Do you love sandwiches? Lord Montague, the 4th Earl of Sandwich did — that's why he invented them! The story goes, he didn't want to bust up a rocking poker game to eat supper. He told the servants to slap a hunk of whatever meat there was between two slices of bread. But what about those with gluten allergies? Less was known then about wheat allergy, diabetes, or obesity (all by-products of a carb addiction). So how about some recipe hacks for breadless sandwiches, for weight loss, paleo, or gluten-free diets. We'll see your bread and raise you one better, Lord Montague!
Why eat low-carb, breadless foods?
What's your favorite sandwich recipes -- the humble hoagie, super sub, mile-high Dagwood? What about a panini (Buono!) or that not-so-poor New Orleans po'boy? They're all delicious but also loaded with calories, starch, sugar, saturated fat, and other fat-adding stuff. And that's down in large part to bread. Those with Hashimoto or Celiac disease cannot digest carbs. The paleo diet cuts carbs for weight loss and better health. Going carb-free might not be healthy but breaking the bread dependence certainly is.
Low-carb recipes from celebrity TV docs
Dr. Now of TLC's "My 600-lb Life" performs bariatric surgery on folks who are food addicts and primarily, carb-aholics.
His gastric bypass surgery diet trades bad carbs (high fructose corn syrup, white bread, etc.) for healthier carbohydrates like whole grains, oats, flax, and oatmeal. If you must eat traditional bread sandwiches, use flaxseed wraps like Joseph's, Flatout, or Aldi Fit & Active. Ezekiel & Udi's make good gluten-free breads.
Inside out sandwiches
As the Earl of Sandwich reinvented dinner, why not turn sandwiches inside out? Or go breadless and fill sliced cheese or lunchmeat (low-fat, low sodium, nitrate-free, please) with toppings. The best wraps, though, are lettuce leaves. Rinse and pat dry large romaine or leaf lettuce leaves or spinach. Fill with favorite sandwich fillings.
Stuff large mushrooms for open faced sandwiches. Be sure to load up on the vegetables. Slice cucumbers thin for "breadless" sandwiches.
Stuffed veggie 'sandwiches'
Authentic burritos are made not with tortillas but cabbage leaves, as is Polish galumpkis. These make great paleo recipes. For galumpkis, cook ground beef or chicken, tomatoes, garlic, celery, carrot, onions, pepper, salt, and paprika. Burrito filling is cooked chicken or beef, tomatoes, onions, peppers, cumin, oregano, celery salt, and cilantro. Top with low-fat cheese or omit. Skip the traditional rice add-in or replace with TVP (textured vegetable protein), walnuts, or Portabella mushrooms. Fill large, washed cabbage leaves with stuffing and fold into rolls.
Bake in a light gravy of tomato sauce.
Vegan and vegetarian sandwich fillings
Skip the meat and try these vegan and vegetarian protein alternatives: sliced avocado, tempeh, tuna, salmon, beans, chia and pumpkin seeds, walnuts and almonds, Mozzarella, feta, and Parmesan cheese. Fill with tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, kale, basil, onions, scallions, sprouts, sage leaves, shredded carrots, mushrooms, green or other colored peppers, broccoli, pea pods, and zucchini.
Lowfat, low sugar, low sodium sandwich condiments
Top low carb sandwiches with low sodium, low-fat condiments like light mayonnaise, hot sauce, stone ground brown mustard, horseradish, wasabi, light raspberry vinaigrette dressing, and Maple Grove Farms or Bolthouse Farms Greek Yogurt dressings.
Here's the coup de grace sandwich: shaved light turkey breast, sliced zucchini, and avocado, onions, feta, spinach, tomatoes, orange and red peppers, carrots, Bolthouse Farms Caesar or Mango Chipotle dressing, and Maple Grove Farms Fat-Free Raspberry Vinaigrette.
