10 Decadent Sandwich Ideas for Lunch

Do you often find yourself stuck for lunch ideas? Or just having the same thing over and over again.

Read on for some truly decadent sandwich ideas.

There is nothing nicer or simpler than good old fashioned bread, cheese and chutney, but sometimes you want something special or have time to lavish on creating a special lunch.

That’s why I’ve created my super special sandwich ideas that are not only filling but delicious.

Here are my top 10 decadent sandwich ideas:

1. Caramelised Onion Marmalade with Ham Hock and Cheese Sandwich

2. Chicken & Pear, Mango & Ale Chutney Sandwich

3. Grilled Halloumi with Moroccan Prune Chutney Sandwich

4. Wheaten Bread & Soft Cheese Sandwich

5. A Truffle Mayo Steak Sandwich

6. Ham & Pease Pudding Sandwich

7. Sesame Stir-fry Wrap

8. BLT

9. Smoked Salmon Open Sandwich

10. A Turkish Gozleme

1. Caramelised Onion Marmalade with Ham Hock and Cheese Sandwich

This is a perfect balance of sweet and salty in this sandwich. Choose a ciabatta base that is perfect for sharing...

Always choose a good quality butter to enhance the flavour of the bread.

Ham hock is perfect for a sandwich because it falls into small chunks really easily and makes for a perfect bite.

A nice mature Irish cheese like Coolattin Cheddar grated is ideal to add a little tang.

Now add in your sweetness with chutney or marmalade. I like to use Caramelised Onion Marmalade. This helps to hold the sandwich filling together with a little bit of rocket.

2. Chicken & Pear, Mango & Ale Chutney Sandwich

Thick sliced wholemeal bread with quality butter. I use either Dromona or a delicious artisan butter by the makers at Abernethy butter to enhance the flavour.

Free-range cooked chicken sliced or cut into small chunks.

For something green, I like to use microgreens, which are very trendy at the moment and you can add some nutritional punch with these tiny green garnishes.

I also add in some sweetness with my Mango, Pear & Ale Chutney which also has a bit of Hilden Brewery, Barneys Brew Ale for extra flavour. Mix this with your favourite mayonnaise, it makes the filling go further and creates a lovely texture.

3. Grilled Halloumi with Moroccan Prune Chutney Sandwich

This is a great vegetarian option.

Go for a ciabatta roll as your base or soft focaccia, with lots of lovely holes for the mayonnaise to nestle in. I like to use a local smoked onion mayo in this sandwich. This means you don’t have to add onions but get the flavour punch.

The halloumi is grilled until crispy, then added to the sandwich along with some perfectly ripe sliced tomatoes and rocket.

To finish, I’ve added a dollop of my Moroccan Prune Chutney. The warming spices of paprika, ginger and chilli will completely lift this sandwich while the sweet prunes will contrast the saltiness of the halloumi.

4. Wheaten Bread & Soft Cheese Sandwich

This is my favourite summer sandwich idea for taking on picnics with friends or just impressing them with your skills in the sandwich making!

Take one large wheaten loaf and slice horizontally into four, then soften, slice or crumble your favourite cheeses.

I personally love to mix a soft smooth cheese with hard cheese. My choice here are these stunning Irish cheeses St Tola Ash a beautiful award-winning goats cheese from Galway and on another layer Young Buck a “stilton style” cheese from Northern Ireland.

To lift it and add a bit of moisture and sweetness use a chutney like my Fig chutney. Which I find works with most cheeses.

For on the go picnics…Wrap it up in parchment paper and tie it with string and it’s like having a cheese board all wrapped up in one!

5. A Truffle Mayo Steak Sandwich

Truffle mustard, mayonnaise, sautéed onions wrapped in ciabatta. Super simple to make, but the truffle mustard makes it extra special.

Or why not try using leftover beef from a Sunday night roast with just plain mayonnaise and a spicy pickle?

6. Ham & Pease Pudding Sandwich

This is a great recipe for leftover gammon. I like to cook my gammon in a stock of spices, onions, cider vinegar and cider along with a muslin bag of yellow split peas. This is a north of England dish and reminds me of home!

The shredded ham and soft dhal like peas are wonderfully flavoured. All you do is add it to a stottie loaf or soft bap’s if you can’t get your hands on a stottie.

7. Sesame Stir-fry Wrap

The key to making a great vegan sandwich is making sure your protein source is well seasoned.

Use a mixture of herbs and spices to add a bit more zing to your sandwich.

I love this recipe from BBC Good Food for Sesame Stir-Fry Wrap because the vegetables are coated with delicious tahini and lemon juice.

Why not make it even better with your own soy sauce and sesame oil dip.

8. BLT

A really decadent bacon sandwich needs to have GREAT bacon. Buchanans award-winning peat-smoked or use the best you can buy without all those nasties. I use Peat smoked bacon, for an extra depth of earthy flavour.

You also want lettuce that is very crisp and green. Large ripe tomatoes from the vine give extra sweetness and a good dollop of mayo or tomato & chilli chutney to bring it all together

It’s a classic, but to make it extra special, seek out those butchers and farmers markets that specialise in local, sustainable produce with animal welfare in mind.

9. Smoked Salmon Open Sandwich

If you need a sandwich for a special occasion, then why not try a Smoked Salmon open sandwich.

I make these with my homemade mini wheaten loaves and use sustainably sourced and locally smoked salmon.

The finishing touch is adding some cream cheese with chives or a little caviar for that extra special occasio.

10. A Turkish Gozleme

Gozleme is a Turkish stuffed flatbread that is a very popular street food and can suit both meat lovers and vegetarians alike. I had to add these to the list as they are very addictive and an unusual’sandwich’.

They are not only simple to make but can be filled with your favourite ingredients. I like to use spicy lamb or minced beef, feta cheese and spinach, very traditional. a pinch of paprika and cumin with a touch of tomato!

To make the Gozleme base:

225g self-raising flour

200g plain yoghurt

Olive oil

Salt

1. Mix the yoghurt with a pinch of salt. Gradually add the flour until it becomes soft and slightly sticky

2. In a prepared oiled bowl, place the dough and leave covered for 1 hour.

3. When ready to use, divide equally into 8 balls and roll out on a floured surface, ready for your filling.

4. Fill and fold over brushing with a little oil on one side and cook on a preheated frying pan or hot plate, then brush the other side and flip, cook until golden brown.

5. Serve

Create your own favourite fillings and get the kids involved! It goes very well with my Sweet Pepper and Chilli Sauce.

That’s my selection of 10 decadent sandwich ideas. I am definitely a sandwich addict!

Do let me know about your favourite sandwiches in the comments.