Southerners are no strangers to quirky sandwich combinations. Sandwich almost everything from thick tomato slices to canned pineapple rings between two pieces of soft white Wonder Bread, then cushion them with a generous dollop of mayonnaise. On Saturday afternoon, I saw a tomato and canned pineapple sandwich at my grandmother’s house. She always said they reminded her of her mother. And to her, that was the tastiest part about her.
There’s another Southern sandwich that my grandmother always swore was one of her classic Southern favorites. It’s the weirdest thing and I’ve never heard anyone else talk about it. I would like to introduce potato salad sandwich to you. You guessed it. Spread the remaining potato salad on two slices of nice, fluffy white bread, spread with butter or mayonnaise, and sprinkle with black pepper on top. Please don’t hate me.
Antonis Achilleos
At first glance, it makes no logical sense. It seems like a complete disaster. Just as some people might call the greatest sandwich ever (the tomato sandwich) a soggy mess, this sandwich might be mushy and textureless and look weirder than grandma on a bike. Again, those people are wrong. So, let me explain the scenario where the potato salad sandwich comes into play.
First, my grandmother makes what some call “the best potato salad ever,” which is very similar to our Southern-style potato salad recipe. It’s always on hand for her family cookouts and certain holidays like Easter and the Fourth of July, and she makes enough to feed an army.
What should I do with the leftovers in the fridge the next day? Well, what would her mom do? Get Wonder Bread and Duke’s. Her potato salad is topped with hard-boiled eggs and loaded with mustard, making it perfect for sandwiches, especially if you add bacon.
The last time we ate potato salad as a family, I promised my girlfriend I would have a potato salad sandwich with her for lunch the next day. And you know what? Sitting on the porch with this sandwich and lemonade was such a delicious way to enjoy a warm day.
Next time you make your favorite potato salad recipe, try this old-fashioned Southern staple.
