- What comes to mind when you think of a “Mississippi sandwich”?
No other comfort food is as simple, hearty or iconic as the sandwich. Delicious bread, spread with mayonnaise or a secret sauce and with practically any filling your heart desires.
When I think of a sandwich that is just like that… Mississippi…these are the ones that come to mind.
Smokes
Smokes – hot if you dare – are slider sandwiches made from the innards of these bright red sausages, cooked to perfection on a flat plate. The only true smokes can be found at the Big Apple Inn in Jackson. For over 80 years, the Farish Street eatery has served smokes either plain, mild or hot, along with a generous helping of homemade hot sauce. If you go for the hot option, your mouth will burn in the most delicious way.
I’m not just a fan of the Big Apple Inn because I love the cigarettes. The place has a great reputation and, frankly, something of a cult following. The Big Apple Inn has been featured on the Food Network, CNN, and even ESPN Game Day.
Even Anthony Bourdain visited.
Sandwich with fried green tomatoes
Fried green tomatoes work well as a standalone dish. In restaurants, fried green tomatoes are often served as an appetizer.
But the fried green tomato sandwich is a flawless tribute to this southern delicacy. Breaded and fried until crispy, what could make the already perfectly fried green tomatoes better than adding more fat and carbs?
The FGT and Praline BLT is a delicious twist on the fried green tomato sandwich. The bacon is candied and fried and has a delicious sweetness that balances out the tart taste of the green tomatoes. Shredded lettuce adds even more crunch to this sandwich. This amazing sandwich is only available at Georgia Blue locations in Flowood, Madison, Brookhaven, Starkville and Southaven.
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Tender, juicy pulled pork alone is enough to make your eyes roll. But on a delicious bun with special sauce? The pulled pork sandwich is a slice (or piece?) of heaven.
Look no further than The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, for a pulled pork sandwich that will blow your mind. People usually describe The Shed’s barbecue as delicious and tasty, or they silently voice their approval while inhaling even more pulled pork.
But don’t just take the word of its fans – The Shed is a three-time champion of the World Championship Barbeque Cooking Contest – the largest pork barbecue competition in the world.
Sandwich with fried Bologna beans
When I was a kid, a fried mortadella sandwich was a staple of summer lunches. My job was to remove the red rind from each slice of mortadella, and my stepfather’s job was to pan-fry them until they were almost black before we spread mustard on them and slapped them on plain white bread.
But I’m an adult now and my tastes have evolved. These days, the mortadella sandwich at SweetPea’s Table in Olive Branch is more suited to my evolved palate. The mortadella is breaded and fried or grilled to perfection. You can choose the variation: the traditional topping of lettuce, mayonnaise and tomatoes or a barbecue feel with coleslaw and barbecue sauce.
Egg and olive sandwich
Cold, creamy and full of flavour… the egg and olive sandwich will remind you of family gatherings at grandma’s. It’s another one of those sandwiches that is so simple: salty olives, boiled eggs and mayo. There’s not much to it, but it’s just right. And it makes a great tea sandwich for parties.
Egg and olive sandwiches have been a menu item at historic Brent’s Drugs in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood for ages. This classic sandwich, made from Fish’s original recipe, is served with another simple culinary masterpiece – the potato chip.
To get the full Brent’s Drugs Egg and Olive experience, order it like Skeeter, played by Emma Stone in the film adaptation of The helpwhich was filmed in the diner and in Mississippi. Egg and olive on rye bread, with a Coke float.
Bonus: Elvis’ fried peanut butter and banana sandwich
The King of Rock and Roll was from Tupelo, Mississippi. He was known for his charm, good looks, acting talent and incredible voice. His gyrating hips made girls go crazy while others clutched their pearls at the behavior.
But despite all these advantages, Elvis Presley also went down in history with his favorite snack: a sandwich with fried peanut butter and banana.
While there are certainly restaurants that serve this unique sandwich or a variation of it, you’ll need to make it at home to get the full effect.
Here is the recipe from the cookbook Are you hungry tonight? Elvis’ favorite recipes by Brenda Butler:
- Two slices of white bread
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Banana slices
- butter
First, toast the bread, then spread each slice with a neat dollop of creamy peanut butter. Top the peanut butter with banana slices. Put the sandwich together and spread butter on the outside. Throw it in a skillet (with more butter) and fry until the center is warm and gooey.
Some variations of this sandwich contain bacon. It is said that the king himself liked this sandwich deep-fried. The sandwich had to float, otherwise there would not be enough butter.
What do you think? What is your favorite Mississippi sandwich?
