Ham sandwich facts for kids
Ham sandwich made with focaccia bread, with lettuce and mustard
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| Type | Sandwich |
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| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Main ingredients | Two pieces of sliced bread, sliced ham |
A grilled ham and cheese sandwich, in a cast iron frying pan (croque-monsieur style)
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| Type | Sandwich |
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| Main ingredients | Sliced bread, cheese, ham |
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A ham sandwich is a very common type of sandwich. It's usually made with two slices of bread and a slice of ham in between. You can use fresh bread or toasted bread. People often add other tasty things like cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, or pickle slices. Many also like to add mustard or mayonnaise.
Ham sandwiches are super easy to make. This is because sliced bread, ham, and cheese are easy to find in most stores. They are a popular choice for a packed lunch to take to school or work.
Contents
History of the Ham Sandwich
The ham sandwich is one of the oldest known types of "closed" sandwiches. By the year 1850, more than 70 street sellers in London were already selling them.
Ham and Cheese Sandwich History
People have wondered for a long time about where the ham and cheese sandwich first came from. One popular idea comes from a book called The Larousse Gastronomique 1961. It says that in the 1700s, an Irish person named Patrick Connolly, who lived in England, sold a special bread dish.
This dish had cooked pig meat (ham) and Leicester cheese. It also had a bit of egg yolk sauce, which was like an early form of mayonnaise. This was all served in a round bread roll. People sometimes called this dish a "Connolly" in some parts of the UK.
In the UK, people often add pickle to a ham and cheese sandwich. This pickle is a sweet and vinegary chutney. When you add it, the sandwich is called a ham, cheese, and pickle sandwich.
In 1894, ham and cheese sandwiches were the only food sold at baseball parks in New York. Later, frankfurters (hot dogs) became popular there in 1909.
In 1923, an Englishwoman traveling to the U.S. wrote about her experience at Ellis Island. She said that during lunchtime, workers brought out baskets of "very good ham and cheese sandwiches" for adults.
Famous explorers also took ham and cheese sandwiches on their journeys. Richard E. Byrd had them on his polar flight in 1926. Transatlantic fliers Chamberlin and Levine also took them in 1927.
How Many Ham Sandwiches Are Eaten?
The British Sandwich & Food to Go Association says that the ham sandwich is the most popular sandwich in the UK. In a survey from 2001, ham was the second favorite filling after cheese.
In France, 70% of the 1.8 billion sandwiches eaten in 2008 were ham sandwiches. This led a French company to create a 'jambon-beurre index'. It's like the Big Mac Index and helps compare ham sandwich prices across France.
The longest ham sandwich ever made was created in Pamplona, Spain, in 2009. A butcher named Nico Jimenez made it.
Different Kinds of Ham Sandwiches
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In French cuisine, a croque-monsieur is a type of ham and cheese sandwich. It is often baked or fried, making it warm and crispy.
In Brazilian cuisine, a toasted ham and cheese sandwich is called misto-quente. This means "hot mix" in English.
The Cuban sandwich is another popular type. It is made with ham, cheese, and special crusty Cuban bread. It's often pressed and toasted in a panini press. You can find different versions of this sandwich in Cuba and South Florida.
Health and Ham Sandwiches
Some health organizations suggest that eating too much processed meat, like ham, every day might not be the healthiest choice. It's always good to have a balanced diet with many different foods.
See also
In Spanish: Sándwich de jamón para niños
