Lyndsay Burginger

The Banana Mayo Sandwich is a Southern Delicacy

When it comes to lunchtime, the classic sandwich is king. Look in any lunchroom and you'll see your fill of peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese sandwiches, and peanut butter and banana sandwiches. But look a little closer and you might find some unusual sandwich fillings peeking out from the hands of celebrities enjoying lunch in the same imaginary lunchroom. Elvis Presley enjoys a peanut butter sandwich topped with bacon and pickles, Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. chows down on a burger sandwiched between two glazed donuts, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with a banana and mayo sandwich in his hands. I can get behind Elvis and Luther's sandwiches, but we all have to draw the line somewhere.

What is a Banana and Mayo Sandwich?

With southern roots, the sliced banana and mayonnaise sandwich got its start during the Great Depression when people would top slices of bread with anything they had in the house. A slice of bread was hearty and easy to make or buy for a good price. Meat was expensive, so Southerners took to creating their own sandwich combos (mayo and pineapple, tomato and mayo) to fill their bellies. Years later, southerners like Nascar legend Dale Jr. were served these sandwiches from their parents. With the nostalgic factor, many of these "odd" sandwiches soon became favorite sandwich recipes passed down from the generations. What was once a food eaten out of necessity is now a southern delicacy.

How to Make a Banana Mayo Sandwich Like Dale Earnhardt Jr.

According to Dale Jr., there's a few key things you need to know before making your own mayo banana sandwich. First, Dale Jr. jokes that since he is sponsored by Hellman, they'll probably want him to put a ton of mayo on the sandwich to sell more.  He advises the best way to put the mayo on is like butter, just enough to coat the bread. And because its so little mayo, you should spread it on both sides of the bread. Slice the banana and place it on the mayo. There you have it, a banana sandwich with mayo.

hellmann's mayonnaise

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READ MORE: The Story Behind the Famous Pickle and Peanut Butter Sandwich