This perfect picnic sandwich never fails
PLUS: Save The Date for another BEST SANDWICH EVER POP-UP on Aug 16th!
I have a massive pet peeve when it comes to sandwiches—dry lettuce. Maybe with the exception of ‘shredduce’ (finely shredded iceberg lettuce), it’s like, I don’t want a bowl of dry arugula just like I don’t want to bite into a chunk of dry spring greens between a tough baguette. I grew up thinking I hated all lettuce on sandwiches — turns out, I just hate DRY lettuce on sandwiches.
Once you start taking all of two minutes to lightly dress your greens with a squeeze of lemon, a bit of olive oil, and salt, I promise you’ll never go back (you can ask Katie!). It’s one of the tricks that make this ultra-simple picnic sandwich actually perfect.
The Perfect Picnic Sandwich
Please note that the photo above shows the INCORRECT ORDER OF LAYERS, but it’s too pretty for me not to include. It’s delicious layered in any order, but the below recipe details the most optimal order of operations.
Ingredients:
1 fresh baguette (or ciabatta)
Apricot jam/preserves
Brie cheese
Prosciutto (optional)
Fuji Apple (optional)
Softened salted butter
Arugula
EVOO
1/2 lemon
Parmesan
Kosher salt
Slice the baguette in half and generously butter each half.
Slather each half generously with apricot jam.
If using Prosciutto, thinly layer on the bottom half. Slice brie cheese into thick planks and layer on top of the Prosciutto (or layer on top of the jam on the bottom half of the baguette if you’re not using Prosciutto).
If using apple, slice very thinly and layer on top of the brie.
Toss the arugula with the juice of 1/2 a lemon, a glug of EVOO, a pinch of parmesan, and a tiny bit of salt. Taste for seasoning and layer generously on the sandwich.
Put the sandwich together and smush it down to secure it. Wrap in parchment and foil. Enjoy by the sea or under a tree.
Don’t worry, this sandwich is riffable.
It’s really just a simple equation.
Good Bread + Jam + Soft Cheese + Sliced Fruit + Greens
I recently did a ciabatta + balsamic glaze + burrata + grilled peaches + basil version for a little Huntington Nights date night. So delicious. The grilled peaches required a lot more effort, though. (I also added leftover Gojuchang Bacon Jam on mine!)
And finally, the MUCH requested… BEST SANDWICH EVER pop-up coming Saturday, August 16th!!!!!
The idea for this sandwich came from a challenge: how could I make a vegetarian sandwich that scratched the same itch as its meaty counterparts? The result is an unintentionally vegan (!) sandwich that’s as satiating as any Bay Cities Godmother counterpart. Nothing in it is trying to be meat. Nothing in it is a wannabe cheese substitute. It’s just a compilation of veggies and homemade ingredients at their finest: creamy hummus, gochujang cabbage slaw, charred miso-marinated sweet potato planks, all blanketed in pistachio chimichurri.
I’ll be slinging sandwiches on our back patio, so you know vibes will be good. Come enjoy the sunshine, great company, and see why it actually IS the Best Sandwich Ever.
Please take the extra minute to dress your greens before you put them on your sandwich and enjoy.
Happy eating!
xx,
Mary