Easy Homemade Sandwich Spread

This homemade sandwich spread recipe is tangy, creamy and crunchy, with all the retro delight of the original. Enjoy this traditional treat on a traditional or open sandwich, or use it as a dip.

Sandwich spread

It must have been years since I last had sandwich spread. It’s such a shame!

This British classic of a mid 20th century teatime staple is delicious and brings back so many happy childhood memories of summer holidays and picnics at the beach!

The original jarred version has a fantastic blend of creaminess, a good tang and of course some crunch from the vegetables. Spread on white bread, it was the taste of childhood for many of us.

This homemade sandwich spread is every bit as good and comes with all the usual benefits of making your own.

It’s fresher, you can adjust it to your own taste and there are no ingredients that make you ask ‘what’s that?’. It also perfect for ex-pats who want an affordable taste of home.   

I love this recipe, which has exactly the right balance of tang and crunch, thanks to my two secret ingredients! 

Why make sandwich spread? 

• It is easy and delicious
• Recreating a classic gives a huge sense of achievement
• Homemade is healthier than store bought
• It is packed with fresh and pickled vegetables
• It is adaptable

Homemade sandwich spread ingredients 

To make this you will need:- 

• Mayonnaise – Choose your favourite. I always get a full fat version. 
• English mustard – You can’t taste this, but it adds something that you would miss otherwise. If you don’t have English mustard, add twice the quantity of any smooth mild mustard. 
• Salad cream – From a bottle is convenient but you can also use homemade salad cream. 
• Vegetables & pickles – You can vary these. I consider the celery, carrot and gherkins essential, and the others optional. Pick from the list below, aiming for a good variety of flavours and colour. You want fresh, firm, crunchy veggies, and nothing too watery.  
  • carrots
  • bell peppers (I used red for the colour but any would do)
  • spring onions (scallions) or chives
  • capers
  • radishes
  • kohlrabi
  • asparagus 
  • crunchy apple 
  • green beans
• Vinegar from the pickle jar – like the mustard, this is something of a ‘secret ingredient’. You won’t necessarily recognise that flavour but it makes a big difference.

Homemade sandwich spread recipe – step by step 

Grab the ingredients.  

Step one – Put the mayonnaise, salad cream and mustard into a medium mixing bowl, along with 2 teaspoons of vinegar from the jar of gherkins or pickles. Mix well. 

Step two – Prepare the vegetables. Peel, cut into thin batons and then dice them as small as you can.   

Fuss Free Tip

You need about twice the volume of chopped vegetables to dressing. 

Step three – Throw the vegetables into the dressing, season with salt and pepper, and then mix well. 

Step four – Decant into a jar with a good seal. Then store in the fridge and use within 3 days. Like many recipes, this tastes far better if you leave it for an hour or so before serving. 

To really feel like a domestic goddess serve on homemade bread (try my soft and fluffy yogurt bread, or my no yeast bread) thickly spread with homemade butter!  

Or serve as a dip with homemade tortilla chips, crudities or melba toast. or even alongside a classic British Ploughman’s Lunch!

Sandwich Spread – hints, tips & FAQs

How long does sandwich spread keep? 

Up to three days in a sealed jar in the fridge. 

The spread will get a bit thinner after a day or so as the water comes out of the vegetables.  

How can I change the flavour? 

You can mix up the vegetables to suit what you have available and to take account of personal preferences. I think that the celery, gherkins and carrot are essential, but beyond that you can mix it up and even add some crunchy fruit! Just don’t use watery salad vegetables like cucumber or tomatoes. 

For an upmarket variation, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat, and/or a generous amount of chopped fresh herbs. Parsley, dill or coriander (cilantro) would all be delicious.  

More dips & sandwich fillings

• Whipped feta dip 
• Hot cheese dip
• Burger sauce
• Nandos Peri Peri sauce