Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich

By Dwight Garner

Updated April 4, 2023

  • Tony Cenicola/The New York Times
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
90 seconds
Rating
4(1,323)
Comments
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This sandwich does not necessarily need a recipe, given its simplicity. But it’s an unlikely pairing, is peanut butter and pickle, and sometimes that is what a recipe is for -- to prod you in a direction that you never considered. Dwight Garner, a book critic for The Times, makes a strong case for this, his favorite sandwich, calling it “a thrifty and unacknowledged American classic.” The vinegary snap of the pickles tempers the unctuousness of the peanut butter, and it’s an unusual pantry sandwich for when luncheon meats leave you cold.

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Ingredients

Yield:1 sandwich

  • 2 slices of your favorite bread

  • Unsalted butter, if desired

  • Peanut butter

  • Bread-and-butter pickles

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    (To bump up the decadence level, you can toast the bread and spread butter on it before proceeding.) Spread peanut butter on both slices of bread.

  2. Step 2

    Place an overlapping row of pickles on one slice.

  3. Step 3

    Cover with the other slice. Consume.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
1,323 user ratings
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Comments

Wm Taggart

The accompanying article discusses attempts with other sorts of pickles, kosher dills for instance, but the article poo-poos this, indicating the bread-and-butter is the only way to go. Not so!
I grew up with a version of this, handed down by my grandmother. If you can locate Heinz Genuine Dills, try this sandwich (sans butter) with them. The sourness of the pickles offsets the peanut butter perfectly. Kosher dills, Polish dills, etc. don't cut it -- only the Heinz.

Ginny

Dills are my favorite. PB and P are a favorite of Kinsey Millhone, a gumshoe from Sue Grafton mysteries.

Sean Flannery

My variation on this dish is even simpler - gluten and pickle free too ;) Take one jar of crunchy peanut butter and a spoon somewhere private and eat as much peanut butter as you'd like. Uniterrupted. You're done when you're done. Dont over do it ;) Bon apetit x

QB

Time to freshen the comments section about the most excellent sandwich in the world-- peanut butter and SWEET pickle sandwich. Don't do a Sam Sifton and add a bunch of extra things-- just regular bread, mayonaise, peanut butter, sweet pickles-- whole ones or spears.My grandmother made this for me in the 1950's. She had a lunch room in the 1930's in Ohio and then went to work in the university faculty club to get reduced tuition for my mother. Sure you can jazz it up but why would you want to?

MegW

OMG! I love these comments, particularly the ones that mentioned PB&M (mayonnaise). Like others, I thought I invented this in my teens. I loved it;everyone I told about my invention thought it disgusting without even trying it. Their loss. I will definitely try PB&P. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Dotty

In our next episode, enjoy the tangy tastiness of a Miracle Whip and sliced onion sandwich.

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