Spread the Love: 15 Creative Spreads for Sandwiches and Bread

Happy Valentine’s Day (a day early)! We hope you and your significant other have a wonderful day tomorrow celebrating your love for each other. And if you’re single, it never hurts to grab a friend and enjoy a night on the town together to celebrate your friendship instead!

Valentine’s Day Recipes

If you’re planning a romantic night in this year for the holiday, we’d like to remind you that we have a plethora of themed Valentine’s treats that you can make and enjoy at home:

Chocolate Chip Cannoli Bites	Valentine’s Burger	Chocolate-Hazelnut Strawberry French Toast
Heart-Shaped Eggs-in-a-Basket	Heart-Shaped Tea Sandwiches	Red Velvet French Toast

15 Creative Spreads, Part 2

As for this week’s blog, we’re spreading the love of the Valentine’s Day holiday with a second installment of creative spreads for sandwiches and more! In case you missed it, our first edition of Creative Sandwich Spreads features a list of 15 spreads, sauces, and condiments, including submarine dressing (one of our most popular recipes ever!), white bean garlic dip, and chipotle mayo.

So, if you’re looking for a way to upgrade your sandwich or learn to make your favorite spreads at home, keep reading for 15 ways to spread the love this Valentine’s Day!

1.      Butter Boards

We’re kicking off this list with the TikTok-famous spread that starting gaining fame at the end of 2022. Butter boards are traditionally made using a cutting board or platter spread with softened butter, flaky salt, and a mixture of sweet and/or savory ingredients, like red pepper flakes, honey, and roasted garlic.

Our version here is topped with crumbled bacon, roasted red pepper, scallions, fresh parsley, and garlic-infused olive oil. As an added bonus, we served this butter board as a trio of spreads, along with our next two items in the list!

Check it out: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/butter-board-trio.

2.      Hummus

Hummus is a Middle Eastern spread made from mashed chickpeas blended with tahini (sesame seed paste), lemon juice, and garlic. It is often served as a dip along with fresh veggies or pita bread, or as a spread or topping for other Middle Eastern or Mediterranean dishes.

We prepared our own homemade version of this dish using the four primary ingredients, plus a sprinkling of sea salt and cumin, a drizzle of olive oil, and a garnish of fresh parsley and roasted chickpeas. For dipping, we made homemade “pita chips” out of Martin’s Big Marty’s Rolls!

Give it a try: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/homemade-hummus.

Bonus: Turn this spread into a “hummus board” by spreading onto a platter and topping with olive oil, sunflower seeds, diced bell pepper, chopped black olives, black and white sesame seeds, roasted chickpeas, and a dash of paprika. (Check out our Butter Board Trio link above for the full recipe.)

3.      Peanut Butter

Who doesn’t love a nice helping of peanut butter now and then? This universal favorite can be a nostalgic childhood throwback and also a pre- or post-workout protein booster snack. Not only is peanut butter extremely easy to make, it is such a versatile food. It can be used in all sorts of sandwich recipes, like the classic PB&J, or as an ingredient in savory meals like Thai-style peanut sauce.

Whether you’re Team Creamy or Team Chunky, you can prepare your own homemade peanut butter in under 10 minutes with a single ingredient (peanuts!) and an option to sweeten or season with the addition of honey and/or salt. It’s that simple!

Try it for yourself: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/homemade-peanut-butter.

Bonus: Serve this as a “peanut butter board” by spreading onto a wooden cutting board and sprinkling with sweet toppings like granola, chopped strawberries, sliced banana, white chocolate shavings, mini chocolate chips, and a drizzle of honey. (Check out the Butter Board Trio recipe above to learn more.)

4.      Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing is widely popular with sauce lovers everywhere, but did you know it’s not difficult to make at home? All you need is mayo, sour cream, fresh herbs (chives, parsley, and dill), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Enjoy it on chicken, French fries, veggies, or in our recipe for Grilled Chicken and Homemade Ranch Burgers!

Get the recipe: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/grilled-chicken-and-homemade-ranch-burgers

5.      Bacon Jam

Bacon jam is a sweet, salty, savory spread made with…you guessed it—bacon! To prepare, chopped bacon and onions are sautéed over medium-low heat until caramelized, then mixed with butter, water, sugar, and other optional ingredients and cooked until reduced to a jammy consistency. The finished creation pairs well with foods like smash burgers and Grilled Cheese.

Learn how to make it: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/bacon-jam-grilled-cheese

6.      Pimento Cheese Spread

Pimento cheese is a southern-style spread made by combining shredded cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, diced pimento peppers, and your choice of seasonings. After a quick mix of the ingredients, it is delicious to serve as a spread alongside crackers, melted inside a grilled cheese sandwich, or as a topping for this Pimento Cheese Bacon Burger.

Serve it up at your next dinner party: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/pimento-cheese-bacon-burger

7.      Almond Butter

As with peanut butter, almond butter is simple to make with just one basic ingredient…almonds! Just by roasting the almonds and blending in a food processor with salt (optional), you can create a smooth and creamy spread that is a great source of fiber and heart-healthy fats. Try it out in recipes like this Protein Stuffed Almond Butter French Toast made with Martin’s 100% Whole Wheat Potato Bread!

Find the step by step instructions here: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/homemade-almond-butter

8.      Country Cinnamon Honey Butter

This sweet spiced butter, made with salted butter, cinnamon, sugar, honey, and vanilla, makes a decadent whipped spread that pairs wonderfully with Martin’s Sweet Dinner and Sweet Party Potato Rolls. Plus—you can also use this recipe as a sweet honey glaze by spreading atop the rolls and warming in the oven for 5 minutes.

Test out both options: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/country-cinnamon-honey-butter.

9.      Hollandaise Sauce

Hollandaise is one of the five French “mother” sauces that make up the basic foundation for countless others; they are often considered essential to learn when mastering various culinary techniques.

Here are the five Mother sauces and a few of their derivatives:

1. Hollandaise: An emulsion of clarified butter, egg yolks, and lemon juice. Try it atop Classic Eggs Benedict or Savory French Toast.
   1. Béarnaise: A “daughter” sauce of hollandaise made with egg yolk, butter, vinegar, and herbs. Try it with these Béarnaise-Glazed Dinner Rolls!
   2. Aioli: An emulsion of garlic and olive oil.
   3. Mayonnaise: An emulsion of oil, egg yolks, and vinegar.
2. Béchamel: A basic mixture of flour and butter (roux) plus milk. Pour it over grilled cheese to create a French-inspired Croque Monsieur.
   1. Mornay: Add gruyere or parmesan cheese to béchamel sauce to create the basis for mac and cheese or cheese fondue.
   2. Soubise: Béchamel sauce with butter and caramelized onions.
3. Velouté: A velvety sauce made with white stock (chicken, fish, or veal) thickened with roux (butter and flour). Use this sauce as the base for white gravy as in this recipe for a Hot Chicken Sandwich.
4. Espagnole: A basic brown sauce made of beef stock thickened with roux (butter and flour), along with mirepoix (a slow-cooked mixture of onions, carrots, and celery) and tomato purée. Try this technique as the starter for other similar sauces such as Mushroom Gravy.
5. Tomate: A sauce of tomatoes, onions, and garlic, and occasionally salt pork, sometimes thickened with roux. It is the basis for many other tomato-based sauces.

10.  Peach Jam

Fruit spreads are at the top of the list, right along with peanut butter, of everyone’s favorite topping for toast! Jams and jellies are also a great way to preserve your favorite fruits, like peaches and berries, to carry with you into the next season. Try our recipe for Homemade Peach Jam to serve on Martin’s Old-Fashioned Real Butter Bread!

Follow these step by step instructions: https://potatorolls.com/blog/how-to-make-homemade-jam

11.  Pesto

If you’re looking to liven up a sandwich or entrée with fresh herbs and hint of citrus, there’s no better option than homemade pesto! This bright green paste, made from fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper, is a famous Italian sauce frequently served with pasta. Try it atop this Antipasto Sandwich of salami, prosciutto, artichoke, roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, and mozzarella cheese.

Get the recipe: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/antipasto-sandwich-with-homemade-pesto

12.  Horseradish Sauce

To add a hint of spice to roast beef dishes like prime rib and tenderloin, consider partnering them with a bold horseradish sauce—a creamy blend of mayonnaise (or sour cream), prepared horseradish, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. For another classic accompaniment, try a Baltimore-style Pit Beef Sandwich!

Prepare it here: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/baltimore-pit-beef-sandwich-with-horseradish-sauce.

13.  Tzatziki Sauce

This popular Greek sauce made from yogurt, cucumber, fresh dill, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper can be used as a dip for veggies and pita bread or as a sauce alongside various Mediterranean dishes. Use it to add a cool and refreshing twist to dishes like these Meatball Sliders or Greek Hot Dogs.

Taste it: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/greek-meatball-sliders-with-tzatziki-sauce.

14.  Goat Cheese Butter

Need a smooth and creamy pairing for an already flavorful sandwich? Look no further than this simple, two-ingredient spread made with whipped butter and fresh goat cheese; it makes a luscious and slightly tangy flavor pairing for rich umami dishes like this Marinated Steak & Mushroom Sandwich.

See it in action: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/marinated-steak-sandwich-with-goat-cheese-butter

15.  Homemade Mayo

Mayonnaise is one of the most popular condiments; it is used on everything from burgers to deli sandwiches, but it is also a base mixture for a number of other spreads and sauces including tartar sauce, “fry sauce,” ranch dressing, and mayo’s close cousin—aioli.

Learn how to make Homemade Mayo in our step-by-step blog post, or check out the list of common variations below.

1. Spicy Mayo
2. Wasabi Mayo
3. Sriracha Mayo
4. Lemon-Caper Mayo
5. Jalapeño Mayo
6. Lemon Browned Butter Aioli
7. Garlic Lemon Aioli
8. Basil Aioli

 
We hope you enjoyed this post!
 

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Related Blogs:

• https://potatorolls.com/blog/15-creative-sandwich-spreads/
• https://potatorolls.com/blog/14-ways-to-elevate-your-sandwich/
• https://potatorolls.com/blog/mayo-based-sauces

Sources:

• https://snippetsofparis.com/french-sauces/
• https://food52.com/blog/12209-the-five-mother-sauces-every-cook-should-know
• https://www.thespruceeats.com/mother-sauces-996119