Sandwich Spreads

Sandwich Spreads can be simple or complex. Savory or sweet. Smooth or chunky, though the term suggests the smoother the better. You can make them according to your favorite recipe or come up with your very own version.

Experiment with your favorite breads, from plain country white, to honey oatmeal raisin loaf (I just made that up - sounds good though. Let me know if you have a recipe). Try to combine bread flavors that would go with your spread.

That's the best part about sandwiches, fillings, and in this case the spreads. You can experiment to come up with a sandwich you really love. One that's uniquely your own. One you will turn to again and again to serve at parties or get-togethers. Or when you want to treat yourself.

Here is a list of some popular sandwich spreads I've found while searching the internet and going through my cookbooks. If you'd like to add your favorite spread recipes and ideas to our list, use the form at the end of this article. This is one category I look forward to expanding.

List of Sandwich Spreads

1. Peanut Butter: A classic, of course, and probably a favorite for many. The best kind is made from only ground peanuts, although it often has added salt, sugar, and oil.

2. Cream Cheese: A soft cheese made from milk and cream, sometimes flavored with herbs or fruits. Experiment with different combinations until you find one you like.

3. Mustard: Made from ground mustard seeds, vinegar, water, and various spices. There are so many types of mustards - from classic yellow to gourmet versions.

4. Vegemite: A dark brown spread made from leftover brewers' yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives. It's mostly found in Australia.

5. Hummus: Made from blended chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. And the variations here are only limited to your preferred tastes. Add garlic, tomatoes, onions, peppers, or whatever you like.

6. Ketchup: Made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and various seasonings and spices. I have actually been making my own using cherries or cranberries in place of the tomatoes. So yummy!

7. Mayonnaise: Made from oil, egg yolk, and vinegar or lemon juice. Plus, we've found several vegan mayo recipes that are easy to make as well. Some use cashews as a base and a few start with tofu as the base. Both are good substitutes if you are plant-based.

8. Aioli: A Mediterranean sauce made from garlic and olive oil, sometimes with added flavors.

9. Almond Butter: Made from ground almonds, often with added salt and sometimes sweeteners. Experiment with other nuts like cashews, walnuts, or pecans. And if you don't or can't eat nuts, sunflower seeds would be a good alternative.

10. Avocado: Mashed avocados, sometimes mixed with lime juice, salt, and other seasonings.

11. Bacon Jam: A relish made from bacon, onions, brown sugar, and vinegar. This sounds really good, especially if you're a bacon-lover, which a huge number of us are.

12. Barbecue Sauce: Made from vinegar, tomato paste, or mayonnaise, with liquid smoke, onion powder, and other spices. A good barbecue sauce is actually pretty easy to make. I usually whip one up using the cherry or cranberry ketchup I have on hand.

13. Butter: Made from churned cream, sometimes salted. Plain or mixed with honey, herbs, or spices - you can't go wrong with butter. And there are some delicious vegan alternatives available as well.

14. Benedictine Spread: Made with cucumbers and cream cheese.

15. Cashew Butter: Made from ground cashews, often with added salt and sometimes sweeteners.

16. Coconut Butter: Made from pureed coconut meat. Some say this is manna, although I have yet to try this delicious spread.

17. Cranberry Sauce: Made from cranberries, sugar, and water. Also, an easy to make sauce.

18. Guacamole: Made from mashed avocados, lime juice, salt, and sometimes other ingredients like tomatoes and onions.

You may consider most of these spreads as simple everyday condiments. They can, however, add a lot of flavor and variety to your sandwiches.

When we were little and couldn't cook, but wanted more than bread, we'd make the occasional ketchup or mayonnaise sandwich to satisfy our hunger.

More Substantial Sandwich Spreads

• chicken spread
• ham spread
• tuna spread

Using some of the spreads and condiments listed above, you can add chopped or minced tuna, chicken, ham, or beef, to create a spreadable sandwich mixture. Each one will be unique depending on the flavors you use.

Spread onto soft white bread, cut into triangles for dainty tea sandwiches or for simple and easy kid's lunches.

A few veggie spreads can be made with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, or carrots. Chop fresh fruits like, apples, grapes, pears, mangoes, or figs to add to the mix for an extra special treat.

In the meanwhile, why not add your favorite spread to the list using the form below. You get to show off your recipe and everyone else will get a chance to taste it.

If you'd like to try a few "old fashioned" sandwich filling recipes, click here. I also love looking through vintage sandwich recipes such as this page from Vintage Recipe Project. (Link opens in a new window). They have a whole section of vintage sandwich spreads in the middle of the page - Apricot Spread, Chicken Apple, Deviled Spread, and more.

A quick word. This page may contain affiliate links. 

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