Strammer Max is a German ham and egg sandwich often eaten with beer. The name evolved from Berlin street slang for an erect penis. The sandwich consists of rye bread, butter, ham, Swiss cheese, rock salt, cayenne pepper, and egg. Variations include Strammer Otto and Bavarian versions with potatoes and Leberkase.
Strammer Max is a type of ham and egg sandwich that is popular as a snack in German cuisine. These sandwiches are usually available in pubs, restaurants and street stalls and are often eaten with beer. According to the Dictionary of the Upper Saxon Dialects, the term Strammer Max evolved in the 1920s as a Berlin street slang for an erect penis; in the German language, Strammer means erect or stiff, and the common German name Max was often used synonymously with penis. Ham sandwiches were thought to enhance male libido which is why they were called Strammer Max; the buns are also known as Max Stiff or Max Tight buns.
There are various regional variations of Strammer Max sandwiches, but the basic ingredients of Strammer Max include rye bread, butter, ham, Swiss cheese, rock salt, cayenne pepper, and egg. To make the sandwiches, some butter is melted in a pan and then a slice of rye bread is placed in the pan and lightly fried on both sides over medium heat. The toast is then removed and thin slices of ham are fried in the next pan for a couple of minutes.
The fried ham slices are placed on top of the toasted rye bread and set aside. The eggs are then fried in a pan and placed on top of the ham and bread. A slice of Swiss cheese is added to the stack and the bun is then placed in the pan for a few more minutes. The pan can be covered with a lid to allow the cheese to melt well.
After the cheese has melted, the heat is turned off, the sandwich is transferred to a plate, and salt and cayenne pepper are sprinkled over the melted cheese. The hot Strammer Max sandwich is now ready to eat. In addition to the Strammer Max ingredients already mentioned, there may be various other additions, although they were not part of the original recipe.
Cheese and tomato are sometimes used in these sandwiches. Another variation is the Strammer Otto, which uses roast beef instead of ham. In Bavaria, instead of slices of ham, Strammer Max’s sandwiches contain potatoes and slices of Leberkase; Leberkase is a baked meat dish made from a well-ground combination of onions, pork, bacon, and corned beef.
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