A ham and cheese sandwich is a classic type of sandwich. It is done by placing pieces of cheese and sliced ham between two pieces of bread. Sometimes bread is oiled and / or toasted. You can also add vegetables, such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions or pickles. Various types of mustard and mayonnaise are common as fillers.
Sliced bread, cheese and ham are available in all major supermarkets, making these sandwiches quick and easy to prepare. Often they are the main component of a packed lunch.
This appetizer was first prepared in 1894. Ham and cheese sandwiches were then the only food sold in baseball parks in the USA. Hamburgers and other fast food appeared only decades later.
Appearance story
The origin of the sandwich (with ham and cheese) has been discussed for a long time by culinary experts. The leading theory of who first started producing a dish of these simple ingredients is mentioned in the 1961 gastronomic reference book. It is noted that Patrick Connolly, an 18th-century Irish immigrant in England, first sold a bread dish that contained slices of pork ham, cheese, and egg yolk sauce on a round bun.
In the UK, a common addition to a ham and cheese sandwich is spicy sauce (based on vinegar). Today, this appetizer may contain other ingredients. A variant with two types of cheese is popular - soft creamy and hard (for example, "Cheddar").
Ham and Cheese Sandwich: Recipe
This quick and tasty toasted sandwich is great for breakfast or lunch. To prepare it, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1/4 cup light cream cheese;
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil;
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard;
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly frozen black pepper;
- 8 slices of whole wheat bread;
- 150 grams of low-fat ham (4 slices);
- 8 slices of tomatoes (about 1 large whole vegetable);
- 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese.
Cooking process
Preheat the oven. Combine (as thoroughly as possible) the first four ingredients in a small bowl. Distribute approximately 1 tablespoon of the resulting mixture into each of the 4 slices of bread. On top, put on each piece a piece of ham, 2 tomato slices and 1 tablespoon of Cheddar cheese. That's not all.
Place the prepared sandwich halves and the remaining 4 slices of bread on a baking sheet. Preheat for 2 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the bread is slightly fried. Cover each half of the sandwich with the remaining piece of bread. Serve immediately.
Other food options
You can make a classic ham and cheese sandwich in many different ways. A recipe with a photo of such a snack is presented in this article. In order to make the taste more interesting, you can grill ham and bread twice. What is needed for such a sandwich? The ingredients for the preparation are as follows:
- 8 slices of white bread;
- 8 slices of smoked ham;
- 4 slices of tomato;
- 4 slices of portion cheese for sandwiches;
- 8 teaspoons butter cream or softened spread.
Lightly grill slices of bread, then grease them with butter or spread. Sauté the ham and then place it one at a time on 4 slices of bread, also put the tomatoes and cheese. Cover the sandwiches with the second half of the bread and grill again until the cheese melts.
Serve immediately in combination with fresh vegetable or fruit salad.
If there is no grill and oven
A ham and cheese sandwich can also be prepared without using a grill. To do this, slices of bread should be slightly dried in a toaster and immediately greased with a thin layer of Dijon mustard. Then the toasted smoked ham, fresh tomatoes and cheese are laid out. Sandwiches are closed with the second halves of bread and can be served immediately. If you wish, you can slightly warm them in the microwave for 15-25 seconds (a longer time is not recommended).