For some, summer is all about salads. For others, it’s the prime time for barbecue. But for me, at least, by mid-August, I have lost all will to cook a well-planned meal. Until it’s time for the first soup of the season, I don’t want to spend one more second in my hot kitchen than I have to.
Conveniently, though, this time of year is also when tomatoes are truly at their best. Plump, juicy and finally flavorful enough to play a starring role in summery dishes, tomatoes shine in August. I’ve written before about my love of tomato sandwiches, but when you want something a little more substantial, another low-effort sandwich takes the summer dinner spotlight: the BLT.
A BLT (or a bacon, lettuce and tomato) sandwich, for the uninitiated, is exactly what it sounds like: a sandwich stacked with the unfussy combination of dripping, fatty bacon; ripe, juicy tomatoes and crisp, cold lettuce, all placed between two slices of toasted bread. Different diners may have different preferences when it comes to condiments and additional toppings, but those three key ingredients always remain the same.
BLTs are ideal for summer nights because, firstly, they make use of the most prized summer produce, but even more importantly because they yield delicious results for incredibly little effort. Besides toasting the bread and frying the bacon, there’s actually no cooking involved. Plus, they require significantly fewer ingredients than something like an Italian sub, another beloved but rather more labor-intensive summer meal.
So, are you ready to improve your BLT game? Keep these tips in common on your next easy BLT night.
1. Bread selection is important.
You may think of bread as one of the least important aspects of a great BLT, but that’s an incorrect assumption. Because this is such a simple sandwich, choosing the right bread is paramount to achieving BLT perfection. Plain white sandwich bread will work if you’re trying to achieve the most classic iteration of this sandwich, but by swapping that sandwich bread out with a baguette or some sort of seeded bread, you can make your sandwich feel a bit more elevated. Just don’t forget to toast your bread, especially if you’re using a softer variety.
2. Keep your condiment game simple.
Just because the ingredient list for a BLT is short doesn’t mean you have to go wild with the condiments to achieve the flavorful summer sandwich of your dreams. Personally, I like to keep things really simple, with nothing more adorning my BLT than a slight slathering of good-quality mayonnaise. If you want to add a touch of acidity or spice to the sandwich, mustard can be a solid addition. Otherwise, though, there’s not a lot a BLT needs in terms of sauces or spices.
3. Don’t overlook the lettuce.
Lettuce seems like it would be a straightforward addition to your BLT, but you’ll want to think about the type of lettuce you select. Iceberg lettuce offers that fresh crispness many are looking for in their sandwich, while romaine may be better for those who prefer their lettuce to not be so watery. If you can get your hands on it, butter lettuce will give your sandwich a lovely mild, sweet flavor, but it doesn’t necessarily boast that crispness other types of lettuce can provide.
4. Explore a variety of bacon options.
Pork bacon is the way to go if you’re looking for that classic fatty, crispy diner BLT, but you can switch things up if you want to go a healthier route. Turkey bacon is always a good option when you’re looking for something lighter, and pan-fried tempeh makes for a nutty, richly textured vegan bacon replacement for those who want to omit meat from their meal.
5. Always, always use high-quality tomatoes.
The most important ingredient in your BLT is, of course, the tomatoes. Home-grown are best, if you happen to have a garden. Your next-best option is to purchase tomatoes at a trusted farmers market. If you only have access to tomatoes from the grocery store, opt for ripe tomatoes that are still on the vine for best results.
Samantha Maxwell is a food writer and editor based in Boston. Follow her on Twitter at @samseating.