Classic B.L.T. with a little twist! Adding the “A” (avocado) and a creamy spread takes this average BLT up a notch. Don’t skip out on quality ingredients when you assemble this BALT sandwich.
When it comes to a BLT, you need quality ingredients. Just a BLT just wouldn’t suffice and needed a little extra flavour. Turn a BLT into a BALT with slices of avocado. You goto love sandwiches when you can really taste all ingredients in every layer.
FAQS & TIPS
The Bread
A good sandwich is only as good as the bread it is sandwiched with. For the perfect BLT I recommend a hearty white bread. Some say this is too flimsy; you need a hearty French bread or Italian loaf to hold up to all that juicy tomato. The crusts are too chewy. You need a nice and tender edge crust, the easier to bite into. Those chewy crusts will ruin that first bite.
But we’re not just slapping the ingredients on plain bread, oh no. First we are going to butter each side and lightly toast it on the stove. I said this was the BEST BLT, not the lowest in calories. Skip the butter if you must; but it really does add tons of flavour.
I chose to toast my buttered bread in a skillet, but you could easily pop dry bread in the toaster and then butter each side when it pops out.
Do NOT over toast your bread! We don’t even want it to be dark brown. Just a nice, light, golden touch of toast and you are good to go. This will keep your bread from dissolving into a soggy mess as you eat, and add the perfect amount of crunch, without turning your bread into a mess of shattering crumbs that tears up the roof of your mouth.
The Sauce
MAYONNAISE. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, mayonnaise is God’s greatest gift to the condiment kingdom, by a long shot. It is the perfect seal for so many sandwiches: creamy and smooth and perfectly tart. A nice BLT is no exception.
you might think there is too much mayo on this bread. You are wrong.
If you are not a “mayonnaise person” then I hate to say it, but maybe you just aren’t a BLT person.
Okay okay, maybe that’s a little harsh. Here are some other options. But be warned, most of them involve mayonnaise. It only gets better you guys. It’s time to convert yourself.
Other sauce ideas for your BLT:
These are listed in the order that I’m most excited about trying next:
- This BLT would be SO amazing made with Garlic Aioli. (Note to all the mayo haters: aioli is just glorified mayo with garlic and lemon. #sorrynotsorry
- Stir together 2 tablespoons mayonnaise with 1 tablespoon of this Balsamic Reduction. Or, make a regular BLT with mayo and then drizzle the whole thing with a Balsamic Reduction before closing your sandwich. That would be so amazing!!
- Mix together 2 tablespoons mayonnaise with 1/2 or 1 tablespoon mustard. I generally don’t approve of squirting straight up mustard onto my BLT, but stirring a little into your mayo to spice it up is acceptable. Regular old French’s or Dijon will do.
- Sriracha mayo!! Oh I love this stuff. Start with 2 teaspoons sriracha with 2 tablespoons mayo and move up from there according to your tastes.
- Fry sauce: mix together equal parts ketchup and mayonnaise.
- Stir together 2 tablespoons mayonnaise with 1 tablespoon Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. Then sprinkle fresh dill on your sandwich. YES.
- Simple garlic sauce: 1/4 cup mayo, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 2 tablespoons mustard, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Here’s what this BLT looks like made with the Chipotle Mayo I just posted! It’s spicy and creamy and so so perfect. It’s only in last place because I just made it last week:
The Lettuce
The lettuce you choose is directly related to how much crunch you prefer. I like green leaf. It’s green enough to make you feel healthy but not so crunchy that you’re overwhelmed and literally can’t hear anything that’s going on in the room when you take a bite. Romaine is my second choice. Regular ol’ iceberg will do ya in a pinch!
The Tomato
The tomato is arguably the most important element of a BLT sandwich or any variation of a BLT!
Tomatoes bring the flavour. The best are ones that come out the garden. Homegrown tomatoes are out of this world! Vine ripe tomatoes, Beefsteak, or Heirlooms we consider the best to use. But really, any type of tomato will do as long as it is perfectly ripe. It should be bright red and ridiculously juicy.
The Bacon
The main rule here with the bacon is to use plenty of it.
Use thin cut bacon, not thick. You want thin crispy strips that crunch in your mouth when you take a bite. No skimping, add MORE layers of thin cut bacon. You know you want to!
The Avocado
Avocados 🥑 are available almost everywhere in North America.
Make sure your avocado is nice and ripe. Slice it up and add it on top of your bacon.
Lastly, slather that other toasted slice of bread with a healthy dose of mayo or your chosen sauce, and top off your sandwich.
The last rule is that you have to gently press down and slice in half. I’m not going to get into an argument with you about whether to slice into triangles or rectangles. I feel like I’ve been bossy enough today. You do you. If you don’t slice, you might have to unhinge your jaw, snake-like, to get this sandwich down your gullet. I’m not saying it’d be the worst way to go.
BALT Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 slices thick slices hearty white bread
- 4 teaspoons butter soft
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 slices thin cut bacon
- 2-4 pieces green leaf lettuce
- 1 perfectly ripe tomato
- 1/2 perfectly ripe avocado
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Start by frying your bacon. I highly recommend baking your bacon! The clean up is so much easier. When the bacon is crispy take it out and remove to a paper-towel lined plate. Tear each slice of bacon in half so there are 8 strips. Keep warm until ready to assemble.
- While the bacon is cooking, prepare your bread..
- Toast bread lightly in a toaster and then spread each side with butter. Set aside.
- Wash and dry your green leaf lettuce.
- Slice your tomato into slices that are about 3/8 inch thick. Place the tomatoes on a paper towel-lined plate so absorb some of the water.
- Cut your avocado in half, then slice one half into strips.
- Spread about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise on one side of each of your toasted bread.
- Top one piece of toast with lettuce leaf.
- Next add 2 tomato slices that have been sitting on a paper towel for at least a few minutes. Sprinkle your tomatoes with salt and pepper.
- Add all the bacon.
- Top the bacon with avocado strips.
- Top the sandwich with other piece of toast and gently press down. Slice the sandwich in half.
If we missed any questions that you may have, feel free to leave your questions in the comment section below.
