The Ultimate BLT Sandwich Recipe

A BLT is not a well-dressed bacon sandwich. A BLT is a tomato sandwich, seasoned with bacon. From this basic premise, all else follows. Indeed, a better name for the BLT might well be the Tomato Club, for it is the perfect tomato, not the bacon, that is the rarest, the most ephemeral, the most singularly delicious ingredient. A BLT is not a democracy. It is not a committee meeting. It is a dictatorship, and the tomato is King, Queen, and Supreme Leader. In the BLT universe, the Prime Directive is that all other ingredients shall be at Her Majesty's service, their only role to prop her up and enhance her best qualities.

Here's how I make mine.

WHY IT WORKS

Slow-cooking the bacon renders its fat, while helping it to cook evenly and crisply.

Toasting the bread in bacon fat adds an extra layer of flavor.

Seasoning the tomatoes directly with salt and pepper enhances their flavor.

Shredded iceberg lettuce provides structure, sweetness, and crunch.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:

Griddle or large skillet, bacon press or masonry trowel

NOTES:

This recipe can easily be scaled up. To cook bacon for a larger crowd, preheat the oven to 400°F. Lay bacon strips on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper, top with a second sheet of parchment paper, and place a second tray on top to keep the bacon flat while baking. Transfer the sandwiched bacon slices to the oven, and bake until well-rendered and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Reserve the bacon drippings, and brush onto slices of bread before toasting in the toaster or on a griddle.

I strongly recommend using an immersion-cured bacon, such as Nueske's or Wright bacon, for this sandwich. Many typical supermarket brands inject brine into the bacon for faster curing, which waterlogs it and causes it to spatter more and cook unevenly. To avoid this type of bacon, look for ascorbate or sodium erythorbate on the ingredients label—antioxidants required by law to stem the formation of nitrosamines in injected bacon.

Homemade mayonnaise is easy to make using our technique, but mayonnaise preference is personal, so use whatever your favorite mayonnaise is. I know better than to get between someone and their Duke's. Finely shredded iceberg lettuce is my lettuce of choice, unless you can find super-fresh, young, crisp leaf or romaine lettuce at the farmers market. Use only the best summer tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS

3 strips thick-cut, naturally cured bacon (see note above)

2 slices high-quality sandwich bread, such as shokupan

2 tablespoons (30ml) homemade or store-bought mayonnaise (see note above)

1 1/2 cups finely shredded iceberg lettuce (see note above)

4 thick slices ripe tomato (see note above)

Coarse sea salt, such as fleur de sel or Maldon

Freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1.

Place a griddle or skillet over medium-low heat. Add bacon and place a bacon press, skillet, or masonry trowel on top of it to keep it flat as it cooks. Cook until lightly browned on first side, about 5 minutes, then flip, cover again, and continue cooking until bacon is browned on both sides and fat has rendered, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer bacon to a paper towel–lined plate and set aside.

2.

Place bread on same skillet or griddle and toast in bacon fat over medium-low heat, swirling occasionally, until evenly browned on first side. Flip and brown second side.

3.

Lay toasted bread on a work surface and spread mayonnaise on both top faces. Divide lettuce evenly between both pieces of bread. Layer tomato slices on one piece of bread and sprinkle generously with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper.

4.

Break bacon slices in half and layer them onto the sandwich in 2 layers of 3 half-slices each, alternating the orientation of bacon in each layer for more structural stability. Close sandwich and cut in half diagonally. Serve immediately.

Read More

Spinach and Artichoke Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Recipe

This cheesy melt is everything you love about spinach and artichoke dip, in crispy, crunchy, cheesy sandwich form. It's a hearty lunch or, paired with a bowl of tomato soup, a full dinner on its own.

WHY IT WORKS
Yellow onion adds depth of flavor and a subtle sweetness that plays up the mellow flavor of artichoke hearts.
Homemade mayo binds the vegetables into a creamy filling.
The creamy tang of Drunken Goat offsets the earthy spinach, for a lighter flavor overall.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
10-inch stainless steel skillet, heat-resistant spatula, griddle or 12-inch cast iron skillet, flexible metal spatula
NOTES:
I like the convenience of frozen spinach, which doesn't need to be washed, but fresh works just as well. Do be sure to use mature spinach rather than baby, which will taste too astringent here. I like the way Drunken Goat cheese melts and stretches, but if you can't find it or don't like the flavor, try Fontina or Havarti instead.

INGREDIENTS
3/4 ounce safflower oil (1 1/2 tablespoons; 22ml), or other neutral oil
1 medium yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced (about 6 ounces; 170g)
10 ounces fresh or frozen spinach (2 cups; 280g) (see note above)
1 large garlic clove, finely minced (not grated)
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 (14-ounce; 395g) can or jar artichoke hearts, drained
3 1/2 ounces Egg White Mayo or whole-egg mayonnaise (1/2 cup; 100g)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 slices country-style white bread
2 ounces softened unsalted butter (4 tablespoons; 55g), about 70°F (21°C), or more to taste
8 ounces Drunken Goat cheese (2 heaping cups; 225g), coarsely shredded (see note above)
DIRECTIONS
1.
Heat oil in a 10-inch stainless steel skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, without stirring, until spinach leaves release their water, about 2 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until most of the water has evaporated, about 10 minutes longer. Add garlic and cayenne pepper and cook, stirring, until garlic's aroma has mellowed, about 2 minutes. Add artichoke hearts and cook until they begin to fall apart, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and cool until no longer steaming, then stir in mayo. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2.
Spread about 1/2 tablespoon (7g) butter onto one side of each slice of bread, then transfer slices, butter side down, to an electric griddle preheated to 350°F (177°C) or a large cast iron skillet preheated over medium heat. (You may need to work in batches.) Divide cheese evenly over bread slices, then top half of them with spinach and artichoke mixture. After about 5 minutes, when cheese has fully melted and bread is golden, close sandwiches with a flexible metal spatula, transfer to a cutting board, and cut diagonally with a chef's knife. Serve immediately.

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