This is a recipe I’d first done in the classroom with my high school students; quick enough to still do some notes/take a quiz, and the way I figured a much more practical lesson for their immediate future than an Alfredo sauce or some such. Since then this has become a lunch/snack/light dinner option that I make for the fam all the time.
We had this Monday night for dinner and to round out nutrition and fill us up, I also put out a hummus plate (sliced, salted cucumber, cherry tomatoes, carrots and hummus) and a bowl of almonds and dried cranberries. We snacked to our hearts’ content and I felt great afterwards – like I’d gotten to enjoy so many different flavors and textures but my digestion would be just as happy about my meal as my mouth had been.
When we made this in the classroom I took the time to explain that peanuts are legumes and when legumes and whole wheat are eaten together they form a complete protein. Along with the hummus and the almonds, I knew we’d gotten enough protein, plus a great amount of whole grains, fruits and veggies. Something about the saltiness of the grilled bread and it’s interaction with the sweet honey – plus the honey melts which makes the sandwich gooey in the BEST WAY.
The big food trend now is “use the best quality ingredients and let them speak for themselvesâ€. That’s the epitome of this sandwich – just five ingredients. The flavors complement each other in a way that you can only appreciate once you’ve made it for yourself. Often, simple is way better!
Grilled PB, Banana, and Honey Sandwiches
Makes 4
8 slices whole wheat bread – ideally Ezekiel brand
Enough peanut butter to coat each slice of bread
Enough bananas, sliced, to layer on 4 slices
Enough honey to drizzle over 4 slices
1 tbsp. butter
1. Lay out bread and spread peanut butter on one side of each slice.
2. Shingle sliced bananas on four of the slices.
3. Drizzle honey over bananas (about 1 1/2 tsp. per sandwich). Top each four banana slices with a peanut butter slice, creating four sandwiches.
4. Heat griddle on large skillet over medium heat. Add butter and spread as it melts.
5. Place sandwiches on griddle and cook until golden brown. Flip and cook until golden brown. Plate, slice and serve.
