How to Make the Perfect Sandwich: Quick and Easy Sandwich Ideas

Sandwiches are great because they're fast and simple to make, require no cooking, and you can take them with you. Although most everyone has made a sandwich in their day, there are a lot of different ways to make them that you may not have realized.

The purpose of a good sandwich recipe is to give you ideas for each component, but leaving it up to you on what to do. There are many different parts to a sandwich. There needs to be some type of bread for which the ingredients must rest. Also, for a good sandwich there should be a fruit/vegetable, a sauce, a meat or meat substitute, and a dairy product.

In classic sandwiches, the bread is usually two slices of plain white or wheat bread. This is the easiest and least expensive choice for sandwiches. To be a bit more daring and different, you could use a bagel, a pita pocket, or even a tortilla to jazz it up.

Keep in mind what each kind of bread can hold. Bagels can have a lot of items between them while tortillas can't hold as much depending on their size. Choosing a flavored bagel, pita, or tortilla can add a zest to the sandwich as well. There are tortillas that come in sun-dried tomato or garlic covered bagels.

Sauce is very important when it comes to sandwiches. Since breads, meats, and cheeses tend to be very dry, adding a sauce will make the sandwich easier to eat. The classic sandwich sauce is mayo or Miracle Whip. Unfortunately, mayo is very fattening and full of cholesterol. There are alternatives to this that taste better and are better for you.

Yellow mustard is a very healthy sauce for sandwiches. French's Yellow Mustard has no calories, fat, or carbs, and it tastes great, too. You can also use hummus, low fat cream cheese, or salad dressing like Italian for your sauce as well. Be creative! The sauce on a sandwich plays a big role in how it all will taste.

Don't be alarmed by the fruit heading. You have most likely already had fruit on your sandwiches. Tomatoes and avocados, while fruits, are great additions to your sandwich. All they need is slicing!

There are also some great vegetables that go well on sandwiches. Sliced cucumber, pickles, or uncooked zucchini add a much needed crunch. Sprouts and small florets of broccoli work well, too.

For many sandwich enthusiasts, the meat is the most important part. A lot of things work well for this. Sliced deli turkey, ham, and chicken are the healthy way to go. You can also use whole chicken breasts or pieces of steak for the meat portion of your sandwich.

If you're a vegetarian, there are still some options that can fall under the meat category. Portobello mushrooms are often used as a replacement for meat in sandwiches or burgers. Choose a Portobello mushroom cap that fits the width of your sandwich. You can also lose this category completely if you are vegetarian. Instead, bulk up on the fruits and vegetables category.

Cheese is a great way to add nutrition to your sandwich. Some classic ways to fill a sandwich are by adding slices of American cheese or other block cheeses. To add some zest, you could substitute a slice of normal cheddar block cheese with pepperjack cheese instead. This adds a much needed heat to a sandwich.

If sliced cheese doesn't whet your appetite, there are still more choices to go with. Crumble up some feta cheese onto your sandwich for a jolt of flavor. If you're afraid of the feta falling out of the sandwich, sprinkle it on the sauce you put on so that it sticks. You can also use a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese as well.

All great sandwiches come with irresistible side items. When choosing a side, keep in mind that they shouldn't be messy and should be easy to carry with you in a zip top bag. Choose at least two sides to go with the sandwich. By having more than one side, there will be a lot more satisfaction with the meal and you'll feel fuller.

There are a lot of things that can go next to a sandwich, so be creative. Pretzels, popcorn, chips, and crackers are great for a salty fix. Pickles are also good. For fruit, bananas, apples, and grapes are great for the sweet tooth. Be sure to have the banana peeled and the apples sliced so that there's no work needed while eating.

Mix and match your ingredients to fit your taste and style. I often add more than one fruit or vegetable to my sandwich, such as sliced tomatoes, sprouts, and pickles. Making your sandwiches should be easy and fun. Most importantly, they should taste good, too!