Fishing trip sandwich
Long ago we had a blog thread here on GFF about the World's Greatest Sandwich. Here's a step-by-step description of my fishing trip lunch pack sandwich. I'm not saying that this is the world's greatest, but it has gone down well on many a fishing trip.
Back in 2004 fellow GFF partner Bob Petti and I had a small sandwich battle on our blog. It was about the World's Greatest Sandwich and Europe's Greatest Sandwich. The sandwiches were Bob's and my own bids on sandwiches to devour on your "working-from-home" days.
This step-by-step "sandwich pattern" is kind of a continuation and expansion of that thread. I have often been the one that has been designated to make sandwiches for my driver on fishing trips. Only fair if you ask me: I get picked up and the driver is relieved of having to make a lunch pack, which is mostly welcome, especially on early morning trips.
Most of my sandwiches/lunch packs is a variation of the theme sketched here. Most Danes will make open sandwiches and use what we call rye bread - a very dark and dense bread baked on a sour dough - but I like to do my sandwiches on wheat bread that I bake myself.
The ham is usually the central ingredient, but sometimes I use sausage or other types of cold cut meat like leftovers from a roast or what I have in the fridge.
Bread
I bake my own bread, and whenever I have home made bread, that's what I use. If I have to buy, I buy at a baker and get something like a Filone or Ciabatta, which is Italian bread with a great crust and a very good texture.
Do not, I repeat: DO NOT buy some flimsy, sliced wheat bread in a plastic bag! That has very little to do with real bread, and will not allow you to cut thick slices, which is a must to get a good sandwich where the bread is the main ingredient.
And square, white sandwich bread...? Don't mention the war!
Ham
The ham I use is real ham, meaning that it's meat cut from a pig, and not some chemist's wet dream of enzymes and whatever was left over from an obscure meat production.
I prefer air dried ham, either Spanish or Italian, but both Danes and Germans can also make really good ham, smoked or dried or both. The southern European stuff is usually dark, cut in paper thin slices and very tasty. Pay what it costs. It's worth it.
You can use boiled ham, but get something with good taste, true meat structure and a ham that has been smoked - with smoke from a fire (yes, they do use artificial smoke flavor for many hams!).
Should you want to make your sandwich more fishy, consider a good smoked salmon (wild, not farmed!), a smoked trout or a smoked halibut (a real delicacy with its very lean, white meat) in stead of the ham. The rest can be kept as described here.
Mustard
The other critical ingredient is mustard. Stay clear of all kinds of spreads, whips and what-nots! Real mustard is basically made from ground mustard seeds, water and maybe some sugar, lemon/vinegar and spices. It's tasty and healthy and doesn't contain a gram of added fat.
I "make my own" in the sense that I mix a jar of French Dijon mustard (strong beyond comparison) with a jar of mild, sweet mustard. I sometimes add a tablespoon of honey or brown sugar if I want more sweetness. The result is very tasty, but won't burn your nose like a pure Dijon.
The process
Making a sandwich shouldn't require much instruction. Cut the bread in generous slices, spread som mustard on each slice, add whatever you like - lettuce, ham, bacon, sausage, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, onion, pickle, jalapenos. Not it all, but a suitable and balanced selection. Remember that the bread and the vegetables is the meal. The meat is the treat!
Sprinkle with a bit of salt and freshly ground black pepper and put the second slice of bread on top, press a bit and you are set.
Side dishes, desert
I like to add a little extra, typically some raw vegetables. Some cucumber, carrots, cherry tomatoes or some other supplement that's not already in the sandwich.
I also like to bring some peanuts, hazelnuts or almonds and maybe some dried fruit like dried apricots or just simple raisins.
Should your fridge contain a piece of chocolate or should a muffin have hidden itself somewhere, it's not the worst thing you can finish your lunch with.
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Comments
pacho, I have cut
pacho,
I have cut away the butter and the cheese in most of my sandwiches. Trying to avoid saturated fat is good for your health it's said... I sometimes add cheese, but mostly don't.
Martin
Where is the cheese?
Where is the cheese????
Gail. While I cer
Gail.
While I certainly respect your opinion on the positions of the mustard and the lettuce, I personally think it matters very little... Once you (read: I) start chewing it's just tasty! ;-)
Martin
I'm thinkin that the
I'm thinkin that the ham should be snuggled right up next to the mustard.....then the lettuce, etc. Mustard and lettuce are not the best taste-sensory mates.
I take my first trou
I take my first trout trip the day after Thanksgiving--this Friday. I'll have this in mind when I make my lunch. Thanks, Martin!
Paul, Cutting dow
Paul,
Cutting down on the butter here. I love the stuff, but mustard is actually tastier and more healthy. And Coleman's...? Fine for certain things, but I prefer food that's not painful to eat! ;-)
Martin
mnnnnn! sounds good,
mnnnnn! sounds good, but what about the butter? And I'll send you a pot of Colemans you pussy!
hope your keeping well mate ;-)
P
Bob, I've been in
Bob,
I've been in the US and Canada and seen what's available, and I'll bet you that almost any local supermarket or grocery can supply decent ingredients for a sandwich like this - apart from the bread probably. But as I say: water, salt, yeast and flour and you're well on the way. It's easy, healthy and tasty. A little kneading and a lot of time and home made bread is bound to come out better than anything from a plastic bag.
Good ham can be found, just pay what it costs. Lettuce and tomatoes no problem. A good mustard has to be there somewhere. Onions, leeks, avocados, pickle, jalapenos or whatever you fancy. It should be easily available.
I'm sure it's possible.
Martin
Martin, Except
Martin,
Except for the big cities with extensive European ethnic populations the vast majority of America is sadly lacking in many of the desired ingredients. While I was in the Army, stationed in Germany (1953-1956) many of the food stuffs we had came directly from Denmark and always remarked how good things tasted, especially the ham. Thank you for giving me a peek into your life.