Unusual Sandwich Combinations
When I last posted, I wrote about foodists – those people with peculiar and unusual rules that they chose to live their lives by. One particular foodist mentioned (Heath) has a rule that he won’t eat any food that can’t be put in a sandwich, and I made a comment that it meant he ate neither cake nor rice. Based on the responses from various corners, it seems I was sorely mistaken.
Admittedly nobody suggested cake in a sandwich was a delicious and nourishing meal, but some did vehemently defend rice’s honour. The suggested sandwich combos that included rice were a duck risotto sandwich, a rice and curry sandwich (three exponents), and a rice and Bolognese sauce sandwich. Not rice related, but there was also a recommendation for a vegemite and mash sandwich!
So, that got me thinking. What are some of the strange sandwich combos out there? Below are a few I know of, but there are bound to be many many more:
The tomato sauce sandwich.
Yep, that is all you need
The tomato sauce sandwich is a simple creation that is arguably the easiest sandwich to prepare. It requires two slices of bread, a bottle of tomato sauce and nothing more – no butter or margarine, no salt or pepper, and not even a knife to spread it if you use a squeezy bottle. Many youngsters used to love these where I grew up so I decided to take a trip down memory lane at the weekend and prepared myself a lunch of said sandwich. For some reason, they were not quite how I remembered them!
The salmon, peas and chips sandwich.
This is getting a little odd now
A friend of mine swears by these as his whole meal can be slapped between a couple of slices of white bread. The tinned salmon goes on first as that acts as the glue for the peas which are next. The chips then follow and the final addition is a generous smothering of the always popular tomato sauce. Whilst I have never brought myself to sample this creation, I have witnessed it’s consumption, and there was a look of pleasure on the devourer’s face. But, he also spent a few extra minutes picking up escaping peas (escapeas??) from the floor!
The Mars bar and apple sandwich
And now on to the ridiculous
For those that like all their food to be either green or brown, this sandwich fits the bill. For those that like their food ingredients to complement one another favourably, then this is probably not the sandwich for you. But my wife, having grown up in Ireland, swears that Mars bar and apple sandwiches were necessary at the birthday party of any respectable kid growing up on the Emerald Isle. Kids who didn’t have Mars bar and apple sarnies at their birthday party were apparently ridiculed in the following weeks back at school and quickly learned to resent their parents for their party catering short-sightedness. In fact, in an effort to prove her assertion that “all kids love ‘em”, my wife decided recently to test her theory on our two ‘brought-up-on fairy-bread-at-birthday-parties’ kids. Despite them both being fans of Mars bars and apples when offered individually, her theory was sunk when they both spluttered uncontrollably and demanded a drink to quickly “get rid of that horrible taste”!
Australia also has the trusted, and Men at Work favourite, vegemite sandwich. And whilst it is a loved sandwich filling here, many uneducated visitors to these shores do turn their nose up at them. As they tend to do with fairy bread – the simple concoction of sprinkles or 100s and 1000s on bread. No kid’s birthday party would be complete without a large plateful of fairy bread, and if you watch this at a kid’s birthday party, you will surely notice that it is the adults and not the kids that cause the level to go down the quickest!
Perhaps Mars bar and apples sandwiches are the Irish answer to the Australian fairy bread. Perhaps there are others out there that are more unusual and crazier sandwich concoctions than anything mentioned above. If so, I’d love to hear about them. And maybe even have the team here road test them to find Australia’s strangest, yet recommended, sandwich filling.
My husband is firmly in the ‘everything tastes better between two slices of bread’ camp. I was stunned in our first year of marriage to see him put all my lovingly cooked meals into sandwiches – stir fry, bangers and mash, curry, chili con carne, pasta bake… it all went between two slices of bread.
His whole family does this I’ve noticed, although after 10 years of being married to me husband does now at least eat some of the food on its own before turning it into a sandwich.
I’m still horrified, mashed potato and bread is just wrong, too many starches together, same with pasta.
As discussed with Heath on twitter my father used to make us vegemite and apple sandwiches as children. It was not good.
Personally I’m all for the peanut butter and maple syrup sandwich myself.
I agree with your husband – our dinner’s are usually accompanied by bread and no doubt everything gets put between them by meals end.
Peanut butter and maple syrup though…is that any worse than the pasta or mash sangas?
Peanut butter and maple syrup is food of the gods, best eaten on pancakes for breakfast but also delightful on sandwiches. Can you tell I went to an American Boarding School as a child? Sadly my 4yo is nut allergic so peanut butter is a very rare treat now.
I am 72 now but still have very fond memories of hot mashed potato sandwiches during the early 1940′s [butter, sugar and flour were rationed as were many other things – even in NZ. We had our own chooks so an egg, a pinch of salt, and 1/2 tsp baking powder were all added to make a wonderfully fluffy, tasty sandwich. Don’t knock it before you try it!
Bacon and banana. Mmmmmmmmmmmm! Sweet and salty together. Very nice!
Oh yum I can see that! Bit like dipping McDonalds Fries in your chocolate sundae
I love a good Salt n Vinegar chip sandwich.
For unusual toasted sandwiches (that are delicious):
- Maggie Noodles (cooked) & cheese
- Cheese and Salsa
Add a good serve of peanutbutter to the S&V and you are good to go
oooh… interesting,. but weird!
My dad was big on peanut butter and cheese – great melted on crumpets but in a sanga if no crumpets left!
As a kid a regular in my lunch box was vegemite and sultanas. Occasionally it was vegemite, sultanas and cheese. I think Mum thought it was nutritious. Meanwhile my friends were munching down on jam sandwiches. Which was an absolute no no in my Mum’s lunchbox book. I also remember a friend having cheese & tomato in her sandwiches…. while not usual in itself. I don’t think she ever had any other sandwich (apart from the occasional lunch order) all the way through secondary school.
Could you be any more Australian?
My Dad (who I consider to be slightly crazy) enjoys a good peanut butter and grape sandwich.
My daughter loves tinned corn kernels with peanut butter, and i must admit it does taste quite nice. Another favourite is banana on homemade pizza’s..
COMMENT DELETED: You can make your point without the need to insult other commentors.
Nesquick chocolate powder with fresh tomato.
for when you had no milk left for the nesquick perhaps? just nesquik and butter would be nice though… like chocolate fairy bread
My younger brother’s favourite (many years ago, admittedly) was a sugar sandwich ! How unhealthy can you get ? As for me, I preferred cream cheese and chopped dates……still do!
Could you deep fry said sandwich?
Isn’t that sugar sandwich just anaemic fairy bread?
No it’s a completely different catergory altogether!! But tastes divine. I actually prefer it to fairy bread
i eat both… mmmmm.
I read a book and the lead character, a female detective, ate peanut butter and pickle so I tried peanut butter with bread and butter cucumbers(smooth and crunchy) hmmmmmmmm just love it.
peanut butter and banana, banana and mayonnaise ALL GOOD
I love tuna & cheese toasted sandwich… yum!
Peanut butter and banana.
And I know somebody who has carrot sandwiches. That’s it. Just grated carrot.
And a REALLY good toasted sandwich is cheese, tomato and some five-beans from the tins.
Another one I like is butter, vegemite and baked beans. The “bite” of the vegemite brightens up the mushiness of the baked beans. No doubt Warnie would love it! LOL
As a child I was introduced to apple and vegemite sandwiches. You need to slice the apple (granny smith) thinly for best result. Yes my brother used to eat cheese (pre-sliced) and sause sandwiches too! My husband has easted thick chunks and block cheese and mayo sanwiches. Not for me though. Another good one is cheeese and jam sanwiches. MMMM yum
I like 1:toast and vegemite and poached egg. 2:Mashed potato with onion and garlic mixed in. My son likes 3:Ham, jam and cheese, or any combination of whatever he can get his hands on and cheese 4: Peanut butter and potato crisps 5: vegemite and peanut butter
Butter and smiths chips.
When I was at uni (about 20 years ago) a male flat-mate of mine used to love sausage roll and tomato sauce sandwiches.Occasionally he’d have the gourmet variations of using a bread roll or a pie. I think it had something to do with having little money and a huge appetite!!!!
You are not truly Aussie until you try the vegemite and 100′s and 1000′s sanger – it gets that whole sweet and salty thing happening! Delish, just like nutella and cheese twisties.
I kid you not – we suggested that combo (vegemite and 100′s & 1000′s) about 10 minutes ago in the office. As a joke, mind you. Fantastic to see someone has already given it a go.
Vegemite and strawberry jam was a favourite of my Grandfather. Try it, its fantastic
My husband is one of those ‘anything goes’ on a sandwich… a slice of leftover pizza, fruit cake, even a bread sandwich – 2 bits of bread with bread in the middle. ANY leftovers (pasta, rice etc) get put on bread the next day. His sister is a coeliac, and I think it would kill him if he ever had to give up bread.
One of my fave samies is fresh toasted white bread, thinly spread vegemite, cheese and leftover omelete. Also peanut butter (smooth) and jam (pref blackberry)and Jarlsberg cheese on fresh white bread. Thirdly, thinly sliced red onion, tomatoe (also thinly sliced) and lots of pepper and a little salt. Yummie. My grandfather used to bring these sandwiches to work and we as kids would come down from our nearby school to eat them at lunchtime, happy memories.
My mum used to put vegemite with just about anything in our sandwiches. We had mostly cucumber and vegemite or cheese and vegemite on white bread. I loved the cucumber one the most. We also used to get polony and tomato sauce yummm… Left over spaghetti in a sandwich was also a favourite.
oh and don’t forget the good ol’ milo sandwich …. yummmm!
I love peanut butter, banana & honey or just peanut butter & honey. All the goodness of peanut butter but just sweeter.
My family have all grown up on Vegemite and Avocado on toast for breakfast.. Bit of Salt & Pepper.. TASTY!
I’ve only had one person try it and not like it although a few have been too chicken to try it
Cant eat Vegemite…but use Freedom Veg spread…with avocado….pepper..no salt..enough in spread….
Also same spread with sliced boiled eggs..warm or cold….
Peanut butter…just peanuts..no aditives…and freash tomato with tomato sauce and pepper…Lots!
Just had flavoured salmon…chilli and lime with grated tasty cheese and tomato sauce and yes..lotsa pepper….
Sweet William choc spread and banana…Yum
I love apricot jam and cheese sandwiches , vegemite and cheeese sandwiches and celery and cheese sandwiches. I also love cheese and beetroot sandwiches. Guess I’m just a cheese-a-holic!
Oh yum yes….forgot the cheese and beetroot….:-)
Just love sangers….
I grew up on Milo sandwiches and condenced Milk sandwiches. Sometimes separated and sometime mixed… all yummy
I love peanut butter and banana as well! My 11 year old daughter likes peanut butter and anchovy paste – she got the idea from the funny old lady on The Vicar of Dibley. She hasn’t been able to persuade anyone else to try it yet!
Also cheese with thinly sliced granny smith apple works well for me.
My cousin loves peanut butter and mayonnaise
My husband says no sandwich is complete without vegemite. EVERY sandwich regardless of whats in it must contain vegemite.
If my brother didn’t eat his vege’s my dad would hide them in his sambos for school the next day
WE used to eat banana and milo sandwiches as kids
Ham and hot chip sambo’s are still a favourite
I will only eat fish and chips in a sandwich with tomato sauce
Oh and frnech onion dip and grated carrot sandwiches
I love potato cake and tomato sauce sandwiches as well as sausage rolls in a hot dog roll with tomato sauce. I am also a big fan of Nando’s sauce in bread. Yum
toasted or fresh bread, bacon, banana and your choice of honey or maple/ golden syrup. My boyfriends fav peanut butter and apple.From my poor old uni days I recall introducing a few friends to raw brocolii and cheese( it’s a tummy filler).
My mum loves sultana sandwiches – wrong on so many levels…
I loved orange and onion sandwhiches as a kid especially in the summer,its soo refreshing…didnt matter to me if the onion was raw or pickled..yummm..try it….
I somehow made this one up when I was about 6; Kraft cheese slices with golden syrup.It sounds awful, but everyone I know that has tried it enjoyed it! I have to agree with maggi 2 minute noodles, but on toast rather than bread
Thanks for your comments and suggestions on these – we’ve had a go and making and tasting a few of them – http://blog.colesonline.com.au/2010/02/02/unusual-sandwich-combinations-2-this-time-its-personal/
mmm
vegemite and jam (any flavour)
vegemite and honey (personal fave)
honey and cream
peanut butter and honey
my dad and sister used to love banana and sugar sandwiches!!
and don’t forget, potato chips, butter and bread sandwich
holy crap i insanely love BACON!
My Ex introduced me to prawn and mashed potato sandwhiches.. i really thought it would be yuk but I loved it!! yum!
When I was young I had apricot jam, cheese and peanut butter (cheese has to be in the middle of the sandwich). No different to having a fruit, cheese and nut plate as an adult now.
My dad loved having for lunch even as a child a Plum Jam and cheese i never heard of it till i saw mum making dad;s lunch one day and they said it was an old thing to have
RIP Dad I love You
A slice of buttered toast sprinkled with cocoa powder & sugar … yum
One slice of bread topped with strawberry jam & fresh whipped cream … heaven!
Mash potato & black pepper sandwich still one of my all time faves!
crushed up sao biscuits and tomato sauce sandwiches are almost as yummy as potato chip sandwiches .. peanut butter and vegemite mixed todether are yummy too !!
OMG these are hilarious. I’m afraid I clearly am way too “normal”, the most way out sandwich I concocted was pb+sesame seeds. Glad to see good ‘ol pb is still a strong favourite with so many; we may not be able to give it to our kids at school but it hasn’t disappeared from our pantries. Hurrah.
My Oma use to make me Banana and Honey sandwiches when i was younger, my gosh are they good! I was surprised many years later that no one else had have the pleasure of this truly amazing combo.
Also one my friend got me on, Vegemite and salt and vinegar chips. Not fond of either of them separately but together they are quite good.