gherkin fan but I reckon it would work much like the pickled carrot, which I’m completely obsessed with right now!