I’m a big fan of packed lunches.
There’s something deliciously comforting about knowing lunch is already waiting for you. Just sitting there, whispering to you from the fridge. While all everyone else wraps up and heads out into the cold, you can just pad over to your little brown bag and get stuck in.
I like to spend as long as humanly possible in bed come sunrise, but I hate soggy sandwiches. Thankfully these little Italian stallions can be made the evening before. They pack a serious flavour punch and maintain their structural integrity. Trust an Italian to stay strong all night long!
Ok, you’ll need:
2 bread rolls (preferably focaccia)
Sliced cured meats
Bufallo mozerella
Sundried tomatoes
Homemade pesto (remember we made this when we made Proper Pizzas?)
-Basil leaves
-Pine nuts
-Parmasan
-Garlic
-Olive oil
Start by making your pesto.
Homemade pesto is a completely different animal to the stuff you buy in a jar. It’s punchy, fresh & just oozes flavour! Grab one large basil plant, and roughly tear all of the leaves off. Throw some of the stems in too. Put them into a food processor with 50g of raw pine nuts, a cup of grated parmesan, two smallish cloves of garlic, half a cup of olive oil and a large pinch of salt.
*If you really can’t be bothered to make your own, buy a pot of fresh pesto from the fresh pasta section of the supermarket.
Next grab your rolls.
Split them, brush a very thin layer of olive oil on the bottom slice and pile on a good layer of meat.
Top with slices of mozzarella & your tomatoes.
Add more meat and spread the top of your bread with a generous layer of pesto.
Sandwich.
Now wrap in cling film as tightly as you can.
Pop them into the fridge with a chopping board and a few cans on top. It needs to be evenly pressing them without totally squishing them. The next morning they should be ready to unwrap and go into your lunchbox. Rip them open and use a bread knife to neaten up the edges, eating all the cut offs. Package them up, throw in some crisps, something naughty for pudding & you’re all set.
Prepare yourself for jealous stares and the possibility of fridge theft.
It’s not easy being this deliciously rugged in a world of soggy sandwiches.
