Description
This is the kind of sandwich you dream about—tall, layered, and packed with fresh, vibrant flavors that make each bite better than the last. The star of the show? The Green Goddess sauce, of course. It’s a creamy, herby spread that brings the perfect amount of zing, balancing the richness of deli turkey and Havarti cheese with bright, zesty notes from fresh herbs, lemon, and avocado. Paired with marinated zucchini ribbons and a mountain of crisp veggies, this sandwich somehow feels light and refreshing despite its impressive size.
Pro tips? Make the Green Goddess sauce ahead of time—the flavors get even better as they sit. Also, take the extra step of grating your Havarti cheese; this little trick helps keep everything in place and adds a bit of texture. And, of course, use sturdy focaccia for the bread—it’s thick enough to support the layers without getting soggy, especially if you brush it with olive oil. The biggest tip of all: Do not assemble this until you’re ready to eat and serve it immediately.
This sandwich is perfect for parties, picnics, or even just a super satisfying lunch. Cut it into smaller wedges to make serving easier (and to prevent an epic sandwich collapse). Trust me, once you taste this, you’ll be making it on repeat.
Ingredients
GREEN GODDESS SAUCE:
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 small avocado, halved and pitted
- 1 garlic clove, coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons mixed chives, dill, and tarragon
- Juice of 1/2 lemon, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 anchovy, optional
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
MARINATED ZUCCHINI RIBBONS:
- 2 zucchini, stem and end removed, cut into long ribbons using a vegetable peeler
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
TO ASSEMBLE:
- 12 ounces deli turkey, sliced however thick you’d like
- 6 slices Havarti cheese*
- 1 square of focaccia, approximately 7” x 7”, halved horizontally
- 2 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1/2 red onion, very thinly sliced
- 1 large, ripe tomato, preferably green, thinly sliced
- 10 butter lettuce leaves
- Dill fronds, for topping
Instructions
- To make the green goddess sauce: Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or small blender and process until puréed and smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (If you can make this ahead and let it sit in the refrigerator for a while before assembling, the flavors will improve.)
- Make the marinated zucchini ribbons: Combine the zucchini ribbons, olive oil, and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Let sit for 15 minutes.
- To assemble the sandwich: Lightly brush each side of the focaccia with extra-virgin olive oil (this will help waterproof the sandwich a bit). Add a generous smear of the green goddess sauce to both sides. Layer as such: turkey, Havarti, drained zucchini ribbons, butter lettuce, red onion, tomato, dill fronds, and cucumber. Top the sandwich and press down lightly. Cut into slices of whatever size you desire. Add a toothpick to the center of each sandwich to keep them together. Serve with extra green goddess sauce on the side.
Notes
*Pro tip: I learned this from Wax Paper in Los Angeles—you can grate the cheese to add some texture, which helps keep the ingredients from sliding off the sandwich. Full disclosure: I did not do this for my version because I heard this trick after I developed the recipe. As much as I tried to engineer this to keep the sandwich from sliding apart, it does tend to do so. Cut it into smaller wedges and try grating the cheese to help with this. You’ll need about 1/2 to 2/3 cup grated cheese to cover the sandwich if you do so.
Inspiration: Green Goddess Party Sandwiches on thedefineddish.com
- Category: Sandwiches, Turkey