Quick Recipe: German Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Grilled Sandwich

German Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Grilled Sandwich

Smoked ham and cheese! Ingredients that were meant to be together. And when you introduce a quality German ham and layers of Swiss cheese, lightly grilled, you have the perfect toasted sandwich. 

When I think of a German smoked ham, my thoughts immediately turn to my favourite Black Forest ham which I have used in this sandwich. Black Forest ham is smoked over pine or fir and the whole process can take up to three months. It is a moist ham which gets much of it's distinct flavour from the type of wood used in the smoking process. Another type of German ham to consider, that is cured and smoked, is Bavarian ham which is a little bit sweeter than Black Forest. 

You can of course use any ham in this traditional sandwich, whichever is your personal favourite, but with layers of Swiss cheese such as Emmental, a good German ham is a great combination.  

What you will need for the perfect German Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Grilled Sandwich

My preference for any pan-fried sandwich is always for thick sliced bread. White sliced, or a 50/50 white/wholemeal combination always works well, but for this sandwich I have chosen a thick sliced white bloomer for that rustic taste and texture.

Three slices of Emmental cheese provide the perfect accompaniment to a good German smoked ham. The Emmental adds a mild, almost nutty flavour and will not overpower the star of the sandwich which is the ham. To keep things simple, I buy my Emmental ready sliced, and often have a part opened pack in my fridge. As a tip, once opened, keep the remainder in a ziplock bag with surplus air expelled. It lasts for ages! 

As mentioned, my favourite German ham is Black Forest ham which I have chosen for this sandwich. Black Forest ham is smoked over pine or fir for up to three months, getting it's distinct flavour from the type of wood used in the smoking process. Again, be generous with the ham, using a thick slice or several thinner slices for a succulant sandwich.

Making the perfect German Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Grilled Sandwich

Turn on the snack maker with the grill / panini plates fitted. The ease of using the grill plates is that the sandwich can be pre-assembled and the whole thing lifted into place onto the pre-heated bottom plate.  With this sandwich I prefer it to be lightly grilled and not compressed, so I only use the bottom plate to cook and turn the sandwich over halfway through.

While the appliance is heating up, gather the ingredients together and generously butter one side of each of the 2 slices of bread. These will be the sides that come into contact with the bottom hotplate, and help to achieve the beautiful golden grill lines on the outer surfaces of the bread during the cooking process. (You could lightly spray or spread on a good quality oil if you prefer).

To start assembling your sandwich, turn one slice over so that the buttered side is face down, and cover the dry side with up to three slices of Emmental cheese. Then take the smoked ham and carefully fold two slices (or one thick slice) to cover the Emmental as much as possible. 

Place the top slice on top to complete the sandwich with the buttered side uppermost.

With your sandwich now assembled, once the appliance is up to temperature, carefully place the completed sandwich onto the bottom grill plate (taking great care as this is very hot and will sizzle noticeably upon contact).  

Cook for 2 to 3 minutes with the sandwich maker open so that only the bottom plate is in contact with the buttered bread, then turn over and cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes. The length of time spent cooking each side is dependent on how browned / grilled you prefer your sandwich, but a suggestion is to cook just until the cheese starts to melt, ensuring the heat is at the centre of your sandwich. 

Once your grilled sandwich is ready, switch off the appliance at the socket. NEVER lift your finished sandwich out with your fingers as the plates will still be extremely hot! Always use wood or plastic tools to loosen and lift away your sandwich, which usually comes away from the non-stick surface easily. Allow to cool for at least one minute before cutting and serving as the cheese will be extremely hot.

The Recipe

German Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Grilled Sandwich

EQUIPMENT

• 3-in-1 snack maker with grill / panini plates

PREPARATION TIME : 4 minutes

COOKING TIME : 4 to 6 minutes (approx.)

SERVINGS : 1

INGREDIENTS

• 2 slices of thick white bloomer
• 8g butter or similar
• 2 slices (50g approx.) smoked ham or similar
• 3 slices of Emmental cheese (60g approx.)

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Turn on the sandwich maker
2. While the appliance is heating up gather the ingredients together
3. Butter one side of each of the 2 slices of bread
4. Turn one slice over (buttered side down) and cover with three slices of Emmental cheese
5. Cover the Emmental with the 2 slices of smoked ham folded to cover the whole area
6. Place the remaing slice of bread on top with the buttered side uppermost
7. Carefully place the completed sandwich onto the bottom grill plate
8. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes without closing (using the hot bottom plate only)
9. Turn over and cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes or until golden with the cheese melting to your satisfaction

Or you could try...

If you prefer to add another layer of flavour to your sandwich, why not try spreading a teaspoon of American mustard (the mild type you would use in hot dogs, etc.) on to the inner surface of the top slice.  However, do not over use, as a strong mustard can overpower the filling.

Perfect with...

The German Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Grilled Sandwich is perfect on it's own as a snack at any time of the day, or whenever the fancy takes you.

Or simply add some fresh baby salad leaves with a light dressing, to create a quick and tasty lunch.

How does your sandwich maker compare?

For most of the recipes shared here I use my trusty Tower Deep Fill 3-in-1 Sandwich Maker, so obviously you may need to adjust your ingredients slightly if you are using a different appliance. Having said that, most sandwich makers are very similar in design and size, and the amount of each filling is a guide only and you can increase or decrease, add or subtract, according to your personal taste.

Never be afraid to experiment, and remember you won't always get the perfect result first time, so if at first you don't succeed try, try and try again. It's great fun!