Figs, gorgonzola, and walnuts create an easy and quick idea for a tasty snack or a light lunch.
The Sandwiches with Gorgonzola mousse, walnuts, and figs and crunchy pears are sandwiches that take advantage of the winning combination of the strong and decisive flavor of gorgonzola with the sweetness of figs, further enriched with the addition of walnuts, all spread on toasted bread slices.
A snack or a quick lunch that can be made in a few minutes, without the use of an oven or stove (except for toasting the bread, which is optional).
Perfect for a buffet or as appetizers, they are a classic favorite, small sandwiches cut into wedges or cubes … one leads to another.
The Sandwich is nothing but the Anglo-Saxon version of Italian sandwiches, and although they are now considered a symbol of modernity, they actually have an ancient history.
Even the first ‘sandwich’ we know of dates back to the 1st century BC and was, coincidentally, filled with walnuts, figs, and cheese, up until more recent times in 1762 when the Earl of Sandwich, during a card game, had his butler prepare a slice of bread with roast meat inside to avoid interrupting the game.
If Sandwiches have been so successful for so many years, there must be a reason… sure, they are delicious, tasty, and versatile because everyone can fill them as they please, they are quick to prepare, and practically everyone likes them.
At the end of the recipe, you will find other FILLING VARIANTS: SALMON SANDWICH, VEGETARIAN SANDWICH, TUNA AND LETTUCE SANDWICH, and COOKED HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH.
For other delicious recipes based on TOAST or SLICED BREAD, here are some suggestions
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 518.55 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 49.66 (g) of which sugars 11.64 (g)
- Proteins 19.07 (g)
- Fat 27.09 (g) of which saturated 8.21 (g)of which unsaturated 6.20 (g)
- Fibers 4.55 (g)
- Sodium 661.60 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread
- 5.3 oz gorgonzola (spicy or sweet)
- 3.5 oz ricotta
- 2.8 oz walnuts (+ a few halves for decoration)
- 4 figs (ripe)
Tools
- Bowl
- Pan
Steps
Place the Gorgonzola with the ricotta in a bowl and work it with a spatula until it becomes creamy.
Add the chopped walnuts and mix.
Take the slices of bread and toast them lightly in the oven, on a grill, or in a non-stick pan, then fill them with the Gorgonzola and walnut cream.
Place the figs cut into thin wedges on each slice.
Close the Gorgonzola, Figs, and Walnuts Sandwiches with the other slice of bread.
Let them rest in the fridge for half an hour to let the flavors meld.
When serving, cut the bread slices in half diagonally. Optionally, you can decorate the top with a dollop of Gorgonzola mousse and a few walnut halves.
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NOTES
BREAD You can use sandwich bread, either white or whole wheat, or substitute it with sliced bread by removing the crust. It is not necessary to toast the bread before filling it, but doing so will allow you to appreciate the contrast between the crunchy bread and the soft and creamy filling.
GORGONZOLA For the Gorgonzola Figs and Walnuts Sandwich recipe, I used spicy Gorgonzola, but sweet Gorgonzola is also fine.
RICOTTA Instead of ricotta, you can substitute cooking cream which will make the Gorgonzola mousse creamier, though more caloric. In this case, I recommend mixing it with the Gorgonzola using a hand or electric whisk.
VARIANTS
VEGETARIAN SANDWICH
Spread mayonnaise on two slices of bread, place lettuce leaves on top, add sliced tomato, sliced mozzarella, and sliced boiled egg, and cover with the other slice of bread.
SALMON SANDWICH
Spread mayonnaise on two slices of bread, add smoked salmon on one, then lettuce and sliced tomato, finally add sliced boiled egg. Cover with the other slice of bread and press gently.
HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH
Spread mayonnaise on two slices of bread, place in order: sliced ham, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, more ham, finally sliced Edam cheese. Cover with the other slice of bread and let rest in the fridge for 30 minutes to enhance the flavors.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What’s the difference between a Tramezzino and a Sandwich?
None. The term tramezzino was coined by Gabriele D’Annunzio, who created it to replace the English word sandwich. It is the diminutive of tramezzo, meaning a moment halfway between breakfast and lunch, when one eats a snack such as a tramezzino.
Why is the sandwich called that?
The Sandwich is named after the Earl of Sandwich, the man who asked his servant during a card game to put some roast meat between two slices of bread so he could continue playing without interruption.
How to prevent sandwiches from getting hard?
If you’ve used non-toasted bread, to prevent your sandwiches from drying out or becoming hard, I recommend storing them wrapped in slightly damp paper towels and leaving them in the fridge until a few minutes before consuming them. Of course, this doesn’t apply if you’ve toasted the bread.
