100% colorful | These cute sandwiches to bite into

Rarely do we associate sandwiches with desserts. But the Japanese dared to do it, and we thank them because they bequeathed the fruit sando to us. We explain how to successfully cook this light dessert with which you will impress at your next picnic!

Two slices of bread, whipped cream, a little sugar and fruit: that’s all you need to make fruit sandos, those colorful Japanese sandwiches that look like a dessert. Without forgetting a little dexterity to place the fruits in just the right place, in order to achieve the visual effect that makes them cute to bite into.

In any case, to try it is to adopt it, according to Christina Potvin and Quy Tâm Vo, couple behind the popular blog Hop dans le wok!, which reproduces all kinds of Asian recipes. “It’s really good,” says Christina straight away. “It’s very refreshing too,” adds Quy Tâm.

“Sando” is simply the Japanese word for sandwich, we are told. That’s why we see eggs (tamago sando), or breaded pork (katsu sando), to name a few. The one that interests us, however, is distinguished by its sweet side. “People find it a little weird, because normally it’s more salad and cold meats that we put in a sandwich. But it works really well with fruit,” assures Christina.

While strawberries are often the star of these desserts—because they taste like a shortcake—don’t hesitate to experiment with other rainbow-colored fruits. We often see, for example, mango and kiwi. “I find that it works very well with fruits that are crunchy, but a little soft at the same time”, sums up Christina. The main thing is to blot them well so that there is no liquid flowing into the whipped cream.

The whipping cream, precisely, will be whipped into peaks with a little sugar. As for the bread, we are suggested to use a Japanese milk bread (shokupan), a little sweet with its brioche side, which can be found in Asian grocery stores. But it is important not to break your head with this aspect, because any white bread – square, preferably – will do, slice the duo.

The secret is in the cup

If these sandos are so attractive, it is largely because of their particular look. “We eat with our eyes too,” says Quy Tâm, who suggests arranging the fruit diagonally in the middle of the sandwich so that the cut shows them in their best light. Since they have to be left to rest in the fridge for about an hour before cutting them and eating them, he suggests drawing a line with a pencil on the plastic packaging to remember the meaning of the fruit.

Finally, these sandos will be even better the next day, says the couple, parents of two young children. “The same day is super good, but the next day it’s better,” says Christina. “The ingredients have had time to mix and the fruits give the flavor to the whipped cream,” adds Quy Tâm.

Last detail, and not the least: do not forget to remove the crusts. “It’s not just for the look, it’s also for the taste”, concludes Christina.

fruit sandwich

(Recipe from Hop in the wok!)

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Rest time: 1 hour
Servings: 2 sandwiches

Ingredients

• 200ml 35% whipping cream
• 30g of sugar
• 4 slices of white bread
• 250g medium strawberries
• Other possible fruits: kiwi, orange, mango

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, combine the cream and sugar. Whisk using an electric mixer at maximum power. The whipped cream should be stiff and form stiff peaks, but be careful not to whip too long, it will make butter. Leave the whipped cream to rest for 20 minutes in the refrigerator.
2. Prepare the fruit. Wash and hull strawberries. For the kiwis, peel them and cut both ends. For the oranges, peel and separate each quarter. The skin from each of the quarters must be removed. For the mango, peel and cut into quarters.
3. Pat dry all the fruit so that there is not too much moisture.
4. Spread 2 slices of bread with whipped cream. Place the fruit starting with the center part. The sandwich will be cut diagonally in the center, so place the fruit in such a way as to give a nice look. Alternate colors as needed and choose fruit of about the same thickness.
5. Add a little whipped cream on top of the fruit, just enough to fill in the holes. Place the second slice of bread on the fruit. Do not lose sight of the meaning of fruit.
6. Wrap the sandwich tightly in plastic wrap. Make a line with a pencil on the plastic indicating the direction to be cut.
7. Repeat the 3 previous steps for 2^e sando. Then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
8. Unwrap the sandwiches then cut the crusts on all 4 sides. Clean the knife between each cut.
9. Cut the sandwich diagonally, in the direction of the fruit placed in the center, then serve!

Note: the sandwiches will keep for about 3 days in the refrigerator.