Buzz
I once found myself in one of those lunchtime dilemmas where my fridge felt barren, save for a few odd condiments. I couldn't make an egg sandwich, but I did have leftover cheese board items—jams, nuts, cheese, mustard. Initially, I wasn’t convinced, but sometimes taking a chance can work wonders. Enter the cheese board sandwich.
It was a cold sharp cheddar and blackberry jam sandwich that completely changed my perspective. (Sure, hunger played a part, but honestly, it was incredibly good.) Unlike a grilled cheese, this version had only cold or room-temperature ingredients. The cheddar was tangy, savory, and full-bodied, while the jam was sweet, earthy, and smooth. Paired with a soft ciabatta, every bite just kept getting better.
At first, I was taken aback by the pairing, but then it hit me—any combination you'd savor on a cheese board will undoubtedly work as a full sandwich. After all, a cheese board is a collection of flavors and textures designed to come together perfectly in one bite. Instead of delicately placing each ingredient on a flimsy cracker, why not pile it all between two hearty slices of bread?
A truly great sandwich is all about striking the perfect balance of flavors.
The possibilities are endless, limited only by the accessories on your cheese board. Just like crackers serve as a base for various toppings, your sandwich bread acts as the foundation for any flavors you wish to add—be it cheese, jams, tapenade, honey, or mustard. You can also throw in slices of fresh or dried fruit, nuts, pickles, or olives.
I toasted a couple of ciabatta slices, but you can choose anything from a baguette to a bagel or even basic wheat bread. Now comes the exciting part: the art of pairing flavors. Think about mixing two or three elements from the five basic taste profiles: salty, acidic, bitter, sweet, and umami. For instance, combine salty parmesan with sweet pear slices and candied pecans. Or perhaps black olive tapenade, ripe figs, and manchego. You could even try a combo of blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and dried apricots, drizzled with honey.
At first glance, you might not think the ingredients in your fridge will come together in a great sandwich, but don’t be discouraged. You'd be surprised how well mismatched components can work together. The concept of a cheese board sandwich may seem unconventional, but in reality, it's quite brilliant. Why get hung up on what a sandwich 'should' be? Does it need meat? Cheese or lettuce? What about nuts? It’s all about what tastes good—if it pairs well with crackers, it’ll shine between two slices of bread.
