Ploughman's Sandwich
A ploughman’s sandwich is an ode to simple, quality ingredients, using elements from your traditional ploughman’s lunch platter into one tasty, tasty sandwich. Perfect for everything from summer picnic ideas to healthy lunch box ideas, it’ll be you’re new go-to sandwich.
Ploughman's Sandwich
Ploughman's Sandwich
Ploughman's Sandwich
Not to brag, but dang this ploughman’s sandwich is one heck of a sandwich. Like if ‘Flavour Town’ had a mayor, this sandwich would be it. It has all the things; tangyiness from the piccalilli, sweet jammy chutney, a little bite from the dijon mustard, smokey ham, crisp apple slices, a sneaky drizzle of honey and a sharp hit from strong vintage cheddar.
This is your go-to gourmet sandwich for a simple (but fancy) packed lunch to take with you somewhere. Take it on a summer picnic lunch, make it for a work lunch, cold school lunch ideas, high school lunch ideas or for me and my husband, on the golf course!
What even is a ‘ploughman’s’ lunch?
A traditional ploughman's lunch is a classic British cold spread of ingredients, think farm workers and country pubs. At its heart is a wedge of mature cheese, served with crusty bread and butter, accompanied by a pickle like Branston pickle or piccalilli. It's often rounded out with fresh salad ingredients along with extras such as ham, sliced apple, hard-boiled eggs or pork pie. A ploughman's lunch celebrates quality ingredients. It’s also pretty fantastic on a sandwich, which is why this recipe exists, and I can’t stop making it.
Tips for making a proper ploughman’s sandwich
- Make sure you cover the bread fully in butter, right to the edges.
- Same with the spreads, full coverage is necessary.
- Layering the ingredients in the right order matters (IMO) the textures and flavours work really well in the order below. But hey, I won’t come knocking on your door if you mix it up.
- Choose a bread you like. A crusty roll / ciabatta works well for picnics when you need to travel with them.
- For school lunches, layer the ingredients a bit thinner to make it manageable for little hands.
How to make a ploughman’s lunch picnic.
To complete the picnic lunch, the sandwich is key, but add some gherkins, a wedge of cheddar, some salted potato chips, boiled eggs, some fruit, extra crusty bread and pickles like piccadilly, Branston and chutney to complete the spread.
More foods for the perfect picnic lunch
Same day made and eaten is my recommendation.
Ingredients and substitutions
How to make it - step by step!
Spread the butter over the slices of bread, covering right to the edge of the slices.
For each sandwich, spread the dijon over one buttered slice, and the chutney over the other buttered slice.
On the dijon slice of bread, in exactly this order, layer on the rocket / arugula, ham, piccalilli, apple slices, a drizzle of honey, the cheddar, a crack of black pepper followed by the chutney slice of bread.
Spread the butter over the slices of bread, covering right to the edge of the slices.
For each sandwich, spread the dijon over one buttered slice, and the chutney over the other buttered slice.
On the dijon slice of bread, in exactly this order, layer on the rocket / arugula, ham, piccalilli, apple slices, a drizzle of honey, the cheddar, a crack of black pepper followed by the chutney slice of bread.
Watch the how to video
Watch the how to video
Ploughman's Sandwich
- 4 pieces of bread (your fave)
- 2 tbsp (spreadable) butter
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp chutney
- 1 cup rocket / arugula
- 6 slices triple smoked ham
- 2 tbsp piccalilli
- 1 large apple (or two small ones)
- 2 tsp honey
- 50g strong vintage cheddar
- Cracked black pepper
- Spread the butter over the slices of bread, covering right to the edge of the slices.
- For each sandwich, spread the dijon over one buttered slice, and the chutney over the other buttered slice.
- On the dijon slice of bread, in exactly this order, layer on the rocket / arugula, ham, piccalilli, apple slices, a drizzle of honey, the cheddar, a crack of black pepper followed by the chutney slice of bread.