Sandwiches From Around the World
Sandwiches are arguably one of the most versatile foods available. Bread, protein, vegetable, cheese and sauce — and we’re not even talking about preparation — the combinations are endless. With this level of variety and personalization available, it’s no wonder that Americans consume over 300 million sandwiches every day.1
While some classic sandwiches like peanut butter and jelly are widely popular here in the United States, they don’t have the same notoriety abroad. The reason? Peanut butter is a U.S.-based condiment, just like vegemite is native to Australia. The shape of a sandwich may be universal, but the toppings are clearly reflective of their origin. As a result, sandwiches are the perfect vessel for getting to know another culture. Not only is it a budget-friendly choice, it’s also a great way to see another culture’s interpretation of the classic sandwich structure and how they layer the toppings that are common to their region and familiar in their traditional cuisine.
Chomp your way through the many tasty and unique options available around the globe. Let’s kick it off with the aforementioned vegemite sandwich.
Vegemite sandwich
Origin: Australia
Interesting fact: A by-product of beer production, vegemite’s brown, thick texture comes from leftover yeast extract. Unlike most sandwiches on this list, vegemite sandwiches are usually consumed at breakfast rather than midday or evening meals.
Leberkäse Semmel
Origin: Germany
Interesting fact: This tasty, simple street food looks like ham but tastes like hot dog — only without all the preservatives, nitrites and random fillers. In fact, German food laws require that Bavarian leberkäse omit liver.2
Arepas
Origin: South America
Interesting fact: Consumed at breakfast, lunch or dinner, arepas are stuffed with almost anything you want, from chorizo and eggs in the morning to pork and avocado in the evening. Because of their versatility and easy-to-hold pocket structure, they’re a popular street food available in most any market.
Chip Butty
Origin: England
Interesting fact: If you’re familiar with Pittsburgh’s famous Primanti Brothers sandwich, you won’t be thrown off by this handheld method for massive fry consumption. This sandwich is filled with only fries (better known across the pond as chips) and surrounded by bread and butter (a.k.a. “butty”).
Francesinha
Origin: Portugal
Interesting fact: Created by a French/Belgian emigrant as the Portuguese response to a croque monsieur, this meat-packed sandwich is covered in melted cheese and beer sauce.2 The beer sauce is unique in every restaurant the francesinha is served and is typically the central point when arguing the best one.
Vada Pav
Origin: India
Interesting fact: This spicy veggie burger started as a cheap street food but has since become common in both fast food restaurants and the swankiest hotels. Stuffed between two slices of pav bread, this potato patty is typically topped with a fruit chutney made with coconut, garlic and tamarind for a savory and sweet flavor blast.
Cemita
Origin: Mexico
Interesting fact: Cemitas and their cousin the torta may have similar ingredients, but there are two distinct differences. First, the bread — cemitas will have sesame seeds sprinkled on top. Second, the meat on a cemita is typically deep fried, whereas torta meat is grilled.
Doubles
Origin: Trinidad and Tobago
Interesting fact: These heavenly twin pockets of fried dough stuffed with curried chick peas, mango and a cilantro cucumber and coconut sauce were once served as a single sandwich. Legend says that so many customers asked to double it that it became the signature way to serve it, and thus the name was born.
Donkey Burger
Origin: China
Interesting fact: The Hebei province is known for their burro (donkey meat) served cold on a bun. A common local saying encapsulates just how honest they are about the sandwich’s appeal: “In heaven there is dragon meat, on earth there is donkey meat.”
Kaya Toast
Origin: Singapore
Interesting fact: A sweet sandwich most commonly found at breakfast, kaya toast is more defined by its bread than what it’s stuffed with. White bread is smothered in butter, toasted and served with kaya jam (coconut milk and egg) and a half-boiled egg.
REFERENCES
1Iacoviello, C. (November 3, 2015). National Sandwich Day. Retrieved July 9, 2018, from https://www.washington.edu/wholeu/2015/11/03/national-sandwich-day/
2Hoeller, S. (March 15, 2014). 28 must-eat sandwiches from around the world. Retrieved July 9, 2018, from https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/gatsby-vegemite-croque-monsieur-arepa-and-other-must-eat-international-sandwiches