BLT Sandwich

posted in Lunch by Kathy Maister
Difficulty:

Sandwiches can be as exotic as you like, with all sorts of fancy ingredients. But, there is nothing quite as heart-warming as a classic “BLT.”

Today I’m going to show you how to make a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich, better know as the BLT!

We've already discussed how to cook bacon in the microwave.

We have also solved the mystery of how to actually wash your own lettuce!

We still need to slice a tomato. A really sharp kitchen knife or a serrated edge knife will cut the tomato beautifully. (Serrated edge knives are the ones with the jagged edge.)

Be sure to always use a sawing motion or you may end up squishing the tomato!

Then we’ll add all of this to your favorite bread, which of course should be toasted. A dollop of mayonnaise adds the finishing touch to a perfect BLT!

Spread each slice with about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. This is not a sandwich you should be eating if you are counting calories!

Add the lettuce, the bacon and the sliced tomato. (It doesn’t really matter what order you follow.)

All of the amounts are adjustable to your taste. And that’s all there is to a BLT!

To slice the sandwich, (optional) use a serrated-edge bread knife , with a sawing motion (as usual with this knife).

Enjoy!

PS. Did you know that sandwiches are named after an actual person, (you guessed it) the English Earl of Sandwich? Apparently, the Earl of Sandwich had an obsession for gambling. Because he didn't want to be disturbed long enough to eat a big meal, slices of bread with various fillings were brought to him at the gaming table.

You can view and print this recipe here.

If you are new to startcooking, or are a regular visitor here, please consider subscribing for free.

20 comments

Ben | posted on Sep 21, 2006

I've always thought that story was apocryphal.

Fred | posted on Oct 2, 2006

I found your site quite by accident and was very much impressed with the detail in which you describe cooking techniques with even the easiest to prepare of items, such as a baked potatoe, along with the photos. As a result I am subscribing and wish you much success with your site

Virginia | posted on Nov 14, 2007

hello,

well i love making these except i have one problem, i dont like tomatos...i never had...what could i use to replace that ?..i kno it could be anything i wanted !!! but what do you think!!!!

Kathy Maister | posted on Nov 14, 2007

Ben, the Earl story is totally true!

Fred, no detail is too small to omit! I remember watching Julia Child describing making a dish by saying “continue to stir until you see that first waft of steam…” How perfectly precise she was in every detail of cooking!

Virginia, how about some sliced cucumbers or avocado or even some chicken or a sliced hard cooked egg would be great! (It’s beginning to sound like a club sandwich!)

Jon | posted on Nov 15, 2007

Virginia, I'm with you on the no tomatos so have never fancied a BLT. But thinking about it what about red peppers - either char grilled or some of those fancy ones out of a jar in oil.

Though for me the best bacon sandwich has to be thick white toasted bread; butter straight on so it melts; grilled bacon and brown sauce not tomato ketchup.

Kathy, can you get brown sauce in the USA?

Kathy Maister | posted on Nov 15, 2007

Jon, I love the idea of the roasted red pepper, but I'm not too sure about the brown sauce-it's a bit strong for my taste! Here in the USA we do have "A1 Steak Sauce" and some stores do carry HP Sauce.

Virgina | posted on Nov 15, 2007

wow thanks jon..i might just try that..yum yum!!!:)

Jesse | posted on Jan 14, 2008

Cool site, I have my own way of making BLT's but thought id look up on how others do it. I add cheese to mine, always on top of the bacon so it gets slightly melted. It really makes BLT's much much better imo.

Kathy Maister | posted on Jan 15, 2008

Thanks Jesse, The melted cheese sounds wonderful! At least with the bacon and tomato...not too sure about the lettuce as well!

Haley | posted on Mar 24, 2008

hello,

I hate tomatoe and lettuce so I don't know what to put to my BLT sandwich. Kathy can you recomend me something that goes with your taste? By the way, I love the website.Everyday I see it because I love to cook!

Kathy Maister | posted on Mar 27, 2008

Sliced cucumbers, avocado, fried egg, hard cooked sliced egg, sprouts, ....

Barbara | posted on Apr 14, 2008

I was wondering! Having looked up several receipes for blt sandwiches or clubsandwiches (depending on what you put on it: I put, mayo, cheese, tomato, very thin slices of chicken (cooked of course) and grilled bacon on it), should you toast the bread before you dress it, or should it stay "untoasted". Or is this just a matter of personal taste?

Kathy Maister | posted on Apr 14, 2008

Toasting the bread is more traditional and would be my preference, but if YOU prefer untoasted BLTs - go for it!

john williamson | posted on Aug 20, 2008

Wife and I love B.L.T's and we also enjoy a little kick to such a sandwich. So intead of using Mayo. we use Horseradish Sauce. Try it if you like that bit of spicyness as we do.

Kathy Maister | posted on Aug 21, 2008

John, that's a GREAT idea! Wow, I'll bet that sure does add a kick to a BLT. I'll have to give that a try!

Lisa | posted on Sep 11, 2008

I love BLT's, but I can't eat mayo right now. It's too dry without - any suggestions?

Eric | posted on Sep 12, 2008

Hi Lisa,

You may want to try nayonaise. 100% vegan so if it is a question of allergies or intolerance to mayonnaise that might work. It tastes a little bit different but should do the job. It is made by Nasoya but I believe there are other companies making it as well.

Eric

Kathy Maister | posted on Sep 12, 2008

Great suggestion Eric!

Lisa, I don't know how you feel about avocados, but they are so rich and creamy you probably would not even notice the lack of mayo, and would be a great addition to a BLT.

Lisa | posted on Sep 12, 2008

Both suggestions sound good - thanks! I am pregnant so won't eat mayo. I tried cream cheese last night - good, but a little rich.

Kathy Maister | posted on Sep 13, 2008

Congratulations Lisa!

1 trackback

Trackback URL:

http://startcooking.com/trackback.php?id=61

url:	http://www.slashfood.com/2006/09/21/sandwiches-...
blog:	Slashfood
title:	Sandwiches from Slashfood Readers
excerpt:	We asked for a sandwich, and we sure got it. Slashfood readers share their sandwiches, and we've got the first set here. ...A BLT is just bacon, lettuce, and tomato, right? But the Ultimate BLT requires skilled technique!

Get startcooking for Free

Are you a busy person who just never got around to learning the basics of cooking? We built startcooking.com just for you. You'll learn how to make quick and tasty meals, plus learn the basic cooking skills you'll need. Get ready to start cooking!