Happy Friday and the 1st of December everybody!
Today I want to share with you an age old favorite sandwich. The Beef Jerky (or here we say ‘Biltong’) sandwich! It is a total winner, and to my mind better than any other type of meat sandwich.
For some reason, the only meat I ever really crave on a low meat diet is dried biltong, or beef jerky. Jerky satisfies the cravings instantly, and because of this I really think the meat is in its most healthiest from when dried. This just my own opinionated stance of course.
Anyways, back to the jerky sandwich. Jerky sandwiches can be made in a variety of ways, you can load them up with mustard or even ketchup if you want. But of course, here at this kitchen we load them up with…. Arugula! I find that arugula, or rocket, is a great green garnish for sandwiches because of its spicy, almost mustardy like taste. For this sandwich I also added in a few little leaves of mustard lettuce itself – that hot leaved purple number. It goes really well with the jerky, however if you do not have any mustard lettuce you can of course leave this out and just put on the arugula.
What Kind of Jerky to Use for Jerky Sandwiches
Jerky can come in various forms. It can be dry and chewy, or less dry and softer, almost like smoked meat. I find that both dry and less dry jerky can work well for sandwiches. If however you want to have a softer chew, then look for a jerky with has been minimally dried. This will give a texture in the sandwich which is similar to cold or smoked meats.
Spicing a Jerky Sandwich
When it comes to spicing a jerky sandwich, most jerkys will have a certain amount of spice. Here, in Southern Africa, the traditional spicing for jerky / biltong is largely cilantro seeds. Some places however like to use more peppery spices such as chilli to flavor their jerky. So, chances are that your jerky will have a certain level of spice on it already.
I like to add a little extra salt and pepper to the sandwich, and sprinkle on a few chilli flakes. This gives a pop of color and a bite of heat. If you do not like hot food – then of course you can leave out the chilli flakes.
Mustard is a good condiment to pair with jerky, however for this sandwich I would leave it out, as the rocket and mustard lettuce are quite strong in flavor.
Lastly, another nice condiment to rev up the flavor of your jerky sandwich is pesto, either a herb or tomato based one.
Extra Toppings for Jerky / Sandwiches
I like to keep jerky / biltong sandwiches somewhat simple, as the jerky is so flavorful and that is the taste which I want to dominate the sandwich. But this does not meant that there is no room to experiment. Feel free to add in extras!
Good Extra Toppings for Jerky / Biltong Sandwiches
- Pickled onions
- Cottage cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Cucumber
- Gherkins
- Tomato
- Balsamic vinegar
- Avocado
If you are making a breakfast sandwich – you can even top it with an egg if you like, for a real punch of protein. Another popular type of biltong / jerky sandwich is a grilled cheese version! Let me know if you would like for me to make recipe for one of those : ).
Beef Jerky / Biltong Arugula Sandwich
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Ingredients
- 2 slices of bread (sourdough is a great choice - not only does it digest easier but it is full of flavor)
- Butter
- +-70 grams of of jerky / biltong
- Fistful of arugula
- 2 mustard lettuce leaves (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Small pinch chilli flakes
Instructions
- Slice and butter your sourdough bread. I like to make the slices on the thin side, so that the bread does not dominate the sandwich. Be generous with the butter, as there is no other form of fat in this sandwich.
- Wash the arugual and mustard lettuce
- Slice the jerky. Use a strong knife and try to make the slices reasonably thin for ease of chewing.
- Layer the slices with arugula, mustard lettuces and jerky.
- Sprinkle with salt, pepper and chilli flakes, and top with the other bread slice.
- Enjoy!
