The club sandwich, or clubhouse sandwich, is a classic dish that has undergone various transformations over the years. It is one of those go-to snacks that offers a full package, which makes you feel like you’ve eaten something fancy but without breaking the bank.
It is made up of usually three layers of toasted bread, filled with chicken or turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise, offering a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Cheese or condiments are often added to enhance the flavor. Typically, it’s cut into quarters and held together with toothpicks for easy eating.
Originating in New York City, the club sandwich has evolved in various ways across the world. For instance, the American recipe often includes salt-cured meat and other additions like avocado. However, the club sandwich in Pakistan offers a flavorful twist, replacing the meat with spiced chicken, eggs, and sometimes masala to suit local tastes.
The Pakistani variation captures the essence of local cuisine, blending classic ingredients with bold, vibrant flavors. The club sandwich is one of those meals that takes little time to prepare, yet offers a rich and satisfying taste. The first club sandwich was made in the late 19th century, in the kitchen of Saratoga Club House in 1894, where potato chips were also introduced.
Ahsan Khan, head chef at the Coffee Planet, told Jarida Today that different restaurants prepare club sandwiches differently. “They change the flavor with mayo and varying the style of the eggs.” He said that making a club sandwich is basic, but there are many types of sandwiches, with the base typically consisting of vegetables, sliced cheese, or meat, placed on or between slices of bread.
Ahad Abid, a graduate in mechanical engineering, a young writer and professionally a chef, told Jarida Today that when freshness and juiciness in club sandwiches melt in your mouth with the fibers of chicken, it gives an incredible taste, satisfying your breakfast desires and sometimes the evening obsession for snacks.
“It’s healthy to eat with low calories and easy to prepare, so it doesn’t take more than it gives you,” the young chef said. “And psychology says a good, delicious breakfast gives you a mentally happy and positive start. So, let your life taste happier with this delicious taste of mouth,” he added.
In a club sandwich, where the most ‘ignored’ slice is added in the middle, everyone feels it’s ‘useless’ or has always questioned why they keep this slice in the center to make it more substantial. However, the reason is that the most ‘ignored’ slices essentially serve as a safeguard to keep the components together and intact.
The recipe includes boneless chicken breast, crushed red and black peppers, soy sauce, oil, water, mayo, ketchup, green chutney, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggs, bread, oil spray, and green chutney with cilantro, garlic, mint, Thai peppers, sugar, lemon juice, and roasted cumin coriander.
To prepare a club sandwich, shred the chicken and combine it with mayo. Make thin crepes, and scramble eggs. After toasting the bread slices, put the chicken mixture, cucumber, tomatoes, ketchup, egg, and green chutney on the sandwiches. Cut the sandwiches in halves or quarters and serve at room temperature. Blend ingredients in a blender with water to make a spreadable consistency.
A variation called the chicken tikka club sandwich is also available in Pakistan, with ginger, garlic pastes, and yogurt toppings. Sandwich breads are produced in many varieties, such as white, whole wheat, sourdough, rye, multigrain, and others. White bread is popular due to its light texture, flavor, and fewer nutrients. Whole wheat bran bread, a healthier alternative to processed white bread, is rich in micronutrients and protein.
Sprouted grain and multigrain breads are healthier choices. The buffalo wild wings breakfast club sandwich, with 1,170 calories, is a healthy and satisfying meal with 80 percent protein and fiber. This is a healthy take on a club sandwich because it includes extra-lean turkey, light mayo, lettuce, and Roma tomatoes. A Journal of Public Health study discovered that more than half of the people eat sandwiches for lunch, which results in higher calorie, fat, salt, and sugar intake.