Best summer sandwiches

They are truly the nation’s favourite lunch, and that’s why we’ve put together this list of cold summer sandwich ideas, a couple of hot sandwich superstars and the perfect additions to everything from pitta to bagels to sourdough...

BLT

What’s in a BLT?

The initials in the BLT sandwich stand for “Bacon”, “Lettuce” and “Tomato” - the main filling ingredients. The particular varieties of these ingredients varies to personal preference, but iceberg lettuce is commonly selected due to it’s crunchy texture, and culinary experts tend to recommend beefsteak tomatoes as they have fewer seeds and a classic tomato flavour that contrasts well with the salty bacon.

Despite the sandwich being thought to have American origins around the turn of the 20th century, meatier English style bacon works best in a BLT - which can be made with any type of bread.

Most BLTs will include mayonnaise as an additional ingredient.

It’s perfect for summer because...

The primary ingredients in a BLT are lighter and fresher than many sandwich fillings, perfect for lunch al fresco.

What is a sandwich?

A sandwich is a food consisting of a filling placed between 2 slices of bread. Fillings can include meat, cheese, eggs, vegetables, fish or condiments such as jam, butter and chutney. The British Sandwich Association includes both traditional wedge sandwiches and filled baguettes, bagels, pitta, rolls and bloomers in their definition of a sandwich.

The dish is named after the 18th century English aristocrat the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who was well known to enjoy eating meat between bread, but sandwiches in various primitive forms go back as far as the Middle Ages.

Top tip!

Double up on lettuce to avoid the curse of the soggy sandwich! The order should be bread smeared with mayonnaise, then a nice crunchy piece of lettuce on each slice. These will act as moisture barriers when the fatty bacon and juicy tomato are placed in the middle and retain that lovely medley of texture.

Allergen alert

Most bread contains at least one Cereals containing Gluten (usually wheat but rye bread is also popular), and mayonnaise is made with Eggs, another of the 14 major food allergens.

Lobster roll

What’s in a lobster roll?

Lobster meat - typically meat-claw, knuckle and tail meat - is predictably the main ingredient in a lobster roll, along with a soft, hot dog-style bun. The additional components depend on the “style” - either it is served hot and oozing with butter in the Connecticut style, or cold and with mayonnaise in the Maine style. Whichever it is, the lobster roll is seen as a New England delicacy.

It’s perfect for summer because...

In the UK, native lobsters are caught between June and September, making summer the best time to enjoy them fresh and flavourful.

Top tip!

Add a squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of paprika to your mayonnaise to give your Maine style lobster roll a kick.

Allergen alert

Lobster is a Crustacean, a type of shellfish and one of the 14 major food allergens. Depending on whether it is a hot or cold lobster roll the sandwich will also include either butter (derived from the allergen Milk) or mayonnaise (which has Egg as a major ingredient). The bread roll will also likely contain wheat, a Cereal containing Gluten.

Cucumber sandwiches

What’s in a cucumber sandwich?

Cucumber and butter are the only fillings in a traditional Englsh cucumber sandwich, with the ingredients being intentionally sparse due to the sandwich’s purpose of being a light refreshment or part of afternoon tea.

The cucumbers should be sliced finely from a peeled cucumber, the bread white and so fine that you can “see daylight through it” and devoid of crusts, and the butter spread thinly all the way to the edges of the bread.

It’s perfect for summer because...

Cucumber sandwiches are intrinsically linked to summer due to being the traditional tea break snack during cricket matches.

Top tip!

Use unsalted butter - its creaminess makes a better contrast with the cucumber than the sharpness of salted butter.

Allergen alert

White bread is made with wheat, a Cereal containing Gluten. Butter is derived from Milk. Both are among the 14 major food allergens.

Turkey gyros

What’s in a turkey gyro?

A gyro is a pitta bread stuffed with meat (pork or even lamb) that has been roasted on a spit, lettuce, onion, tomato and some type of sauce. The most popular sauce for this sandwich is tzatziki, or a dill-cucumber-yoghurt sauce. Sometimes there is also the addition of feta cheese.

Gyros are a Greek dish, but the turkey gyro - which replaces the roasted meat with grilled turkey breast, is an American interpretation.

It’s perfect for summer because...

Gyros can be quite heavy when made with the traditional pork or lamb roasted on a spit - grilled turkey makes the sandwich lighter and healthier for warm summer days.

Top tip!

Your turkey will make or break this sandwich. Avoid the pitfalls of dry, tasteless poultry by patting the meat dry before brushing with melted butter or olive oil and seasoning before placing under the grill.

Allergen alert

Feta cheese is made from Milk, which is one of the 14 major food allergens, and likewise, cucumber sauce and tzatziki are both made from yoghurt - another Milk by-product. Traditional pitta bread is made from wheat, a Cereal containing Gluten.

Strawberry and cream cheese sandwiches

What’s in a strawberry and cream cheese sandwich?

As the name suggests, fresh strawberries and full-fat cream cheese (or marscapone) are the fillings in this sweet and savoury sandwich, which can be made with any type of bread - something slightly sweet and chewy like a toasted bagel is perfect.

It’s perfect for summer because...

Summer is a strawberry season! The growers’ association British Summer Fruits cites May-September as the best time for berries.

Top tip!

Drizzle with honey for decadence and a new textural element.

Allergen alert

Most breads and bread products contain at least one Cereal containing Gluten (wheat, rye, oats), and cream cheese is derived from Milk, another of the 14 major food allergens.

Chicken and pesto sandwiches

What’s in a chicken and pesto sandwich?

Roasted or grilled chicken - slightly seasoned and sliced is most popular for pairing with pesto in a sandwich. Pesto is a cold Italian sauce made by combining basil, pine nuts, olive oil, salt, garlic and parmesan cheese, either coarsely chopped and crushed before stirring together, or blitzed in a blender. Pesto’s origins make Italian breads like panini - a small flat bread roll, or ciabatta a popular choice for this dish.

It’s perfect for summer because...

As a cold sauce with a refreshing flavour, pesto is perfect for picnics and outdoor dining.

Top tip!

Personalise your take on the sandwiches by experimenting with different variations of pesto. You can switch out parmesan for another type of hard cheese, pine nuts for peanuts or cashews and basil with other herbs. Mint pesto is especially great for summer menus.

Allergen alert

Paninis are traditionally made with wheat, a Cereal containing Gluten, and pesto usually contains the allergens (Tree) Nuts (such as pine nut) and Milk (via cheese).

Hummus and avocado sandwich

What’s in a hummus and avocado sandwich?

Hummus (any variety) and sliced avocado, along with bread, are the main components of a hummus and avocado sandwich, with the hummus being spread over the slices of bread as if it were butter and the avocado placed in the middle alongside other ingredients such as chopped red onions and spinach.

As hummus is a paste, it’s best to use a robust bread - either hearty wholemeal or crusty white.

It’s perfect for summer because...

Hummus originated in the warmer climes of the Middle East, and remains delicious when the mercury rises.

Top tip!

You can replace one layer of hummus with chutney for a zesty contrast in flavour.

Allergen alert

Unless gluten-free, wholemeal bread is made with wheat, a Cereal containing Gluten. Hummus is made with tahini, a type of Sesame paste. Sesame is one of the 14 major food allergens.

Sardine and spicy mayonnaise sandwich

What’s in a sardine and spicy mayonnaise sandwich?

The sardines in a sardine and spicy mayo sandwich can be fresh and grilled, tinned and grilled - or even straight from the can. They are layered with bread (anything from a crusty sourdough to a Scandinavian rye) and mayonnaise mixed with sriracha hot sauce, paprika and lemon juice to taste. Chopped red onions are optional.

It’s perfect for summer because...

Sardines taste like the beach and summer, particularly when cooked on a barbecue or over a campfire.

Top tip!

Toast your bread and serve as an open sandwich.

Allergen alert

Sardines are a Fish, which is one of the 14 major food allergens. Mayonnaise is made with Eggs, another major food allergens, and as with most sandwiches, bread is a major ingredient and likely to be made from a Cereal containing Gluten.