Half-Time Beef Sandwiches

These roast beef sandwiches get their punch from a horseradish cream cheese spread loaded with chopped apple and walnut pieces. It’s a combination that sounds unusual but hits all the right notes: sharp, creamy, crunchy, and a little sweet.

The spread is simple. Cream cheese loosened with a splash of milk, mixed with horseradish sauce, finely chopped apple (hit with lemon juice to prevent browning), and walnut pieces. Smear it on both halves of a split kaiser roll.

Then you stack: lettuce, thinly sliced roast beef, sliced green onions, and the top of the roll. The horseradish brings the heat, the apple brings crisp sweetness, the walnuts bring crunch, and the roast beef brings... well, the whole reason you’re here.

No cooking required. Fifteen minutes from fridge to table.

Kitchen Tips

• Chop the apple very fine so it blends into the cream cheese spread instead of falling out of the sandwich
• Use deli-sliced roast beef, not thick-cut. Thin slices fold and layer better on a roll
• The horseradish is listed at 1 tablespoon, which gives moderate heat. Add more if you like a stronger kick
• Make the spread ahead of time and store in the fridge. It actually improves after a few hours as the flavors meld

Variations

• Swap kaiser rolls for ciabatta or sourdough for a crustier bite
• Use thinly sliced turkey instead of roast beef for a lighter version
• Add a few slices of sharp cheddar between the beef and lettuce