Cheese Savoury Sandwich Filling

Cheese savoury is a traditional North East sandwich filling made from grated cheese, carrot, onion and mayonnaise. It is especially popular in Newcastle and is often served in a stottie cake.

I can clearly remember my first encounter with a cheese savoury sandwich. I went to grab a sandwich between lectures after starting university in Newcastle. Greggs, a local bakery that started in Gosforth in the 1950s, was nearby, and inside I found a large range of sandwiches for sale.

Most of the sandwiches were served in stottie cakes, the flat round bread that has filled North East lunch boxes for generations. At the time I had no idea what a stottie was. Like many students arriving in Newcastle, I quickly learned that some local foods need no introduction once you’ve tasted them.

One of the sandwich choices was cheese savoury, which I had never tried before. The sharp cheese, sweet carrot and tangy mayonnaise worked surprisingly well together. It was quite unlike anything I had eaten before, and this sandwich filling has remained a firm favourite ever since.

Read more: Traditional recipes from North East England

Table of Contents

• Cheese Savoury Sandwiches
• Why You’ll Love This Cheese Savoury Recipe
• How to Make Cheese Savoury Sandwich Filling
• Can I Use Salad Cream Instead of Mayonnaise?
• What Sort of Bread Should I Use?
• What Should I Serve With Cheese Savoury Sandwiches?
• How Long Will the Sandwich Filling Keep?
• Cheese Savoury Sandwich Recipe
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Why Not Save This Recipe For Later?

Read more: Stottie cake recipe

Cheese Savoury Sandwiches

Walk into a bakery or sandwich shop in Newcastle and there is a good chance you will find cheese savoury on the menu. While versions exist elsewhere in Britain, the North East has made it its own.

The ingredients are simple. Cheese, carrot, onion and mayonnaise are all easy to find and inexpensive, which may help explain why the filling became so popular. It is quick to make, keeps well in the fridge and turns an ordinary sandwich into something a little more interesting.

Many people remember buying a cheese savoury stottie from a local bakery for lunch. It sits alongside other North East favourites such as pease pudding and ham sandwiches as part of the region’s everyday food heritage.

Recipes such as Pan Haggerty show how North East cooking often makes the most of simple ingredients. Cheese savoury follows the same tradition. There is nothing complicated about it, but the combination works remarkably well.

For generations, a packed lunch in the North East was often known as “bait”. Cheese savoury feels perfectly suited to a bait box, keeping well in the fridge and making a satisfying sandwich with very little effort.

Why You’ll Love This Cheese Savoury Recipe

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How to Make Cheese Savoury Sandwich Filling

Cheese savoury is one of the easiest sandwich fillings to make. The only real work is grating the ingredients, so a food processor can be useful if you are making a large batch.

Once everything is prepared, simply mix the ingredients together, add the mayonnaise and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Spoon the filling into your favourite bread roll or stottie and serve.

First grate the cheese.

Now grate the carrot. The carrots add a subtle sweetness and help create the distinctive texture of the filling. It is a great way to sneak some vegetables in if you have reluctant vegetable eaters in your family.

Finally grate the onion. Keep a box of tissues handy in case your eyes water.

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and add the mayonnaise. Add enough mayonnaise to bind the ingredients together into a creamy filling. Start with a small amount and add more if needed.

Season with a little salt and black pepper to taste.

Spoon into a stottie, bread roll or sandwich and serve.

Can I Use Salad Cream Instead of Mayonnaise?

Yes. Some North East versions of cheese savoury use salad cream instead of mayonnaise. Salad cream gives the filling a tangier flavour, while mayonnaise creates a creamier texture.

Both versions are popular, so it is worth trying each to see which you prefer.

What Sort of Bread Should I Use?

Traditionally, cheese savoury is often served in a stottie cake, the famous North East bread that has filled lunch boxes for generations. The soft, slightly chewy texture works particularly well with the creamy filling.

That said, cheese savoury is delicious in almost any type of bread. Try it in bread rolls, sandwich bread, wholemeal bread or even a crusty baguette.

Use whatever you have to hand, but if you want the full Newcastle experience, serve it in a stottie.

Just make sure you make a large batch of the sandwich filling as it will disappear fast!

What Should I Serve With Cheese Savoury Sandwiches?

Cheese savoury is perfectly good on its own, making it an easy lunch or light supper. For a more substantial meal, serve it with a side salad, crisps or a few pickled onions.

It also works well as part of a picnic or packed lunch. A piece of fruit, a packet of crisps and a cheese savoury sandwich make a simple meal that is easy to prepare ahead of time.

If you are entertaining, try serving cheese savoury as finger sandwiches. Cut off the crusts and slice into small triangles for a traditional afternoon tea or buffet spread.

How Long Will the Sandwich Filling Keep?

Store any leftover cheese savoury in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It is best eaten within 3 to 4 days, although it may keep for up to a week if stored properly.

Give the mixture a quick stir before serving, as some moisture may separate during storage.

Cheese savoury is not suitable for freezing, as the mayonnaise can separate when thawed and affect the texture.

Cheese Savoury Sandwich Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Not Save This Recipe For Later?

If you enjoyed this cheese savoury sandwich filling, save it to Pinterest so you can find it again when you need a quick lunch idea.

Have you tried cheese savoury before? Do you make yours with mayonnaise or salad cream? Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoy traditional North East recipes, you might also like my toasted cheese sandwich recipe, which makes a comforting lunch on a cold day.