An Irish Toasted Special calls for simple ingredients yet is incredibly delicious! In my version of this classic pub sandwich; fried ham, thinly sliced tomatoes, red onion and melty Irish cheddar is stacked between skillet-toasted bread. Yields 1 sandwich but can easily be doubled to serve more.
Last year I stumbled upon a video of a women making a toasted Irish special and couldn’t get it out of my mind. And even though the ingredients are pretty common, the sandwich as a whole is unbelievably delicious.
What Is A Toasted Special?
From a quick internet search, I found that a toasted special is essentially a toasted sandwich with ham, cheese, onion and tomato. And is served in just about every pub in Ireland.
Thinly slice onion and tomato, melty Irish cheddar and fried ham sandwiched between toasted bread – lunch doesn’t get much better than that.
To Make This Irish Toasted Special You will Need:
- ham – Use deli, baked or smoked.
- bread – I use white sandwich bread, however use what you like.
- butter – Adds delicious flavor.
- mayonnaise – Lends moisture and flavor.
- sliced tomato – Thinly sliced.
- kosher salt – Enhances the flavor in the tomatoes and sandwich.
- freshly ground black pepper – This will add some subtle bite and flavor.
- Onion – Red, yellow or white onion will work.
One thing I like to do is fry the ham. Not sure how “traditional” this is but I love fried ham, bacon etc. Lightly spray a medium skillet with ghee oil or avocado oil spray and heat on medium. Once hot, cook the ham until golden in spots on both sides. Remove and wipe out the skillet with paper towel or kitchen towel.
While the ham is frying, grab 2 slices of bread. I’m using a white bread but honestly, use what you have – sourdough, whole grain etc. Spread one slice with 1-1/2 teaspoons salted butter.
Spread the other slice with about 2 teaspoons mayonnaise.
Top the buttered side with sliced tomato and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Lastly top with Irish cheddar.
Top the mayo covered slice with the fried ham.
Then add the thinly sliced red onion and more sliced Irish cheddar.
Place in a lightly greased skillet over medium-low heat.
Cover and cook until the bread is golden brown underneath and the cheese has melted.
Once melted, put the two sandwich halves together.
I’m mean it doesn’t look like much. HOWEVER….
It’s so dang delicious.
I like to serve this with salt and pepper potatoes chips.
Enjoy! And if you give this recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Irish Toasted Special
Ingredients
- 2 slices sliced ham, deli, baked or smoked
- ghee oil spray, or avocado oil spray
- 2 slices bread
- 1½ teaspoons butter, or as desired
- 4 thin slices tomato
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 ounces Irish cheddar cheese, I use Kerrygold
- 2 teaspoons mayonnaise, or as desired
- 2 to 4 thin slices onion
Instructions
- Lightly spray a medium skillet with ghee oil or avocado oil spray and heat on medium. Once hot, cook the ham until golden in spots on both sides. Remove and wipe out the skillet with paper towel or kitchen towel.
Slice 1:
- Spread a little butter on the first slice and top with thinly sliced tomato, salt and pepper and a few slices of Irish cheddar.
Slice 2:
- Spread a little mayo on the second slice and top with the fried ham, thinly sliced onions and the remaining Irish cheddar.
- Lightly spray the medium skillet again with ghee oil or avocado oil spray (or use butter here) and heat on medium-low.
- Place the sandwich halves in the skillet, cover and cook until the bread is golden brown underneath and the cheese has melted.
- Put the two halves together, cut in half. and enjoy!
Notes
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Ok, now I want lunch. This looks so good. Going to try this. I made your greek yogurt blue cheese dressing this weekend and it is delicious!