I love potatoes and I love bread. This sandwich brings out the best in both of them. Half a ciabatta roll, toasted (for the ‘crunch’) and with a light spread of tarragon mustard. Add potato, pumpkin seeds, tomatoes and a few more things you can read about below, and you got yourself a treat for lunch. Yes, it’s as good as it looks!
I made this after a long day at work, one of those days where you really just want to get home and sleep, but you’re starving… Having a potato handy in the fridge from dinner the night before became my saving grace.
Potato on Ciabatta Roll with Pumpkin Seeds and Grape Tomatoes
Perfect for those chicken leftovers in your fridge, and a great sandwich for the outdoors. This specimen was consumed on a sailing trip to Flakfortet (see also “The Flakfortet” potato sandwich). It is a spinach roll, with smoked cream cheese, roasted chicken from the night before, fresh heirloom tomatoes. and mini-cucumber slices. Sprinkle generously with dukkah and olives on the side, of course.
In Denmark, smoked mackerel was formerly a delicacy reserved for special occasions such as family Christmas luncheons, or fancy dinner parties. Danish smoked mackerel typically comes from Bornholm, which is famous for its many smokehouses. Although made with smoked mackerel, this sandwich would work well with other smoked fish e.g. smoked salmon.
Dukkah is an Egyptian spice blend that is just perfect for many sandwiches. It is in no means traditional, but represents how new influences from immigrants are constantly shaping ‘the sandwich’. Dukkah is made from toasted nut, toasted cummin seeds and spiced, and has a mild, flavorful taste to it, as well as a slight crunchines which is great on softer sandwiches such as “The Flakfortet”.
I know, I know.. you’re thinking “Potato sandwhich! More starch as a topping for bread?”. That was my first impression when I first heard of this one. However, as with all things culinary, the adventurous are often generously rewarded. This adaptation was inspired while on a sailing trip to the Danish island “Flakfortet” (hence the name of the sandwich). It was constructed from what was available on the boat, and it turned out to be a passenger favorite. The subtle taste of the Smoked Cream Cheese (A Danish delicacy from Fyn), blends perfectly with the potato and radishes.
Tomatoes on Spinach Ciabatta Roll. For this sandwhich, we recommend heirloom tomatoes at their peak of ripeness. You also want to use the tomatoes at room temperature. The flavors are more intense here. We used Black Krim grown in our backyard garden, and added a pinch of Dukkah to bring home the flavor. This is perhaps the most essential way to make a tomato sandwich, using only tomatoes, and it can really only be pulled off succesfully when they are very fresh and tasty.
