Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (2024)

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

This Ploughmans Sandwich is inspired by the classic British meat and cheese platter. It's loaded with thick cut ham, aged cheddar, branston pickle, salty butter, mustard and arugula between two slices of fluffy white bread. It's a hearty lunch that's packed full of sweet and savory flavors! Serve withs some ketchup crisps and you've got yourself an a tasty English lunch!

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (1)
Table of Contents
  • Backstory
  • Ingredients
  • How to make it
  • What to pair it with
  • Save for later
  • Recipe
  • Recipe

Backstory

Back when i was a cheesemonger at Depanneur in Brooklyn, I worked with a ton of people from all around the world.

My best friend, Spasia, was from the UK and was always blowing my mind with her recipes.

That's where I first heard the term Ploughmans Platter.

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (2)

One day while we were creating the daily specials, Spasia decided to turn this classic British snack into a tasty sandwich.

I remember taking a bite and being blown away by the combo of sweet, savory, and umami.

Unbeknownst to me, Branston Pickle was a condiment like no other.

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (3)

It was like a super crunchy chutney that packed so much flavor.

There was tang, umami and a slightly sweet finish that balanced perfectly.

I was hooked.

Years later, I visited London and saw a Ploughmans platter on the menu one night.

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (4)

And now that we're not allowed to travel on the moment, I wanted to take my taste buds on a trip.

In Spasia's honor, I wanted to share this tasty Ploughmans Sandwich with all of you.

To make it really authentic, be sure to pair it with some ketchup crisps or some chips and you've got yourself a legit British lunch!

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (5)

Ingredients

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (6)

How to make it

Making the Ploughmans Sandwich is all about layering the correct way.

In true British form, you'll want to start by buttering one slice of fluffy white bread.

On top of that, smear on some of the Branston Pickle.

If you've never had Branston Pickle, you can think of it as a pickle chutney that is tangy, crunchy, savory and slightly sweet. It's a British condiment that you can find in the International aisle of most grocery stores.

I recommend buying the small chunk variety because it's best for sandwiches. If you'd like to order some, you can do so on amazon!

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (7)

Then add the cheese on top.

Be sure to used an aged cheddar (or mature cheddar as the Brits say) and make it thick cut!

I'm using Tillamook's aged white reserve cheddar and it works perfectly.

And if you're wondering, you can use an orange aged cheddar, too! Just make sure that it's very sharp and delicious!

Now top the cheddar with some arugula (I mean rocket as they say) and set it aside.

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (8)

Next, grab the other piece of bread and smear it with some mustard.

You'll want to use an English mustard if you have it... but if you don't a regular yellow or grainy mustard will work just fine.

On top of the mustard, you'll add the ham.

Now it's time to close the sandwich up and slice it in half.

And it's that simple!

What to pair it with

This Ploughmans Sandwich is perfect for lunch! I recommend pairing it with a big bowl of rustic tortellini soup or my spicy lemon detox soup.

You could also do as the Brits do and serve it with some (cajun) deviled eggs or some chips (aka these air fryer potato wedges).

If you want more British inspired recipes, try these easy English Sausage Rolls or this Curried Chicken Salad.

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (10)

Save for later

If you don't want to forget about this recipe, please feel free to pin any of these pretty images to your pinterest page!

And if you don't already, follow me on pinterest for tasty inspiration shared daily!

To pin any of these images, simply hover over them and you'll see a pin-it button appear. It's super easy!

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (11)
Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (12)
Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (13)

Recipe

Recipe

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (14)

Ploughmans Sandwich

This Ploughmans Sandwich is inspired by the classic British meat and cheese platter. It's loaded with thick cut ham, aged cheddar, branston pickle, salty butter, mustard and arugula between two slices of fluffy white bread. It's a hearty lunch that's packed full of sweet and savory flavors! Serve withs some ketchup crisps and you've got yourself an a tasty English lunch!

4.34 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Course sandwich

Cuisine british, english

Servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients

  • 2 slices fluffy white bread
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 2 tablespoon branston pickle (small chunk is preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon mustard (english mustard or grainy)
  • ¼ lb thick cut ham
  • lb aged cheddar (or mature cheddar as they say)
  • ½ cup arugula

Instructions

  • Smear butter on one slice of bread then slather with branston pickle.

  • Top with cheese and arugula.

  • Smear mustard on the remaining slice of bread and top with ham.

  • Place one half on top of the other so they’re sandwiched together.

  • Slice in half and serve.

Keyword branston pickle, british, cheddar, english, ham, lunch, sandwich

Did you make this recipe?Tag me on instagram @grilledcheesesocial so I can see it!

Ploughmans Sandwich Recipe - Grilled Cheese Social (2024)

FAQs

What is a cheese Ploughmans? ›

At its most basic, the lunch consists of a hunk of cheese, such as cheddar or Stilton, crusty bread, butter, and a pickle or relish, often Branston pickle, a jarred pickled-vegetable relish. Popular additions include chutney, fruit, pickled onions, sliced ham, pork pie, a boiled egg, and pâté.

Is a Ploughman's sandwich healthy? ›

The sandwich fillings compared

It then crowned an overall unhealthiest and healthiest sandwich. The unhealthiest was revealed to be a 518-calorie Ploughman's sandwich from Sainsbury's, which has more calories, sugar and saturated fat then a 508-calorie Big Mac from McDonald's.

How does Gordon Ramsay make grilled cheese? ›

Using a cast iron-pan, add a touch of olive oil and get pan hot over medium-high heat and add sandwich. After about 30-45 second push sandwich so it crisps and cheese melts. Flip after about 2 minutes, once slices are nice and crunchy. Keep flipping and pushing down until cheese is melted.

What two cheeses are best for grilled cheese? ›

Sharp cheddar, Gouda, Fontina, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Pepper Jack, and brie are all good options. The amount of cheese you use will depend on the size of your bread. I love sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda together.

Should I toast my bread before making grilled cheese? ›

For the best results, toast your bread first. A quick toast will help your bread develop the golden edges and luscious crisp that you're after. It'll also help prevent the bread from getting soggy, no matter how many fillings you add.

What is a posh Ploughmans? ›

Extra mature Cheddar cheese with vine ripened tomato, real ale & onion chutney, spinach, mayonnaise and red onion on seeded sourdough bread.

What are the elements of a Ploughmans? ›

A ploughman's lunch is an English cold meal based around bread, cheese, and fresh or pickled onions. Additional items can be added such as ham, green salad, hard boiled eggs, and apple, and usual accompaniments are butter and "pickle", which in Britain denotes a chutney-like condiment.

What is the new name for Ploughmans lunch? ›

The name change was meant as a nod to the many female workers who work in the farming industry in Devon, but many on Twitter seemed to take the news almost as a personal affront. “A Devon pub changed the name of the lunch 'Ploughman's' to 'Ploughperson's'.

What is the world's healthiest sandwich? ›

Lean meats such as turkey, chicken, or grilled fish are preferable over processed meats like bacon or salami, which are often high in sodium and saturated fats. Additionally, selecting sandwiches with plenty of vegetables not only adds flavor and texture but it provides a nutritional boost.

What is the key ingredient in Ploughman's lunch? ›

Key components. Bread, cheese, ham and some sort of pickled dimension. Traditionalists may question the necessity of ham, but without it this is just bread 'n' cheese, not a ploughman's. The bread needs to function as a platform for teetering piles of ham and cheese.

Why do grilled cheese sandwiches taste so good? ›

They Toast The Bread On Both Sides

Bread is often fried in butter, for extra flavor and crunch. Because the bread is already hot, when the cheese is added, it will melt faster. That's why restaurant grilled cheese is usually perfectly brown and crispy — and why it's so good.

What is the most expensive grilled cheese recipe? ›

The sandwich starts with “two thick slices of French Pullman Champagne Bread made with Dom Perignon Champagne and 23k edible gold flakes, buttered with grass-fed white truffle butter. It is filled with thick slices of rare Caciocavallo Podolico Cheese, made in Southern Italy from the milk of the Podolica cow.

What can you add to a grilled cheese to make it taste better? ›

Fruity additions are practically limitless: melons with prosciutto and fontina cheese, peaches with gruyere, pears and melty Brie, strawberries and sharp cheddar. These sophisticated flavor combos will have the grown-ups cheering for more. Check out this Avocado and Strawberry Grilled Cheese for inspiration.

What makes grilled cheese taste better? ›

My three steps to the perfect grilled cheese.
  1. use a nice slice of crunchy bread. I like rye, or sour dough.
  2. Mix up your cheeses. Having a variety of cheeses not only enhances the flavor but also the texture. ...
  3. Butter your pan not your bread. The butter doesn't soak into the bread as much so you get a crispier toast.
Jul 20, 2022

Should you butter both sides of bread for grilled cheese? ›

Standard procedure for grilled cheese is to butter the outsides of the bread before placing it in the pan — for more flavor, butter both sides, inside and out. This works quite nicely, adding flavor to the sandwich, while also preventing burning and sticking.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6284

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.