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Simple Summer Sandwiches
| Meet the Blogger | More Posts by Elizabeth Smith
Whether it’s grown-up grilled cheese, halvies for your half-pints or picnic perfect pita pockets, mastering sandwich-making is a must if you want to keep meals simple but flavorful this summer. This is the time to incorporate seasonal stars like strawberries, cucumbers from the garden and grilling greats like summer squash, portabello mushrooms and swordfish.
Think outside of the lunch box too; sandwiches can make an easy and delicious dinner for the family or be served buffet-style for a crowd. Read on for a chance to share your favorite sandwich and be entered to win a $50 Whole Foods Market® gift card.
Here’s a hot tip for this season: save leftovers from the grill for easy sandwich solutions. (Whipping up new tasty creations with what’s on-hand has led to some of my all-time favorite sammies.) Take a look at these five simple sandwiches that really stack up without piling on too much time or cost if you use what you have handy.
- Pita + hummus + grilled peppers + olive tapenade
- Sourdough + bacon + lettuce + avocado + tomato
- Flatbread + slices of chicken breast + buffalo sauce + blue cheese + julienned celery
- Kaiser roll + grilled fish + coleslaw + pickled onions
- Ciabatta + slices of grass-fed beef steak + grilled onions + feta crumbles
If you’re sandwiched between saving time and money and going all out on flavor this summer, grab these go-to recipes for stackables, wraps and pitas.
The Great Sandwich Stack-Up How does your homemade sandwich stand up to your neighbors’? Share your favorite way to build a super sandwich in the comments now through August 31 and be entered to win a $50 Whole Foods Market® gift card. The fine print: No purchase necessary.
Promotion ends August 31, 2012, 11:59 PM CDT. Must be a legal resident of the US or Canada (except in Quebec, where it is void) age 18 or older to participate. Taxes on prize, if applicable, are the responsibility of the winner. Employees of Whole Foods Market, Inc., are not eligible. Void where prohibited.
107 Comments
Comments
Flatbread, roasted red pepper, avacado, bacon, turkey slice, smoked gouda, splash of olive oil
07/26/2012 6:30:41 PM CDT
Veggie melt: grilled whole grain bread, avocado slices, cucumber slices, pickles, fresh mushroom slices, thinly sliced tomato, melted cheese slice onto the veggies. Ceasar dressing or spicey mustard.
07/26/2012 6:37:53 PM CDT
French bread, smoked turkey, provolone, and a secret sauce.
07/26/2012 10:42:00 PM CDT
The ThanKsgiving:
Turkey Breast
Cornbread Stuffing
Cranberry Stuffing
Fresh Onions
Fresh Lettuce
Fresh Basil
Organic Mayo
...All on Hard Wheat Roll .. Called the Thanksgiving !! :) YUM!
07/28/2012 4:54:59 PM CDT
The ThanKsgiving:
Turkey Breast
Cornbread Stuffing
Cranberry Sauce
Fresh Onions
Fresh Lettuce
Fresh Basil
Organic Mayo
…All on Hard Wheat Roll .. Called the Thanksgiving !! :) YUM!
07/28/2012 4:55:58 PM CDT
Falafel Veggie Madness~ Don't question, just make and love.
2 slices of Rudy's Organic Double Fiber Bread, toasted. (have to toast - otherwise it falls apart.)
Organic Veganaise and Organic stone-ground spicy mustard on one slice of the bread.
1/4 Organic Hass avocado, smushed on the other slice of bread.
I ball of Aromouni's falafel, cut in half, with a dollop of Tahini on the top of each half
Organic Sunflower sprouts - Fuller's are great
Organic Alfalfa Sprouts - Fuller are the best and last the longest in the fridge!
I handful of Organic Girl's "SuperGreens Mix"
2 cranks of Organic black peppercorn,
Absolutely delicious! Perfect summer sandwich! 100% vegan, All organic except for the Falafel, which is gluten-free and vegan though.
Can be made exactly the same with gluten-free bread for an almost as incredible taste and would be wheat-free as well!
07/29/2012 2:58:32 PM CDT
Try this one out. It's cleverly named "The Veggie-mite Sandwich" by my Dad, stemming from his loving nickname for me--"Termite"--because when I visit home, I can't help but raid his fridge!
The Veggie-mite Sandwich: (use all organic if possible!)
+Toasted Jewish Rye bread
+Spread Vegenaise on one piece, and mashed up avocado on the other
+Salt, pepper, and spice the avo side
+Generously layer fresh spinach leaves on top of the Vegenaise
+Place sliced tomatoes on top of the spinach (the spinach creates "a barrier" as we like to call it, preventing the tomato juice from soaking through the bread... genius!)
+Drizzle Apple Cider Vinegar and olive oil onto tomatoes
+Add slices of English cucumber
+Press raw sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and/or ground flaxseeds into avocado side of bread
+Add alfalfa sprouts and shredded carrot
Now, holding your breath, gingerly put the two sides of bread together. Stick a toothpick in it to help keep things neat. Yum!
07/30/2012 7:08:03 PM CDT
i live and die for this vegetarian sandwich!
take two pieces of WHOLE FOODS 365 100% WHOLE WHEAT BREAD.
put enough ANNIE'S NATURALS GODDESS DRESSING on each slice to cover it, but not drip.
then, slice two slices of TILLAMOOK EXTRA SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE (as thick as you like!...there's no animal rennet in this cheese!) and put one on top of each piece of bread.
toast until the cheese is melted. (putting the dressing on before you toast helps to evaporate the moisture in the dressing just enough that it doesn't drip everywhere once you eat it!)
once you take out the slices from the toaster oven, add BONE SUCKING MUSTARD (SWEET-HOT) and SRIRACHA SAUCE (optional, if you like spicy) to each slice of bread. since the cheese is melty, i like to swirl the mustard and sriracha right into the cheese on each side.
add four slices of TOFURKY TURKEY OVEN-ROASTED OR HICKORY SMOKED SLICES and a leaf of KALE (folded in half to fit on the sandwich) and enjoy!
seriously...this is YUMMMMMMMMM!
07/30/2012 8:48:23 PM CDT
The Hawaiian Elvis:
Crisp up 2-3 Niman Ranch Bacon Strips
Slice 3-4 mango strips horizontally
Use 2 slices of seeded bloomer bread
Cover 1 slice in Once Again Cashew Butter
Place mango and bacon on sandwich
Drizzle with a little honey
Heat in toaster oven.
Delicious!
08/01/2012 8:25:49 PM CDT
My family calls this the Experimental Sandwich as we just made it up one day. (It won my husband's heart)
-Slice a loaf of chibatta (or your preference of bread) lengthwise.
-Cover both pieces with your favorite hummus.
-Cover with fresh basil, you can never have too much! (I like to chiffonade the basil first but it's not necessary)
-Cover with slices of tomato (We love the summertime heirloom varieties from our local Whole Foods)
-Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt per your tastes
-Broil on high until the tips of bread look toasty (abouy 10-15 minuts)
-Slice and serve, it should be enough for four adults.
We can't eat this open-faced sandwich fast enough! If you want a closed sandwich skip the basil and tomatos on the top slice of bread, close it up after you broil it and slice, this version serves 2-3 adults though.
Please enjoy, swap thigs out as you like and make your own ES version 1.0 =)
08/02/2012 11:16:32 PM CDT
I love smashed avocado, edamame, and sauerkraut on a baguette. Sounds weird, but it tastes great!
08/04/2012 12:47:04 PM CDT
My kids love my eggplant bacon and tomato grilled cheese panini sandwich. i make a tray full of eggplant bacon in the over or dehydrator which is a great and healthier alternative for real bacon. I add a little plain hummus to either focaccia or ciabatta bread then add eggplant bacon- cheese - thinly sliced tomato-a few leaves of baby spinach! grill it up in pannini press and enjoy!
08/05/2012 11:16:53 AM CDT
Blackened Tilapia on a whole wheat wrap with spinach leaves and diced tomatoes, topped with 1 tsp. fat-free sour cream, 1 tsp. canola oil mayonnaise mixed with 1/2 tsp. McCormick Garlic & Herb seasoning.
08/05/2012 11:29:22 AM CDT
Here is one of my favorite gluten-free, veggie/vegan and soy free recipe: warm brown rice tortillas slightly so they roll nicely. Spread hummus on top, grated carrots, chopped parsley and some pine nuts. Add salt and pepper if you like and roll up like a taco. Delicious, super quick and a nice snack to take when hiking.
08/05/2012 1:15:50 PM CDT
I like my sandwiches low-carb, so I take low-carb tortillas, pesto, fresh tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, Italian dressing and smoked paprika and roll them around a slice of cooked turkey. Oh yeah!
08/05/2012 7:30:02 PM CDT
No matter what's in the sandwich, i like to put mayo and chips in it!
08/06/2012 9:14:23 AM CDT
foccacia + grilled zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, red pepper + olives, mozarella, and aoli. SCRUMPTIOUS!!!
08/06/2012 11:08:59 AM CDT
whole wheat bread + turkey + muenster cheese + avocado + dijon mustard= a happy belly :)
08/07/2012 12:40:54 PM CDT
grilled cheese with spinach and roasted red peppers is to die for
08/09/2012 7:38:04 AM CDT
I think this is interesting and do not see posted often. This is great information.
08/12/2012 3:36:14 AM CDT
I usually grilled chicken breasts (with simple salt and group peppers) for dinner and used leftover for lunch the next day. Slice grilled chicken breasts and stuff each half of the (homemade) pita pocket bread with chickens. Slice fresh mango and carrot then add to the pita pocket. Drizzle sweet mustard sauce (mix together 2 Tbs Vegenaise, 1/2 Tbs Eden organic yellow mustard, 1 tsp lemon juice, and agave nectar to taste). Serve with sea salt chips and maple lemonade. Also try stuff pita pockets with deli meat (like Wellshire Farms).
08/12/2012 11:22:58 PM CDT
wicked website, it is going on my twitter.
08/13/2012 12:30:06 AM CDT
I like to add a lot of veggies even if there is meat on the sandwhich somewhere!! Thanks
08/13/2012 7:47:00 AM CDT
Is that true? I'll spread this information. Anyway, nice article
08/13/2012 11:55:21 AM CDT
My all-time favorite sandwich is this: homemade demi-baguette with homemade roasted garlic and red pepper mayo, grilled chicken (rubbed with olive oil, garlic and dill), roasted red peppers and melted mozzarella.
08/13/2012 4:59:55 PM CDT