9 Sandwich Variations, Just 2-Ingredients

The sandwich is the ultimate exercise in edible gestalt: Great vegetables, cheeses, meats, and breads make, in the aggregate, something so much more wonderful than any one ingredient alone. While there's a time and a place for ten-ingredient <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/The-Dagwood/">Dagwoods</a> and double-decker <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/recipes/bel-air-club-sandwich/">club sandwiches</a>, there's a particular magic to be found in the very simplest sandwiches. These nine sandwich variations call for just two ingredients each (plus bread, of course, and the occasional grind of pepper); they are, in our opinion, the very pinnacle of lunchtime perfection. (Helen Rosner/)
Sweet, juicy heirloom tomatoes and slices of just-ripe avocado work in perfect harmony no matter what you serve them on, but a slice of seven-grain bread adds a perfect amount of texture and crunch. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Tomato-and-Avocado-Sandwich/">Tomato and Avocado Sandwich</a> (Helen Rosner/)
The New York City restaurant Penelope serves a cult-favorite sandwich called the John Oliver: fresh goat cheese and a generous serving of kalamata olive tapenade together on (yes, really) toasted cranberry walnut bread. It's an uncanny pairing: sweet, nutty, briny, and creamy all at once. Get the recipe for <a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Goat-Cheese-Olive-Tapenade-Sandwich">Goat Cheese and Olive Tapenade Sandwich</a> (Helen Rosner/)
A dollop of ricotta on earthy-sweet oat bread is delicious; add a drizzle of sourwood honey and it's elevated to the exquisite. (For a bit of sophisticated heat, top with a sprinkle of freshly-crushed red pepper flakes.) Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Ricotta-and-Honey-Sandwich">Ricotta and Honey Sandwich</a> (Helen Rosner/)
It's tres French to pair crisp, spicy radishes with softened, salted butter; a thin-sliced baguette is the perfect vehicle. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Radish-and-Butter-Sandwich/">Radish and Butter Sandwich</a> (Helen Rosner/)
Bring out peanut butter's savory side by topping it with a few strips of smoky bacon—cooked extra-crisp to hold up against sogginess. On hearty whole-wheat bread, it's the kind of sandwich you may not be able to wait until lunchtime to eat. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Peanut-Butter-and-Bacon-Sandwich/">Peanut Butter and Bacon Sandwich</a> (Helen Rosner/)
Ham and eggs may be a breakfast classic, but they're even better for lunch: try sliced or quartered hard-boiled eggs layered with a salty ham and a bit of mayo on a hearty white bread. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Ham-and-Egg-Sandwich/">Ham and Hard-Boiled Egg Sandwich</a> (Helen Rosner/)
It's autumn on a slice of bread: sourdough spread with rich <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/recipes/bouchon-apple-butter">apple butter</a>, topped with slices of mild smoked gouda and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Smoked-Gouda-and-Apple-Butter-Sandwich/">Smoked Gouda and Apple Butter Sandwich</a> (Helen Rosner/)
There's no reason this tried-and-true combination needs to be limited to tea time. Make three or four of these paper-thin preparations of white bread topped with tangy, softened cream cheese and crisp cucumber slices, and call it a lunch. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cucumber-and-Cream-Cheese-Sandwiches/">Cucumbers and Cream Cheese</a> (Helen Rosner/)
Dense rye bread is the perfect base for a generous smear of not-too-spicy whole-grain mustard topped with thin slices of a sharp cheddar. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cheddar-Cheese-Sandwich/">Sharp Cheddar Sandwich</a> (Helen Rosner/)