BLT Sandwich
A BLT sandwich is a classic and iconic American sandwich. Perfect for lunch or even a weeknight meal, this quick and easy sandwich is loaded with flavor. While I am sure that you’ve had a BLT before and probably even made it yourself, I am going to share a few tricks & tips with you that will make it the best BLT that you’ve ever had!
Ingredients make a difference!
I’m sure you’re thinking “BLTs are so simple to make. All I need is bacon, lettuce, tomato, and sandwich bread”. And while you are correct, these simple details will make it better than ever. Here’s how I list out the ingredients:
- Bacon
- Butterhead Lettuce
- Heirloom Tomato
- Sandwich Bread
- Butter (optional)
- Salt & Pepper
Do you see how I specified on the type of lettuce & tomato? Butterhead lettuce and heirloom tomatoes are PERFECT for sandwiches & burgers. I mentioned this in my Fried Chicken post as well. There’s another trick for your heirloom tomatoes: always add salt & pepper to them. As a matter of fact, always add salt & pepper to any of your sliced tomatoes. This little trick brings out their flavor so much that you’ll never not do it again.
How do I get perfectly crispy bacon?
Growing up I would always cook bacon on a stove in a pan. While you can certainly do that, I’ve found out that the best way is actually to cook it in the oven. The process is much easier too:
- Preheat your oven to 400ºF.
- Lay bacon out on a rack (so that air can flow through on all sides) with a tray under. I recommend putting foil on the tray as the bacon fat will render out – this makes clean up much easier.
- When the oven is heated, put the bacon in and shut the door (do not open) for 15-20 minutes. I will typically check on the bacon at the 15 minute mark and remove some pieces (my wife does not like it too crispy). The remaining bacon will go back in the oven for another 3-5 minutes.
- That’s it!
How should I toast my bread?
If you ask me, sandwich bread should always be toasted. I love the crunch and flavor it gives. There’s many methods on how to toast your bread but for a BLT – there’s one way that’s better than the rest.
- Heat a pan on the stove over medium-low to medium heat.
- Spread butter on both sides of your bread slices.
- Add your bread with butter to the stove – in batches (if necessary) to avoid overcrowding.
- Check frequently and flip once the first side is as toasted as you would like.
- Repeat with the second side.
I’ve had great results toasting bread with this method. Give it a shot and let me know what you think!
Time to assemble our sandwich.
Assembling the sandwich doesn’t matter…right? Wrong! I’ve found that the way your BLT is assembled makes a huge difference in flavor and texture. I’ve found the best results as follows:
- Top half of butter toasted sandwich bread
- Half of the amount of bacon you want for your sandwich
- Heirloom tomato slices that have been hit with salt & pepper
- Butterhead lettuce slice
- Remaining half of the amount of bacon you want for your sandwich
- Bottom half of butter toasted sandwich bread
Putting the bacon on the top and bottom half of the sandwich with the tomato & lettuce in between really makes a difference. There’s more bacon flavor and a better crunch in every single bite.
These tips and tricks really do work!
I truly hope that you learned something from this post. No matter how simple, basic, and easy a recipe or dish may seem, there’s always ways to make it better. From using butterhead lettuce and heirloom tomatoes to using salt & pepper on your sliced tomatoes, these minor adjustments will take your average sandwich to a top notch one. With almost no extra effort, these tweaks will make a major difference when it comes to flavor. I challenge you to try it out and let me know what you think. My hope is that soon you’ll be telling others about how you know how to make a simple BLT sandwich “even better”.
BLT Sandwich
Ingredients
- Bacon as much as you would like for your sandwich
- 1-2 slices Butterhead Lettuce
- 1-2 slices Heirloom Tomatoes
- 2 slices Sandwich Bread
- Butter
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400ºF. While the oven is heating, lay bacon slices on a rack with a tray with foil under it.
- Add the bacon to the oven and shut the door for 15-20 minutes. Check on your bacon after 15 minutes and remove if the level of crispiness is to your liking. Leave it in if you prefer it crispier and remove once you are satisfied.
- While bacon is cooking, heat a pan on the stove on medium-low to medium heat. Spread butter on both sides of your sandwich bread.
- Add the buttered bread to the stove. Work in batches (if necessary) to avoid overcrowding. Check the bread frequently and flip once toasted to your liking. Repeat with the second side.
- Cut your heirloom tomato into slices. Add salt and pepper to these slices.
- Wash your butterhead lettuce.
- To assemble: bottom bread slice -> half of your bacon -> butterhead lettuce -> heirloom tomato slices -> remaining half of your bacon -> top bread slice.
