My great uncle survived on this bizarre 3 ingredient combination back in the day. The sweet and sharp flavors melt together into something surprisingly delicious.

This 3-ingredient peanut butter and onion sandwich is the kind of oddball combination that shows up in family stories—my great uncle swore by it when money was tight. It’s built on pantry basics: soft white sandwich bread, thick creamy peanut butter, and sharp raw onion. The sweetness and richness of the peanut butter meet the bite of the onion in a way that’s unexpectedly balanced, almost like a rustic, Depression-era version of sweet-and-savory street food. It’s simple, filling, and strangely satisfying, and it comes together in minutes with ingredients most home cooks already have on hand.

Serve this sandwich simply, just as my great uncle would have: cut in halves or quarters and piled onto a foil-lined platter. A crisp, cold dill pickle or a handful of plain potato chips on the side adds extra crunch and salt to complement the sweet and sharp flavors. A glass of cold milk or unsweetened iced tea works well to mellow the onion’s bite, while sliced apples or grapes on the table play up the peanut butter’s natural sweetness. It’s a humble lunch or late-night snack that doesn’t need much else.

Servings: 2

4 slices soft white sandwich bread

Line a small serving platter or plate with a sheet of aluminum foil, pressing it gently into the bottom and up the sides so it stays in place. This gives you a surface to set the finished sandwiches on, just like an old-fashioned lunch counter setup.

Lay the 4 slices of soft white bread out on a clean cutting board or work surface. If the crusts are very dry or tough, you can trim them, but traditionally the crusts are left on for extra structure.

Stir the creamy peanut butter in its jar or in a small bowl to ensure it’s smooth and spreadable. Using a butter knife, spread a generous, thick layer of peanut butter over one side of each slice of bread, going all the way to the edges. You want a visibly thick, creamy brown layer that will help hold the onion rings in place.

Peel the white onion and slice it crosswise into thin rings, about 1/8-inch thick. Separate the slices into individual rings with your fingers. Pat them dry lightly with a paper towel if they seem very wet; this helps the peanut butter grip them and keeps the sandwich from turning watery.

On two of the peanut butter–coated bread slices, arrange the onion rings in a single, fairly even layer. Let some of the rings overlap and stack slightly so you get a mix of sticky and crunchy textures in every bite. Make sure the onion reaches toward the edges so the flavor is balanced from crust to crust.

Top each onion-covered slice with one of the remaining peanut butter–coated slices, peanut butter side down, to form two sandwiches. Press gently but firmly with your palm so the thick peanut butter layer adheres to the onion rings and the fillings settle together. Some peanut butter may squeeze toward the edges; that’s part of the charm.

Transfer the sandwiches to the foil-lined platter. For easier eating and a more nostalgic presentation, cut each sandwich in half or into quarters using a sharp knife, wiping the blade between cuts to keep the edges neat. Serve immediately while the bread is still soft and the onions are crisp, or cover loosely with foil and hold at room temperature for up to 30 minutes before serving.

For a milder flavor, use sweet onion instead of white onion; it will still bring that raw crunch but with less sharpness, which some people prefer if they’re new to this combination. You can also briefly rinse the onion rings under cold water and pat them dry to soften their bite. If you like extra sweetness, choose a slightly sweeter commercial peanut butter rather than a natural, unsweetened style—this echoes how many Midwestern families would have made it decades ago. For a heartier texture, lightly toast the bread before spreading, but be aware that traditional versions rely on very soft white bread so the peanut butter and onion can really sink in. If you need to prepare this ahead, slice the onions and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then assemble the sandwiches close to serving time so the bread doesn’t become soggy. Food safety tips: Keep the sliced onions refrigerated if you’re not using them right away, and don’t leave assembled sandwiches with raw onion at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if your kitchen is very warm). Because this recipe contains peanuts, make sure anyone eating it is aware of potential peanut allergies. Always use a clean knife and cutting board to avoid cross-contamination if you’re preparing other foods alongside this sandwich.