Look No Further Than Your Pantry To Add More Flavor To Sandwiches

When it comes to making the most flavorful sandwiches at home, you really needn't look further than your pantry for some extra tasty additions. Provided you keep your pantry well stocked with a bevy of interesting staples, you should have no trouble adding layers of texture and flavor to your sandwiches.

Sandwiches can be built one of two ways. They can either be straightforward and basic, such ham and cheese, or they can be absolutely wild. Take Chicago's famous Italian beef sandwich as an example of the latter — loaded with savory, fatty beef, packed with heaping spoonfuls of that wonderfully acidic giardiniera, and dripping with au jus, transforming an average roast beef into something extraordinary. But even if you've only got cold cuts, cans of tuna, or leftover dinner meat at your disposal, cracking into the pantry is a surefire way to liven up the most basic sandwich. 

Look for things that are going to bring great flavor. Condiments like mayonnaise, pickles, or roasted red peppers yield savoriness and tang, and go well with ham, turkey, and roast beef. Spicy relishes are another great option that will liven up and add another dimension to your sandwich. However, none of this is possible if you don't keep a stocked pantry. 

The key to getting your sandwiches to the next level is to keep a well-stocked pantry. What does this mean? Well, it means having readily available a whole assortment of ingredients and condiments that have become commonplace in the American household. Things like mayonnaise, mustard, and olive oil are all examples of pantry items that can bring more flavor to your sandwiches. Still, don't be afraid to get a little creative with your purchases. 

Consider some international pantry staples to go alongside the domestic ones. Any good grocery store will have an international aisle, where things like kimchi, smoky Moroccan harissa, various salsas, and soy-based sauces find a home. Also consider things like jarred pesto, which can give a chicken or caprese sandwich an extra garlic and basil kick. Salad dressings are also a great alternative to spreads like mayonnaise. Mix in a little Caesar dressing into your tuna salad for an umami hit.

So, don't be afraid to get a little creative with your pantry choices, and be patient. A pantry is something that gets well stocked over time, as you don't need to use everything you've put in there all at once. Take your time and build up a good repertoire of flavorful staples that you like. Then go to town experimenting with bringing more of those flavors to your sandwiches.