Fruit Sando: the work-of-art you can eat guilt-free

Name: fruit sando
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 2 slices shokupan (Japanese milk bread); 1/2 cup whipped cream; 1 tablespoon sugar/preferred sugar alternative (or adjust amount to taste); 1 cup fresh ripe fruit sliced (e.g. strawberries, oranges, mangoes, kiwis, grapes, etc.)

by Kristina Reynolds

Feel like something light but also want something on the sweet side? The fruit sando (フルーツ” or “furutsu sando”) is a great option. It is a Japanese fruit sandwich that is satisfying in its simplicity.

It consists of fluffy shokupan (Japanese milk bread), light whipped cream and freshly ripened seasonal fruits. Like most Japanese desserts, it is not overwhelmingly sweet with most of the flavor coming from the ripeness of the fruits. Along with the quality ingredients, the meticulous preparation and presentation of this sandwich make this dish a feast for the tastebuds and the eyes. The fruits are specifically placed in the center of a thick layer of whipped cream, so when it is sliced in half, it appears as if the fruits are “floating” in the sandwich.

This Japanese fruit sandwich originated in the mid-20th century around the post-war era of Japan. As an island nation with limited farming land, Japan viewed fruits as a luxury item. These fruits were sold as sandwiches to appeal to westerners, especially during the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

What fruits are used in a fruit sando?

Technically, any fresh sweet fruits can be used in this type of Japanese sandwich. However, the fruits that are most often used are:

strawberries
kiwis
oranges
mangoes
blueberries
peaches
pineapples
bananas
grapes

Where can I get a fruit sando?

You can get fruit sandos at select specialty Japanese supermarkets, bakeries and sandwich shops. Check out the interactive map below for places that serve these fruit sandwiches near you. Just make sure to double-check the locations since they may only be offered seasonally. Additionally, here are links to find tamago, wagyu and other katsu sandos.

How can I make a fruit sando?

It’s quite easy to make a fruit sando yourself. So if you can’t find a supermarket or sando shop that carries them, try your hand at this simplified recipe.

fruit sando

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

A traditional Japanese fruit sandwich

Ingredients

2 slices shokupan (Japanese milk bread)
1/2 cup whipped cream
1 tablespoon sugar/preferred sugar alternative (or adjust amount to taste)
1 cup fresh ripe fruit sliced (e.g. strawberries, oranges, mangoes, kiwis, grapes, etc.)

Instructions

Spread whipped cream to about 1/2 inch thick on one slice of bread
Arrange fruits on whipped cream to allow for fruits to be cut down the middle of sando (can be placed either horizontal or diagonal)
Fill in gaps with more whipped cream to create a flat surface
Place second slice of bread on top
Wrap sandwich tightly with plastic wrap and with a marker, draw a line where you want to cut the sandwich in half
Chill in fridge for about 30 mins
Remove plastic wrap and cut off crust
Slice down the middle (according to where you drew your line) to reveal fruits and enjoy!

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Kristina Reynolds is the Founder & CEO of Glutto and an alumna of the University of California, San Diego. She writes articles & posts for Glutto Digest with insights from fellow industry experts. Furthermore, she is the author of The Fittest Food Lovers: How EVERY BODY Can be Incredibly Fit and Still Enjoy Food, a collaborative philanthropic book with proceeds going to charities that fight world hunger.