Serves: ~4-6
Cost: ~€7-12
Preparation time: ~30 minutes + ~18 hours
Calories: ~490 per slice if shared between 6
Boy oh boy, the sun is out, after what seems like weeks of grey skies and rain. Ok, maybe it hasn’t been that long but I’m finally starting to feel like I might actually get a bit of summer this year and you know what that means, right? Picnics… and lots of them. There’s something about eating food outside that just makes you feel good. Sure, sometimes you might spend half the time waving your arms around like a crazy person, trying to get the flies away from your food (oh, maybe that’s just me?) but it always seems that food just tastes better outside (unless you’re having a picnic on a highway or a landing strip or something). It’s kind of nice that the sun has chosen to start beaming through the clouds right now. I took next week off – not for anything in particular – I just like to be able to feel like I’ve been able to enjoy a few days of successive summertime and let’s face it: weekends don’t really cut it for that.
So, what do you need for a picnic? Maybe a blanket, perhaps a book? No, silly – forget all that stuff! The thing you need, the thing you absolutely must have is, of course, food, and not much can fit the bill of picnic food more perfectly than this. I’ve been meaning to make this sandwich for absolutely ages after seeing a write-up of it in The Guardian, an English paper, a couple of years ago. The sandwich has seen a surge of popularity online in recent years, thanks in part, no doubt, to that original article I saw and so if you’ve never had this, or heard of it, then my only question I guess would be: “where have you been for the last two years?” (out in the fresh air and not lurking on the internet evidently!). Seriously though – if you didn’t try this yet, you really should!
I saw a vegetarian version the other day, packed full of rocket, mozzarella and grilled tomatoes which looked awesome, but in its purest form, the shooter’s sandwich is basically a steak sandwich… a glorious, delicious steak sandwich – I guess it is at least. There’s no Wikipedia page for this curiosity so I can only go from what I have read in other places and apparently this is British in origin and dates back to Edwardian times, so there you go.
I messed up slightly in the end – the first layer of wrapping around the bread should be waxed paper, and then comes the foil. I put the foil on first and then the paper. You should, in theory be able to remove the foil and cut directly through the paper but ultimately, does it really matter? I think not, and my wrapping job was so horrendously ugly that there was no way I was going to be showing that in the photos! Additionally, some recipes advocate just leaving the sandwich out with the weights on top all night. I don’t think that’s ideal, especially in summer, so I left it weighted on the kitchen surface for about 2 or 3 hours before transferring to the refrigerator where I put a big tub filled with heavy vegetables on top of it
Now, I know what you might say – “hang on, that’s not five euros” – ok, ok, you caught me… this time I went over the budget a bit, but, firstly, this is going to serve at least four people. Secondly, steak can vary wildly in price depending on the cut and thirdly, you don’t even have to use steak. Stick in some sausage, lamb, pork, chicken, anything you like, so it doesn’t necessarily work out being that expensive at all. Make up one of these for your next picnic – satisfaction guaranteed! What do I like most about this though? Well, that’s obvious. No chance of getting complaints about flattened sandwiches as is usually the case when you’re trying to stuff enough sandwiches to feed a family into a bag. This one is “pre-squashed”.
Have a fantastically awesome end of the week everyone – I’ll be back around Sunday with something new for your viewing pleasure!
Shooter’s Sandwich
[learn_more caption=”Video Recipe” state=”open”]
Ingredients
- ~500-750g good Steak
- 250g Mushrooms
- 50g Butter
- ~6-7 Shallots
- ~3tbsps Dijon Mustard
- 2tbsps Olive Oil
- 1 loaf of “boule” style white Bread – small and round.
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Start off by peeling and finely chopping the onion. Finely chop the mushrooms and then melt the butter in a large pan with the oil. When hot, add in the onion and mushrooms and fry until browned and reduced in volume. Don’t be afraid about cooking it down too much – a bit of caramelisation in the flavours is never a bad thing.
- Once the onion and mushrooms are ready add a good dose of salt and pepper. You can also flavour it with something else – I added a dash of Port. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Cut away a “lid” from your loaf of bread. Scoop out as much of the white interior as you can, leaving a good-sized cavity inside. Save the insides for making into breadcrumbs later.
- Heat a large pan, without oil, and when very hot, place your steaks into the pan. Cook until just about medium done – the time will vary depending on the thickness of the steaks.
- When the steaks are ready, spread half of the mustard around the inside of the bread “shell” and then tuck one of the steaks into the loaf. Press down gently and spoon all of the mushrooms and onion mixture over the top. Press down well and then tuck the other steak over the top. Spread the rest of the mustard over the top steak and then place the bread “lid” over the top. Wrap in foil and then in waxed paper. Secure it with string and then place heavy items on top to squash it down – a heavy chopping board, heavy pans, a cat…
- After around 18 hours, unwrap the sandwich, cut into slices like a cake and enjoy!
Sounds delicious! Just waiting for some sun, here in the autumny Netherlands…
Hi Veronica, thanks so much! You know, I was writing this post yesterday evening, the weather was beautiful – today the skies are grey and overcast. Typical… hopefully it will improve soon!
I’ve never heard of a shooter’s sandwich and now it’s all I can think of. Glad you had a minute of sun. That’s about what we’ve had here but at least I can say, “it’s winter.”
Hi Maureen – the past couple of days have been glorious. Today, sitting out on the balcony… it was a real one of those “glad to be alive days”… such wonderful weather.
Hope you’re keeping well 🙂
I love the idea of this Charles but for me it would have to be the veggie version-any ideas where you saw the recipe for that version?
Oh and on a footnote-you will be pleased to hear I did buy a bunch of beetroot today-for the first time. No leaves on unfortunately but I will be making your Roasted Beetroot Dip later on today.
Oh and it is sunny here in Wales today! So I’m out in my garden digging up the garlic to use and store and harvesting basil to make fresh Pesto today!
Hi GD – YES, after some searching, I finally found it for you:
Instructions and photos here.
Can’t wait to hear how your beetroot experimentation goes… do let me know! Enjoy your day in the garden!
Hi Charles,
Thank you so much for that-that is so very, very, good of you to find it out for me! I’ll definitely give it a go when I return from Oxford next week-just off to visit Raymond Blanc’ Cookery school at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.
And a very big thank you for the recipe for the Roasted Beetroot Dip. Absolutely scrumptious and, I think, I am finally over my beetroot phobia!!
Ooh, very nice – will you make any posts about it? I’d love to hear about it!
I’m SO glad you had a chance to try the dip. I think you mentioned having a “beetroot hummus” by HFW at his canteen in Devon… I was wondering if this was anything like it? It’s hard to visualise in my head how a beetroot hummus might be like.
18 hours? I’ve never heard of this sandwich method before. Normally the sooner I eat them after I’ve made them the better. This does look so yummy though. I love the combination of good steak, mushrooms and dijon. Perfect! And yes, getting outside is so essential. It must makes you feel better. We whinge a lot about the weather here in Sydney in winter but we really shouldn’t because even in winter we’re able to eat outside – I shouldn’t tell you, should I? xx
Hi Charlie – I totally would have added horseradish too, but that’s not such a common ingredient in France alas, although it can be found from time to time. I do recommend it though 🙂
This sounds so good. The bread, meat, the sandwich… everything looks so inviting!
Thanks Jen!
I couldn’t wait 18 hours to eat this! It looks amazing. Takes me back to my school trips where we would get roast beef sandwiches for our picnic. Nothing like a good beef sandwich, simply done.
We love to picnic and take all sorts of things to eat. Our problem is not so much the flies, but the fact that it’s always so darn windy! I am always moving around like a mad person trying to stop plates and crisps flying away!
The boule looks soooo good too.
Thanks Nazneen – trust me, some things are worth waiting for 🙂
Windy picnics can be interesting… pinning down the picnic blanket at each corner with various boxes of food or bags and then you forget about the wind, move the box of food and then everything blows over 😀
Now that’s deluxe picnic food! Love this recipe because I think the best picnic food should be the type that you have to eat using your hands. Let’s face it, who can resist a steak sandwich!?! Yum, yum, yummmm!
Thanks BFN – totally agree. Nothing is more annoying than having a delicious picnic and then going home and having a load of washing up to do… talk about a real let-down after feeling so happy in the fresh air!
I´d heard of this and I think I even have a recipe somewhere but have never made one. Now that I´m starting to think about the food that I need to make for a two day road trip, this really appeals! May have to use pork fillet instead, but I think this could be fun for our journey and a little bit different…
Hi Chica – I think that would be awesome… you could let it get perfectly squashed under your luggage 😀 Let me know if you try it with pork… I’d love to know how it turns out! 🙂
Yum! I had never heard of this sandwich, Charles. What’s that orange relish in the photo? The veggie version sounds good, too. Enjoy your week off.
That would be the wife-made salad! Grated carrot and cucumber, mixed with raisins and lemon juice. (And topped with toasted almonds, but someone was in such a rush to eat his sandwich that he forgot to add those for the photo! ;-))
And very tasty it was too, wifelet!
…the sandwich was better! 😉
Thanks Sharyn, and yeah, as my wife mentioned, it was a salad she made to go with it – was very tasty and a great accompaniment!
That sandwich does look picnic worthy Charles. The name is a bit weird (particularly right now in Toronto, we’ve had a terrible rash of gun killings in certain parts of town so we’re a little jumpy).
I always wrap my food in parchment first so that the aluminum foil doesn’t touch the food. Aluminum foil has been linked to such brain disorders as Alzheimers.
I’m glad your weather is finally turning around. I hope it means that the fall will be gorgeous!
Hi Eva – I think the name was because the sandwich was given to hunters before they went out for the day… I can only guess though. It seems tough to find a “history” of this sandwich anywhere.
The sandwich should actually have been wrapped up in paper before the foil – I messed that part up actually 😀
I love steak sandwiches and mustard is one of my favorite condiments! The vegetarian version you mentioned sounds delightful as well!
Thanks Laura – I found a link to the veggie version in an earlier comment if you’re interested – steak and mustard is awesome isn’t it 🙂
Hi Charles, sorry to hear that the sun hasn’t been shining your way… that’s no fun! We are in the grips of one of the worst drought in 25 years… the weather has been glorious (heat/sun days on end) but the dryness is not so good of course for crops and forest fires, etc. J’amais l’un sans l’autre.
Nothing like a good steak sandwich and I love that you’ve worked in ‘shrooms and onion too! Total bonus. What a neat method with the hollowed out bread – I’ve never done that before. It’s coming up to lunch time here and your shooter’s sandwich has got me mighty hungry! Have a great weekend Charles.
p.s. groovy flute music in the video 😉
Hi Kelly, the weather today was wonderful. I was just sitting out on the balcony and really enjoying the warm sun on my skin. Just in time for my holiday 🙂
Speaking of hollowed-out bread… There’s another type of “sandwich” which consists of a big loaf, hollowed out, but lengthways, and then it’s filled with salad and not squished. Often taken on picnics as well, like a portable, edible salad box. Should make that sometime too 🙂
Hmm should I keep it in the fridge for 18 hours? I like cold beaf sandwiches, I should try it some time )
I would be tempted to eat the steak before all this 18 hours sandwich stuff tho )
lol… you know, the best things come to those who wait! It’s well worth the wait… if you’re worried you’re going to inhale the steak before it’s ready then just buy three steaks and have one right away to satisfy your cravings 😀
Wow!! 18 hours is worth it from the looks of things. I guess that gives times for the flavors to marinate into the steak and the bread.. bonus!! I’ve never heard of this one.. maybe it’s a British sandwich.. given the only thing our hunters shoot over here in Canada are gophers, lol!! I can just picture a group of men out hunting for the day and devouring this while they wait for pheasant!!
Hi Barb – definitely, I think if you ate it right away it wouldn’t have the lovely compact texture and it would probably just fall to bits!
It is indeed a British sandwich – dates back to Edwardian times 🙂
What an amazing creation, Charles! Is this what an Edwardian gentleman took in their pack when they went to shoot grouse or some other woodland creature? 🙂 I have to confess that I could just eat one of those steaks with a bit of mustard in the sammie without the additional accompaniments but I guess you need the full experience. 🙂
Thank you for sharing another Brit dish with us.
Thanks so much A_ – I think the sandwich was perfect because it was very compact, held itself together very well and would just slide into a pack. I’m not quite sure why they decided to flatten it… maybe to save space?
You’re right – a bit of mustard would totally be fine for me too, maybe some horseradish too… very important! It is very, very good with the onion and mushroom too though, I definitely appreciate that addition 🙂
I was SO tempted to go to the market and get some steaks and an assortment of mushrooms but I really needed to use up the last of the turkey breast that I had already defrosted. I had planned on making several Tex-Mex dishes and a quick dessert to go with them and followed through. Mostly items from my pantry were used so my ambitious resolutions continues apace. 🙂
That sandwich looks like perfect fare…for picnic or anytime! I believe I have seen a similar sandwich that was made by Jennifer Patterson on the show “Two Fat Ladies”. Although hers had a big ‘ole hunk of steak and she took the end off a loaf and then filled the whole of it up with the steak and the veg mixture. I think I may like your version better, and I love that you can slice it up like a pie! I have actually made pan bagnat ahead of time for a picnic. Next picnic, when I plan ahead for it, I’d love to try this out!
I REMEMBER that episode and have the series, which I loved, on dvd (Series 1 ep 6 -Food in the Wild). I was so sad when I heard Jennifer had passed away and there would be no new episodes featuring these adventurous ladies.
I loved that series, too, and while I don’t have it on DVD, I watch it whenever it reappears on cable and never get tired of watching Jennifer and Clarissa. I’ve also read Clarissa’s autobiography, a book about the series with some background on Jennifer and her amazing life, and have one of their cookbooks. I need to locate and buy the DVD series.
Unfortunately the Food Network Canada no longer runs classic cooking shows like this.
You should be able to find the dvd set of 24 eps on Amazon.com as you’re in the US. I used one of the marketplace sellers as their price was lower when I bought a set for my nephew who remembered watching the series with me when he was a teen and thought he’d like to see the eps again. 🙂
Hi Betsy – I’d heard about that episode when they made it… I’ll have to take a look and see if I can find it viewable online somewhere.
I hope you are able to give this a try… visually it’s quite impressive when you carve off a slice and I think it would be pretty popular among steak-lovers 🙂
Looks great! I love the idea of weighing it down for 18 hours!! 🙂 I’d have the vegetarian version please as I don’t eat steak.
Hi BA – I was able to retrieve the photos and instructions for a veggie version here – you can really go wild though… modify it to your heart’s content. I’d love to see what you decided to do with it if you had a try at making it yourself!
Charles, those sandwiches look delicious!! I have never made these. Bookmarking it.
Thanks Minnie – do let me know if you give it a try!
I have never seen anything like this! It looks SO good and the process is quite interesting. Thanks for the video and instructions on how to make it. I think I would blow my friends away if I made this!
Hi MJ – It’s a lot of fun to make, and quite forgiving too – it doesn’t matter if you mess it up somewhere… it’s all going to end up squished flat in the end anyway 😀
Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! I’ve never been this excited about a sandwich before!
Steak! Sandwich! What a perfect equation! I’ve a feeling I might need a good dose of patience and fiddling while waiting for this to get flattened.
Oh yum! Definitely must do this!
Thanks so much Ping – I really recommend horseradish in the sandwich too, if you can get a hold of it. That always goes perfectly with steak 🙂
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you…for introducing me to this sandwich! Steak, mushrooms, shallots and mustard. Mmmmmm!!!! This sounds fantastic Charles! So once it’s wrapped and just sitting does it need to be refrigerated, or does it just sit out? And a cat! LOL. Mine would eat his way through the foil and paper to get to that steak (and mushrooms…odd cat). 🙂
Haha, glad to be of service Kristy. For the storage… I think in the summer heat you’d be wise to stow it in the refrigerator. In a cool larder in winter it probably would be ok, but I know that I shoved mine in the refrigerator and jammed a box of watermelon on top!
What an unusual and amusing recipe, Charles! I can imagine I would enjoy so much squashing the sandwich! There are some things I enjoy in the kitchen like cutting up the calamar (I love the silky delicate flesh), forming Japanese korokke, making skewers… This sandwich is lots of fun too I bet! I know my husband (a beef fan) would love it!
It’s incredible how very old forgotten recipes seem original and exotic nowadays (a bit like putting caraway in sweet cakes; it’s apparently a very old British habit, but when I saw it on your blog I thought “how unusual and original”).
Have a lovely weekend! Hopefully with some sun. We have been having an awful spring, but the summer is quite nice (on the other hand I live much more in the south of Europe really… It’s so visible when I go somewhere around Paris: it’s always several degrees colder).
Hi Sissi – I never think of Switzerland as being warm… I guess I just think of it being covered in snow all the time, but of course I’m thinking of mountainous areas… don’t worry, I do know that not all of Switzerland is up in the mountains (I know as well that not everyone eats Toblerone for dinner, speaking of stereotypes!!! :D)
I remember you saying your husband loved steak – I think he would really like this sandwich then… I do hope you get a chance to try some. I think next time I make it I will definitely try and add some horseradish, and I think serving it with some cabbage, either inside, or on the side, maybe in the form of coleslaw, would be really nice too!
Charles, I love a good steak sandwich! And one that is “pre-squashed” (not by a cat!) is certainly ideal for a picnic. We have a gazebo in one corner of the garden and “picnic” there often when we’re too lazy to take our act on the road.
Hi Jean – I love it when I make roast beef – it always means we get some great sandwiches the next day… lovely wholegrain bread, mustard and horseradish, nice, crisp lettuce, maybe some tomato and cheese, and a liberal swathe of beef… mmmmm 😀
shoot me a piece of paper to write down my order because that sandwich is a must have! My husband would go crazy for this
Haha, thanks KB – do let me know if you give it a try!
I just discovered your website! I really like it! I love how you provide the nutrition info as well!
Amanda
Thanks Amanda – It’s scary how many calories some things have… I once made a tray of shortbread with caramel and chocolate which had ~10,000 calories for the whole tray… ouch. But what’s life without a bit of sugar, right? 😀
Haha that’s exactly what I thought when I saw the 7.12 euros. 😛 But yes like you said, steaks can vary so much and I love to get higher grade beef because they just taste so much nicer. In fact, making good grade porterhouse steaks right now! 😀
Love those flattened sandwiches! Makes it so much easier to eat as I’m terrible as keeping clean when I eat sandwiches/burgers. 😉
Hi Jenny – I totally agree… one of my favourite meals is a good steak, but it can vary so much in quality. Sometimes you hit the meaty jackpot and get this amazing piece… other times it’s sinewy and tough and makes you feel downright disappointed!
I hope you enjoyed your porterhouse steaks… they sound great 🙂
Hi Charles, yes, food definitely tastes better outside! I’ve never heard of this sandwich but it looks delicious. I need to bake some bread and try it. I guess beef liver would work as well?
Hi Marina – I have to say I’m not a fan of liver (except bird livers in something like paté). Not sure how well liver would work in a sandwich like this. It can be quite… what’s the word…, er… when it breaks apart very easily. I would worry that maybe it would just get smushed up to oblivion and not retain its shape like steak would, but if you give it a try, do let me know – I’d be very interested to hear about it!
Stunning! What a fantastic picnic idea and you know with my meat and potato teenager boys they would love the steak instead of veggies. (However keeping them hands off the sandwich for a full 18 hours is the issue. what do you suggest? A) put a pad lock on the refrigerator door B) label the bag you wrapped the sandwich in as Tofu? or any other fool proof teenage proof ideas? ) Take care, BAM
Hi Bam, haha, I did love at your comment. I would think wrapping it in a bag and labelling it as tofu (maybe fermented tofu) would be sure to keep greedy hands away from it for sure! 😀
My hubby would approve of this…I’d have to take his share of the mushrooms, though (I’m always OK with that). I’m glad you’re finally getting some sun!
Thanks Liz – the mushrooms aren’t too “apparent” in the final sandwich, although if one doesn’t like them then even like this they may still be too much. You could always sub them for something else. Next time I make it I’m going to add even more things I think!
I don’t think that the order of the wrapping matters in the slightest Charles. How can you go wrong with a sandwich filled with beef and a mushroom, onion with port-type salsa? Can I have mine to go?
Thanks Barb – I guess ultimately it doesn’t matter, although I did find that some corners of the bread were a little soggy, probably because of the foil. Had it been paper first then that could maybe have been avoided. I’m going to try even more things next time in the sandwich – can’t wait 🙂
Mmmm, that looks so good. Have recently developed a liking for steak. I’m going to try this as there is a bakery. Ear new flat which does European style bread. Just need to source some mustard .
Enjoy your week of picnics!
Thanks Clare – make sure you remember to squash it. It’s so nice when it’s all cut up into slices!
Wow! now that’s a sandwich worth waiting 18 hours for!
I have seen a couple of versions of this but never a steak and mushroom one and I have to say that this one is making me hungry!
I could actually eat those caramelized onions and mushrooms as is!
Thanks Sawsan – it was definitely worth the wait!
Mmmm … lovely! I love simple dishes
Thanks so much L2D!
LOL! Definitely food, and ONLY food for me…. We went hiking with the kids yesterday (our backyard is connecting to a huge canyon) and kind of wished that I brought some sandwiches and snack and make it a long hike instead of 1.5 hour hike (yes, my 4 yo did complain but made her walk all the way). This sounds like a delicious sandwich Charles! I can imagine how exciting it can be after 18 hours!!!
Thanks Nami – I’m envious of the location of your back yard – you should take some photos one day, I’d love to see them! 🙂
Now that looks like a real man pleasing sandwich. I agree that some horseradish would be delicious on it but I’m sure it was great just the way you prepared it.
Thanks Karen – was definitely a popular sandwich! 😀
another fabulous post! oh my gosh! TOTALLY making these for our nest picnic…and some of that three bean salad too!
~M
Thanks Melissa – let me know what you think… the sandwich is just … so yummy. Don’t forget the mushrooms… they make it, really!
Better late than never, Charles. I finally made a miniature version of the sandwich using a 6″ round bun and a thin tri-tip steak. Although I planned to add an onion to the mushroom mixture … I forgot until I was almost finished cooking the mushrooms. I ended up sprinkling some onion and garlic powder over the mixture instead. It was still a good sandwich. 🙂
http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/117733.html
Next time I won’t bother sprinkling ‘steak seasoning’ mix on the steak before searing it off as the whole spices charred and I have to do a repeat cleaning of my cast iron frying pan to get off the spots.