How to Make a Perfect BLT

That’s right- a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich! It’s a cool, sunny, late summer day. I’ve been waiting all summer for this BLT - today is the day! It was not a good year for tomatoes in New England, but I managed to salvage a few large beefsteak tomatoes. They’re marbled through and through with bright red flesh, unlike anything you can buy in a store- except possibly at a farmer’s market.

Here’s how I do it:
Pick your best tomatoes. They should be large enough for one slice to completely cover a large piece of bread. Slice them thick, a half-inch or so, and lay the slices on a paper towel to drain out some water.

If you have a lettuce garden, run out to the garden and pick a handful of lettuce, otherwise take the store bought stuff out of the fridge and wash a few leaves, then pat dry. I prefer baby lettuce.

Get two iron skillets going on medium low heat- one for the bread and the other for the bacon. The bacon and the bread should be cooked at about the same time- 10 to 12 minutes or so.

Select your favorite bread- today I used a large coarse multigrain- and spread soft butter on the outside of each slice. Put them together, like a sandwich without a filling, butter side out on the skillet at medium low heat. Flip it over when it turns golden brown and crispy- about 5-6 minutes.

Cook the bacon at the same time on the other skillet. You need really good quality bacon. I like extra thick cut bacon. (My wife likes it thin and crispy). I’m lucky to be able to get North Country Smokehouse bacon locally from Claremont, NH. (You can buy it on-line too) It’s smoked with apple wood- the smoky flavor is strong, but very pleasing to the senses. It’s also very lean and cut very thick so you can really sink your teeth into it. Add a little extra coarse ground pepper to the bacon and cook it slowly on the skillet at medium low. I use 2 slices per sandwich.


Assemble the Masterpiece:
Place the bread on a plate, grilled sides down. Smear mayo on both slices. (A purest would make their mayo, but I don’t) Place the lettuce on one slice, then the tomato slice, and top with a couple slices of bacon.


Put it together, cut it in two, and enjoy it with someone so you can tell each other how good it is!!
Here’s a video of the final taste test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0IwkFwj4Sk