The New Zealand Bushman's Sandwich

“What's for lunch Grandma?”

“Mmmh we don't have much, El. How about a Bushman's Sandwich?”

In less than twenty seconds, about twenty different ingredients are laid out on the dinner table. My cousins and I scramble to snag the best bits, reaching across each other, grabbing ingredients before it's too late.

Going to Grandma’s as a young fella, lunchtime would always be a surprise, a culinary assortment of odds and ends, a time to create your own signature masterpiece. She encouraged us to take the plunge, mixing and matching different ingredients...always unsure what our taste buds were about to receive.

The Tale of the Bushman’s Sandwich

Grandma explained that when the Bushmen––Kiwi loggers and hunters––were living out in the wilderness, they derived a snack which could be customized to fit whatever ingredients they had available. And, of course, leave minimal waste.

Being a single 25-year-old working late in the city, it become difficult to create a well-rounded meal for one. The Bushman's sandwich became a weekly staple in my diet.

Just take what you have––leftover Indian butter chicken, takeaway fish-n-chips, last night’s spaghetti bolognese, a simple iceberg lettuce salad, and the dregs of a Doritos package––and BOOM another spontaneous and delicious snack.

The Bushman’s sandwich has no strict rules to follow and it doesn’t discriminate. It’s scope allows for a diversity of flavour, artistic flair, budget and age. It’s a democratic sandwich made by the people, for the people.

The Bushman's Playlist

1. Slice of Heaven by Dave Dobbyn

2. Bliss by Th' Dudes

3. Walk Right Up by Ladi6

4. Die With A Smile by FKJ

5. April Sun in Cuba by Dragon

6. The Good the Bad and the Police by Average Rap Band

This go-to sandwich consists of 4 key parts:

1. Quality bread. Choose a loaf with structure, like wholemeal. The thicker the better.

2. Protein. Stack your sandwich with a combination of meat, cheese, beans, etc. I like to choose one primary meat, like steak or chicken, and one secondary meat like corned beef, deli ham or bacon.

3. Crunch. Corn chips are my first choice. Doritos or kettle chips are both great options, but if your cupboards are lacking, substitute corn flakes or rice bubbles.

4. Acid. Choose at least one vinegar dressing or vinegar-based sauce to cut through the richness of the meat and cheese.

Suggested Ingredients:

These sandwich toppings and condiments are just suggestions. Get creative with whatever you have on-hand in the pantry.

- Thick, strong bread. Vogel's or Burgen is my ideal supermarket choice.

- Meat. (Grab a cheap cut of steak from the butcher; rump or porterhouse are ideal if they are on special.)

- Shaved deli ham and/or bacon.

- Cheese. Choose something creamy, like camembert.

- Red onion

- Avocado

- Cucumber

- Doritos corn chips

- Assorted Condiments: vinaigrette, tabasco sauce, barbeque sauce, and garlic aioli

- Ingredient X (Whatever you have in the fridge that would go hard in this sammy.)

Hot Tip: If you want to build a gigantic Bushman’s sandwich (as you should be) you need to have firm bread to hold that bad boy and all his friends in there, too. There’s nothing worse than having your creation fold and drown into a fragile and sloppy mess. Start with a solid foundation.

Preparation.

1. Slice up the cucumber and red onion. Soak in white vinegar, salt and pepper.

2. Thinly slice your steak with a razor sharp knife. Flash fry in a skillet with two cloves chopped garlic and olive oil.

3. Toast your bread to add strength.

4. Cut your camembert cheese into long, thick slices.

5. Whip your avocado into a guacamole-like consistency. Season with tabasco, salt, pepper and lemon.

The Build.

1. Grab a slice of your toasted bread (which has now started to cool).

2. Lather a thick layer of avocado onto your toasty foundation. Lay some Doritos over the avocado.

3. Now add your prime layer: the thinly sliced steak.

4. Next, lay down your camembert cheese. Make that steak disappear from sight.

5. Add cucumber and red onion. Don't worry if there is excess vinegar––your bread is toasted and strong.

6. Add a layer of deli ham and/or bacon.

7. Before you put the roof on that flavor-packed house, spread some aioli, barbecue sauce, etc. on your toast. Press down firmly.

For the young Bushmen.

Even the pickiest eaters love a tasty Bushman’s sammy. Invite your kids to pick and choose their desired ingredients and flavours. Stacking the sandwich with their hands makes the whole process plenty of fun.

Bushmen like dessert, too.

Still hungry? Step up your sammy game with a sweet version of this Kiwi classic. Ingredients like banana, peanut butter, nuts, apple jam and, of course, cheese are a brilliant place to start. The sweet-savory combination of bacon, peanut butter and banana is my personal favorite