Weekend Australian Recipes Saturday 22 January Open Sandwiches

Open Sandwiches

A good sandwich needs to be generous, it needs to be colourful, and it needs both texture and flavour. An open sandwich makes a perfect no-cook lunch or supper. Good bread is essential; look for crusty sourdoughs, rye bread or even crispbread. Always have something to help combine the flavours and add lubrication such as butter, mayonnaise, pesto, chutney, cream cheese or soft cheese and try to add a little crunch with lettuce leaves, grated vegetables, cucumber, thinly sliced celery or seeds. Open sandwiches are also a great way to dress up leftovers.

Prawn and egg open sandwich

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

grated rind and juice 1/2 unwaxed lemon

1 tablespoon chopped chives

200g cooked peeled prawns

3 boiled free range eggs

2 medium sized ripe tomatoes

4 thin slices rye bread

Chopped flat leaf parsley or dill, to serve

Combine the mayonnaise, grated lemon rind, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and the prawns. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Slice the egg and tomato.

Top each slice of bread with a couple of slices of tomato, a few slices of egg and a heaped tablespoon of the prawn mixture. Sprinkle with a little chopped parsley. Serves 2

Chicken Caesar sandwich

2 rashers bacon, chopped

1 cup chopped cooked chicken meat

4 slices Italian-style white bread

olive oil

1 clove garlic, crushed

6 baby cos lettuce leaves

2 tablespoons freshly shaved parmesan

Dressing

3 anchovy fillets

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil

Grill the bacon under a hot grill for about 5 minutes, or until crisp. Drain on kitchen paper. Cut into bite-size pieces. Meanwhile, make the dressing by placing the ingredients in a blender and pulse until combined. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

Brush the bread with a little oil and rub with the crushed garlic. Toast the bread until golden. Top the toast with lettuce leaves, chicken meat and a drizzle of the Caesar dressing. Finish with bacon and parmesan shavings. Serves 2

Open hummus Sandwich

2 pita breads

1 handful rocket

2 small carrots, peeled and coarsely grated

8 cherry tomatoes, halved

3 radish, sliced

2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley or mint

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

3-4 tablespoons hummus

Toast the pita bread and then open out each one to make a pocket. Combine the rocket, carrot, tomatoes, radish, parsley, lemon juice and oil. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Thickly spread the base of each pita pocket with some hummus and then top with the salad, allowing some of the filling to spill out. Serves 2