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(1,336)
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.

Featured in: Peanut Butter Takes On an Unlikely Best Friend

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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
1,336 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

Sarah

Question: I assume I can substitute a different nut butter for the peanut butter (I'm allergic--a full adult allergic to peanuts, go figure). Recommendations as to which works well with pickles? I don't like to experiment. Don't push it. Almond? Cashew? Sunflower? Any other recipe adjustments needed? Thanks.

Kristie

I like peanut butter. I like pickles. I checked to be sure this wasn’t an April Fool’s recipe after I stated eating it. Yum!

Holly Myers

The best! My dad made these for me when I was a girl (born 1956), and they are still a favorite. A divine combo.

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