Hooray for fresh produce season! The big juicy tomatoes are ripening and one of the first cravings I get when I see that are BLT sandwiches. If you love BLTs as much as I do, try these garlic bread BLT sandwiches, they are the best!
They are made with freshly baked sourdough bread, smothered with mayonnaise and a stack of thick slices of fresh tomatoes, crispy bacon, and fresh lettuce. This is an all around perfect reminder of how delicious a simple sandwich can be.
To Make Garlic Bread BLT Sandwiches, You Will Need:
Fresh boule of Sourdough bread
Using sourdough bread for a BLT actually enhances the sandwich in several delicious and practical ways. Sourdough adds a depth of flavor. It has a tangy, slightly nutty flavor that complements the salty bacon, juicy tomato, and crisp lettuce. It also adds complexity without overpowering the other ingredients. Its chewy crumb and crisp crust hold up beautifully to the moisture of tomatoes and mayo, preventing your BLT sandwich from being soggy. Grilled sourdough achieves a golden, crunchy exterior, delivering a satisfying contrast to the soft fillings. Sourdough is also a healthier bread option than white bread. This is because it is often easier to digest and has a lower glycemic index. It also contains beneficial bacteria and prebiotics that support gut health.
Bacon
The smoky, salty flavor of bacon is incomparable to other meats, but not all bacon is created equal. Seek out local farms or butcher shops for superior flavor and freshness. Shopping local means there is a shorter supply chain and fresher meat. It is usually processed and sold within days, not weeks. Local butchers offer customizable cuts, tailoring thickness and fat content to your needs. Additionally, small farms tend to raise animals more humanely, positively impacting meat quality. Local pork tends to be free of antibiotics, hormones, and preservatives. It is often pasture-raised or grass-fed for improved fat profiles. Want to have an environmental and economic impact? Buying local reduces carbon footprints, keeps money in your community, and supports small farms and sustainable agriculture.
If you can’t find a pork farm nearby, consider these brands: Applegate Organics Uncured Bacon, Pederson’s Natural Farms Uncured Bacon, or Wellshire Farms All-Natural Bacon. Look for no added nitrates/nitrites, lower sodium, minimal ingredients, and, if possible, organic or humanely raised options.
Tomato
The best tomatoes for garlic bread BLT sandwiches are big juicy slicing tomatoes. These are beefsteak, brandywine, big beef, better boy, or Cherokee purple. These tomatoes are called slicing tomatoes because they make large, uniform slices. They are huge, dense, and meaty, often large enough that a single slice can cover an entire piece of bread. They have a high flesh-to-seed ratio, resulting in less watery content and a more satisfying bite. Their mild, sweet flavor beautifully complements bacon and lettuce.
Romaine or Iceberg lettuce
Lettuce is just as important as the other ingredients in garlic bread BLT sandwiches. Romaine and iceberg add a crisp, fresh crunch that perfectly complements the other ingredients.
Mayonnaise
A smear of mayonnaise is necessary on BLT sandwiches. Mayo adds a rich, velvety texture that balances the crisp bacon, crunchy lettuce, and juicy tomato. It softens the bite and adds a luxurious creamy flavor without overpowering the other ingredients. Its mild tang and subtle sweetness amplify the savory bacon and the acidity of the tomato. It acts like a flavor bridge, harmonizing the salty, fresh, and smoky elements. Mayo also helps prevent sogginess by creating a layer between the bread and the juicy tomato.
Garlic Butter
Just one little clove of garlic mixed into butter and spread on the outside of your sandwich can take your garlic bread BLT sandwich to a whole new level! This delicious combination adds the savory toasted garlic bread flavor we all love. Garlic butter infuses the bread with a rich and savory taste that plain butter simply can’t compete with. The aromatic garlic really brings the whole sandwich together, especially when you combine it with the other delicious ingredients in the garlic bread BLT sandwich. While regular butter helps the bread toast evenly, garlic butter creates a beautifully browned and flavorful crust. The butter crisps up the bread and the garlic caramelizes just a bit, adding a lovely touch of sweetness and complexity.
Preparation, Servings, and Storage
These sandwiches are super simple to prepare, making them a perfect choice for a quick lunch or dinner on a warm summer day. A great tip is to cook the bacon in the oven—it’s faster and way less messy than doing it in a skillet. Plus, you can cook an entire pound at once instead of just a few strips! This recipe makes four crunchy, juicy sandwiches that you’ll want to enjoy again and again because they’re just that good! They’re best served fresh, but any leftover ingredients can be stored separately and pulled together again, within a few days for another yummy sandwich.
Do You Love Garlic Bread BLT Sandwiches? Try Some of Our Other Favorites!
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California club with Creamy Cucumber Slaw
Ultimate Grilled Ham and Cheese
Garlic Bread BLT Sandwiches
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Bacon
- 1 Small loaf sourdough bread sliced into 8 pieces
- 8 tbsp Butter, softened
- 1 Garlic clove, minced
- 8 tbsp Mayonnaise
- 1 Large slicing tomato, beefsteak or similar variety
- 4 pieces Romaine lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉.
- Lay the bacon slices on a sheet pan and bake for 15 minutes or until crispy.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the butter and minced garlic.
- Spread the garlic butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- While the bacon is cooking, start grilling the bread. Place each slice of bread on a preheated to medium griddle, butter side down and grill for 5 minutes or until the bread develops a golden crust.
- Remove the bread from the griddle and place on a plate for assembling the sandwiches.
- Spread mayonnaise on each slice of bread.
- Add lettuce, tomato, and bacon to four slices of bread and place the top piece on the sandwiches.
- Cut in half and serve immediately.
Nutrition
