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| Alternative names | Salad boat sandwich[1] |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Taiwan |
| Region or state | Keelung |
| Main ingredients | fried bread, ham, tomatoes, cucumber, and marinated eggs |
TheNutritious Sandwich (Chinese:營養三明治;pinyin:yíngyǎng sānmíngzhì; also known asSalad Boat Sandwich) is aTaiwanese street food originating fromKeelung Miaokou Night Market in northern Taiwan.[2] It features a golden, deep-fried oval bun resembling asubmarine sandwich, filled with chilled salad ingredients such as ham, tomatoes, cucumber, and marinated eggs. Despite its name, the sandwich is not particularly "nutritious" by modern health standards, and the term "nutritional" in its name likely reflects historical marketing efforts.[3]
The Salad Boat Sandwich is believed to have originated in the 1950s or 1960s inKeelung Port, a key hub of international trade and a frequent destination forAmerican military personnel stationed in Taiwan during thepost-war era.[4] At that time, U.S. foreign aid brought flour and deep-frying equipment to Taiwan as part of a campaign to promote Western-style wheat-based foods.[5]
In this context, a local vendor—reportedly a man with the surname Chi (遲)—developed the Nutritious Sandwich to appeal to American tastes, combining a Western-style deep-fried bun with Taiwanese ingredients. The dish gained popularity and spread to other night markets across Taiwan.[6] The termnutritious was likely used to promote the sandwich as a modern and wholesome food in line with government and trade union campaigns encouraging the consumption of wheat-based products.[7]
In recent years, the sandwich has also appeared in other countries in Asia, reportedly introduced toShanghai,China by a Taiwanese expatriate who had eaten it in Keelung and wanted to recreate the nostalgic flavour abroad.[8]
The Nutritious Sandwich begins with a long, oval-shaped dough that is coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried until crispy and golden brown. The finished bread resembles a hot dog or submarine roll but with a crispier exterior and softer interior.[9]
Once the bread has cooled slightly, it is sliced open lengthwise to create a pocket. Inside, it is layered withmayonnaise or salad dressing,ham slices,tomato slices,cucumber strips, and marinated egg (often soy-braised). The ingredients may vary slightly by vendor, and some versions include additional fillings like corn, pineapple, or even cheese. A final drizzle of mayonnaise is often added for extra richness.[10]
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