When visiting France, I often have a hard time finding food that I will eat, given I don’t like seafood, beef, and many key pieces of a French entree.
Quite often, lunch is my saving grace in France – and more specifically, the jambon buerre (ham + butter) sandwich.
A ham and butter sandwich may sound ordinary and a bit boring, not French at all. But the French have this incredible way of taking something simple and ordinary, adding a little something extra to elevate the taste and whole experience. I can still picture myself sitting in the PAUL bakery and cafe in Paris, digging into my first jambon buerre sandwich, thinking it was a culinary masterpiece. You might be thinking, was the sandwich really that good or was I just starving? Hmm….maybe it was a little of both.
The jambon buerre is a French classic and one of the most popular French sandwiches (in line with the croque monsieur and madame). But why is this simple sandwich so popular? It all comes down to ingredients.
American Ham Sandwich vs. French Jambon Buerre
A standard ham sandwich in the U.S. might include:
- A few slices of processed deli meat
- Processed cheese
- Mayo or mustard depending on preference
- Plain, pre-sliced white bread from a package
In France, the jambon buerre sandwich often includes:
- Ham freshly carved from the bone or other high-quality ham
- Freshly sliced cheese (as requested)
- Higher fat, High-quality butter
- Fresh baguette
Notice the theme? While American sandwiches have come a long, long way, since my childhood lunches, processed ingredients are still widely used.
On the contrary, the French will use fresh ingredients whenever possible, which automatically elevates any dish, including a simple sandwich. Even beyond the use of fresh ingredients, the French take the ham sandwich to a whole new level by adding high-quality butter on a crusty baguette. If you’re used to American ham sandwiches, having an authentic jambon buerre sandwich in France could be life-changing. My husband and I first traveled to France 10 years ago and he still talks about jambon buerre sandwiches.
And the best part about these sandwiches? You don’t have to be French or in France to enjoy them! With fresh, high-quality ingredients from your local market, you can level up your sandwich and enjoy this French fave right in your own home. Add a few cornichons, a little rosé and some French jazz, and it’s basically like you’re in a Paris cafe…well, maybe not, but it’s a start.
Ciao!
Jennifer
