As an on-the-go food that can be eaten at any time of day, sandwiches are unsurprisingly popular the world over, and each country has its own take on the dish. Here are 25 different types of sandwich from cultures around the world.
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Bành Mi, Vietnam
The Vietnamese baguette, made from a mixture of wheat and rice flour, is smaller than its French cousin.To make a delicious bành mi, fill your Vietnamese baguette with chicken (or a protein of your choice), pickled vegetables, and fresh ingredients (coriander and cucumber). Spread a bit of mayo over your baguette for extra flavour, sit back, and enjoy!
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Toast Hawaii, Germany
A clever blend of sweet, salty, spicy, and sour, this German sandwich is popular with young and old alike! A slice each of ham, pineapple, and cheese are placed on slices of white bread spread with mustard before going under the broiler. To finish, simply top with a cherry or some cranberry jam.
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Bao, China
Everyone goes wild for this white bread steamed in a bamboo basket. Warm, soft, round, and smooth, bao is often filled with a mixture of pork (in traditional versions), but can also be stuffed with pickled vegetables, beef, fish, mushrooms, or even chocolate!
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Bocadillo, Spain
There are plenty of options when it comes to filling this Spanish sandwich: pork loin, serrano ham, salt cod, omelette, or fried squid. Add your choice of condiment as well. The important thing is the baguette. It should be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
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PB&J, USA
The famous peanut butter and jelly sandwich (hence the acronym PB&J) is the perfect comfort food. Firmly rooted in American popular culture (it’s estimated that the average American will eat close to 3,000 of them over the course of a lifetime), this sandwich is as filling as it is delicious… and also incredibly affordable!
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Broodje Kroket, The Netherlands
“Broodje” means sandwich and “kroket” means croquette, in this case a meatball coated in breadcrumbs and fried. The recipe is simple. Finely chop leftover meat and/or potatoes, shape into a sausage, coat in breadcrumbs, and fry. Serve in a soft bread roll with strong mustard. A delicious late night snack!
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Bake and Shark, Trinidad and Tobago
A fried shark filet (yes, shark!), served in a fresh bun and topped with your choice of condiments, this hot sandwich is a taste of typical Trinidadian street food. You’ll feel like you’re at the beach from the first bite.
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Shawarma, Lebanon
You know what we’re talking about. We’ve all seen those huge pieces of meat (lamb, beef, or chicken), roasting on a vertical spit before being sliced straight onto flatbread and topped with vegetables and sauces. This typical Middle Eastern dish is now a street-food staple and has been adapted to suit a variety of national palettes.
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Chivito, Uruguay
Although “chivito” literally means “little goat,” this sandwich actually contains churrasco (beef) as its main protein. Add hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, olives, and mayonnaise (for the classic version) or anything else you can think of for a personalized touch (bacon, anyone?).
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Club sandwich, USA
Americans love this triple-decker sandwich featuring roast chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and a generous layer of mayonnaise. Serve with a side of fries!
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Cucumber sandwich, England
Very popular with our British friends during a traditional afternoon tea, this small, fresh sandwich is simply thin slices of cucumber on white bread (crusts removed, of course) spread with cream cheese.
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Smoked meat, Montréal, Canada
Place a gigantic portion of juicy smoked meat between two slices of rye bread, top with mustard, serve with gherkins, and you’ve got the classic Montréal smoked meat sandwich. The Americans have their own version, the Reuben, made with sauerkraut, melted cheese, and a creamy sauce.
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Croque monsieur, France
This ham, cheese, and bechamel sandwich toasted under the broiler is a menu staple at any good French bistro.For a croque madame, simply top with a sunnyside-up egg.
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Panino, Italy
You’re probably more familiar with the word “panini,” which is actually the plural form of the word ”panino,” but no matter what you call it, this grilled Italian sandwich is a hit across the board. The classic version contains mortadella, salami, ham, and cheese, pressed and toasted between two slices of bread until the inside is hot and the cheese is runny.
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Fischbrötchen, Germany
Transport yourself to northern Germany with just a sandwich. Simply fill a brioche bun with a fish filet (herring, mackerel, or sardine), onions, and pickles. Try adding tartar sauce and horseradish for even more flavour.
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Grilled cheese, USA
Three simple ingredients are all it takes to make this typical American sandwich: sliced white bread, Kraft Singles, and butter. That’s it! Of course, the grilled cheese sandwich comes in many variations, but the original version remains a timeless classic.
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Fricasseé, Tunisia
This salted and fried brioche bun from Tunisia is filled with tuna, eggs, potatoes, and olives.While these are the classic fillings, you won’t be surprised to learn that everyone has their own version!
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Lobster roll, Canada
This Maritime sandwich (also known as lobster guedille) features generous chunks of lobster on a bed of greens in a classic hot dog bun.
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Gyros, Greece
The Greek version of the Turkish doner kebab and the Arab shawarma, the gyro is made of roasted meat (pork, chicken, lamb, or beef), tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce, all rolled up in a warm pita bread.
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Arepa, Colombia
This sandwich is all about the bread. Arepa, a typical Colombian delicacy with roots in indigenous cooking, is a small cornbread. The most popular recipe is arepa de queso (with cheese), but there are many other variations, including arepa de huevo (with eggs) or rellenas (with meat).
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Ham and butter, France
The name says it all: ham and butter in a freshly baked baguette. This sandwich is so simple, but so delicious… as long as you have good, fresh ingredients!
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Pambazo, Mexico
You can’t be afraid to make a mess when ordering a pambazo! This soft, crustless bread, stuffed with a mixture of chorizo, potatoes, cream, and fresh cheese, is the perfect for soaking up the delicious guajillo chili sauce. Each bite is an explosion of exciting and sometimes unexpected flavours!
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Pan bagnat, France
This typical dish from Nice is the sandwich version of the famous salad niçoise. Tuna, anchovies, black olives, and hard-boiled eggs are piled into a round bun. Drizzle with olive oil, add some greens, et voilà!
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Le pain sandwich, Canada
This Quebec classic, a feature of many a traditional holiday buffet, is actually layered sandwiches (ham, chicken, and egg) covered with a cream cheese ”frosting” and cut and served like a cake.
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