Category: Sandwiches

sandwiches

Spam and Avocado Toast

Dax Phillips Leave a comment

You know the buzz… Avocado toast. It’s all the rage, and to be honest, I can’t blame the rage. Avocado toast in itself is delicious, and avocados are typically on our counter during the week. So as I was sitting around one late morning, I noticed an avocado, a ripe one that was ready for the taking, and as I got up to look around to see what I could make with this lonely avocado, I decided I would do my spin on an avocado toast. Let me introduce to you the Spam and Avocado Toast recipe.

Spam and Avocado Toast Recipe
Spam and Avocado Toast Recipe

Now I know what you are probably thinking right now. Spam? Yes, spam. I’ve dabbled with spam over the years, and as some may frown on the idea of spam, I actually have grown to like it, especially when cooked properly. Properly, meaning nice and crispy. There are two reasons I decided to use spam in this recipe. One is that I did not have bacon (I know, I know…) and two, I had spam! This combination was actually really delicious, and if you did not know that it was spam, I think you would probably agree.

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 1 piece of sturdy bread such as a whole wheat or 12 grain, toasted
  • 1 whole avocado, lightly mashed, or to your liking
  • 1/2 tbsp canola oil
  • 1/2 cup, spam, cubed and cooked until crispy
  • 1/2 cup of cucumber, seeds removed, chopped
  • 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp chili flakes
  • 1/2 tsp salt, to taste
  • cracked black pepper, to taste

Start by marinating your cucumber. To a bowl, add the sesame oil, chili flakes, soy sauce, and give a good mix.  Add the cucumbers, give a gentle stir, and set them to the side.

Now the spam. To a small skillet add the oil on medium to high heat. Let that oil come to temp for a minute then add in the cubed spam. Stir and cook the spam until it is nice and crispy.

Avocado Toast Recipe
Avocado Toast Recipe

During this time, get your avocado ready. To a small bowl, open that avocado, being careful not to slice open your palm (yep, people are doing it based on this whole avocado toast thing), and scoop it into the bowl. Use a fork and lightly mash it adding some salt and pepper to your taste.

Check that spam. Crisp? Cool. Remove it from from the heat and lets toast the bread.

Pop the slice of bread into the toaster and get it nice and golden brown. Toast it so it holds up to everything when you build the spam and avocado toast.

OK, lets build this baby. Take the slice of toast, spread on that avocado, layer on the on the cucumber (and only the cucumber) and crispy spam, and get ready to eat.

You tell me, but when you take a bite of this avocado toast, you will be blown away. That crunch and softness from the spam, the crispness and spice from the cucumber, and the creaminess from the avocado, all in a handheld bite sized form. Yep, I’m sold. It’s good, and good enough to have you questioning (possibly) why you haven’t been eating spam all of this time. Enjoy!

Filipino Adobo Sandwich

Dax Phillips Leave a comment

Do you remember that awesome Filipino pork rib adobo recipe I posted not too long ago? Yeah, it was awesome to say the least, and again that great introduction to an authentic Filipino dish. I’m surprised I had any left over to be quite honest with you. But with that being said, I decided to use that leftover Filipino adobo and make a killer sandwich out of it. This sandwich was heavenly.

Filipino Pork Adobo Sandwich Recipe
Filipino Pork Adobo Sandwich Recipe

Let’s get started.

Ingredients for the pork adobo:

  • 6 lbs of pork ribs, silver skin removed, cut into 2 rib portions
  • 1/2 cup of soy sauce
  • 1 cup of vinegar
  • 1 tbsp black peppercorns
  • 3 whole bay leaves
  • generous pinch of salt
  • 1/2 onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 head of garlic, minced
  • garlic fried rice, optional (but you know you want it)

Ingredients for the sandwich:

  • Soft buns, lightly toasted on top and bottom
  • shredded pork adobo, warmed
  • Pickled red onions
  • Thinly sliced Thai bird chilies, optional

Start by adding all of those pork ribs to a large sealable bag or bowl. Next, take the soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, peppercorns, onion, bay leaves, and salt, and mix that into a bowl.

Pour this mixture into the sealable bag, and let this marinate 24 hours, preferably, but you can probably get away with 4 hours. Your call.

At some point in time, massage that marinade into the ribs.

When you are ready to cook, add the ribs and marinade into a dutch oven, or something that can hold all of those ribs, and cook on the stove on low heat for about 4 hours.

Filipino Pork Adobo Sandwich Recipe
Filipino Pork Adobo Sandwich Recipe

The ribs should be close to fall apart tender. Once you hit that stage, preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Place however many ribs you want onto a baking sheet, and into the heated oven, and cook for about 10 minutes or until you get an nice crisp on the outside.

Take some of the cooked marinade and cook on medium-high heat on the stove. Bring to a boil, then add to a fat strainer if you have one. The ribs do give off a bunch of fat so you will want to remove as much as possible. Keep in mind you can make this a day ahead, store the ribs separately from the cooked marinade, then on the next day, when the fat has solidified from being in the refrigerator, scoop off and discard, keeping just the non-fat marinade.

Once the ribs have gotten nice and crisp on the outside, remove and pour over that cooked marinade.

To build your sandwich, take a mound of shredded pork adobo and place it onto the bun. Lay over some pickled red onions, and a bit of Thai chilies (optional), and top with the remaining bun. Grab this baby with both hands, lightly press down, and go to town.

You get the awesome Filipino adobo, but then you get this awesome surprise from the pickled red onion and spice from the Thai chilies that really make this sandwich shine. Hope you enjoy!

Sesame Fried Bologna Sandwich

Dax Phillips Leave a comment

You know that time when no one is around and you are the only one home, and hungry to boot? Well, when that happens to me, I often come up with some crazy thing to eat, and this sesame fried bologna sandwich is no exception. For one, I am a huge fan of a fried bologna sandwich, and one that needs to get more attention on menus, and when you add a twist of sesame oil, and a great bagel, well then you are are in for pure pleasure.

Sesame Fried Bologna Sandwich Recipe
Sesame Fried Bologna Sandwich Recipe

Let’s get started.

  • 1 1/2 thick inch of beef bologna
  • 1 tbsp dark sesame oil
  • 1 whole shallot, thinly sliced
  • 2 slices of yellow American cheese
  • 1 onion bagel, or thick slices of bread, toasted
  • pickled onions, optional but trust me, they make this sandwich pop

Start by heating a skillet on medium heat. Add the bologna and get a nice sear on one side. Lower the heat a bit, and add the sliced shallots. Next, drizzle the sesame oil on and around the bologna. After you have achieved a nice sear, flip over, cooking the onions and cook for about 5 minutes on medium-low heat.

Sesame Fried Bologna Sandwich Recipe
Sesame Fried Bologna Sandwich Recipe

Add the slices of American cheese, cover and let the cheese melt. During this time, toast your bagel.

Once the cheese has melted, add the bologna onto the bagel, top with pickled red onions (if using), and dig in. Yes, I’m a bit guilty of having this as one of those defined ‘closet sandwiches’ where you devour the heck out of it when no one is looking.

I loved everything about this creation. The subtleness of the sesame oil, along with those shallots and pickled onions, whoa, stop me now. This was a real winner, so the next time you are at the deli, don’t forget to get a slab of bologna and give this one a shot. Enjoy!

Egg in a Bagel

Dax Phillips Leave a comment

A handful of years ago I came up with a recipe known as ‘spicy egg in the basket with sausage‘. It was essentially a pretty awesome breakfast recipe where a piece of bread was cut out and topped with an egg and some cooked breakfast sausage. After thinking about it, I could probably eat that every morning. IT WAS THAT GOOD. This time was a bit different though. As I watch my wife eat her daily, morning bagel (Yes, she eats a bagel every single morning), something lit up, and it came to me to come up with this recipe. The egg in a bagel. As much as my wife loves her morning bagel, I’m a total sucker for making a McMuffin for breakfast. That’s my morning jam and I could probably eat something along those lines every day to get my morning going. This egg in a bagel was no different, but a nice little spin on a mcmuffin.

Egg in a Bagel Recipe
Egg in a Bagel Recipe

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 1 plain bagel (or use your favorite style)
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 slice of American cheese
  • 1 slice of deli ham
  • salt, to taste
  • cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 ring cutter, or serrated knife

Start by cutting out the center of your bagel. I use my handy, dandy ring cutter, about 2 inches in diameter, something wide enough to house the egg and get an even cook on it.

Do the same with with the cutter, or knife on the American cheese and ham.

Next, heat your skillet on medium heat, and add in the butter. Lay the bottom bagel down onto the melted butter, crack the egg into the hole, the top with the cheese, and ham. Top with the top side of the bagel.

Egg in a Bagel Recipe
Egg in a Bagel Recipe

Season the top of the egg with a pinch of salt and cracked pepper, then top with the lid, steaming the egg a bit so that it cooks through to your desired doneness.

Once the egg is cooked through, plate and serve.

Egg in a Bagel Recipe
Egg in a Bagel Recipe

Not only is this thing a joy to look at, it’s a thing of beauty to eat. That American cheese is crispy on the edges, along with the ham, creamy on the inside, the bagel lightly toasted from the butter, and the egg is perfectly cooked and creamy making this breakfast sandwich one to step up to any contender.

If you are looking for something fun to make, something pretty to look at, and more importantly something super delicious then give this one a try. Hope you enjoy and everyone have a great New Year!