Dinner from the Deli Counter

 

Ham BBQ sandwiches have long been a family favorite, but I seldom make them.  I’m not sure why.  They are a direct link to my own childhood, when my mother would occasionally take my brother and me out to lunch at Isaly’s, an East Coast family restaurant/delicatessen chain that served Chipped Ham Sandwiches.  At the end of the meal she would buy a pound of paper-thin slices of ham to take home.  The next day we would make our own version of this sandwich using brown sugar, ketchup, sweet relish, tomato sauce and a few other flavorings.

Yesterday I found myself at the deli counter thinking about those long-ago sandwiches and decided I would make them for dinner.  However, since a family member doesn’t like ham, I bought a pound of thinly sliced turkey instead.  I also bought a bottle of BBQ sauce and a dozen fluffy white buns. 

We gobbled down these sandwiches and agreed to come back a few days later to finish off the remains.  It turned out that a pound of deli turkey served in sandwiches can feed 8-10 people.

Deli Turkey BBQ Sandwiches – serves 8-10

1 dozen soft white buns

1 pound thinly sliced turkey

1 16-to-18-ounce bottle any BBQ sauce

1/4 cup water + more if needed

Begin preheating the oven to 350 degrees.  Slice the buns in half and place them on a cookie sheet.  When the oven is hot, bake them for 5 minutes, checking at 4 minutes to make sure they do not over-brown.  Remove from the oven and set aside until the turkey is hot. 

While the buns are heating, cut the turkey slices roughly into 4-6 pieces per slice and put in a medium-size pot.  Add about half the bottle of BBQ sauce and the water and stir to separate the turkey pieces.  Begin heating the turkey mixture over medium-high heat, stirring constantly for several minutes or until it is hot.

The goal is to coat every piece of turkey with some sauce.  Continue adding sauce and stirring.  You may not need the whole bottle.  If the sauce seems too thick, add a few tablespoons more water and stir. 

Fill 1 bun per person to start with and then offer seconds.  Cover and refrigerate any leftover turkey.

NOTE: Here are the ingredients for the more traditional Isaly’s Chipped Ham Sandwich:

1 8-ounce can tomato sauce

2 tablespoons sweet relish

1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar

1½ teaspoons prepared mustard

1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Dash black pepper

1/2 pound cooked ham, very thinly sliced

4 hamburger buns, cut in half and lightly toasted or warmed in oven

Combine all the ingredients, apart from the buns, in a medium-size pot and bring to a boil over high heat.  Turn down the heat to medium and cook, covered, for 2 minutes to heat through.  Serve in buns.

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