BLT with Basil Mayo and Avocado | BLT Recipes With a Twist
Crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and lettuce topped with avocado and a fresh, homemade basil mayonnaise on two perfectly toasted slices of bread.
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Do you like BLT’s? This is probably my favorite sandwich! It makes me think of summertime lunches and juicy tomatoes from the garden.
The Classic BLT sandwich is a delicious combination of salty bacon, juicy, flavorful in-season heirloom tomatoes, and crunchy lettuce on lightly toasted bread slices. When it’s the middle of summer and tomatoes are at their peak flavor this sandwich can’t be beat. This recipe takes the classic sandwich and gives it a fun twist with mayo packed with fresh herbs and fresh avocado.
WHAT KIND OF TOMATO SHOULD I USE IN A BLT SANDWICH?
If you can get your hands on an heirloom variety in the middle of summer this is the best choice. Garden fresh tomatoes really make this sandwich extra delicious. If you’re making this sandwich when it is not tomato season then Roma tomatoes can be a good choice. Romas may be small but they pack a good robust taste. Of course, vine-ripened, beefsteak tomatoes can be used as well, typically they have a more mild flavor.
WHAT KIND OF BACON SHOULD I USE IN A BLT SANDWICH?
A thick cut is preferable so that the meat has a presence. Thin cut just gets overwhelmed with all of the other tastes going on.
Cook the bacon just until it renders fat and is crisping up, but not to the point it is so crunchy that it is too brittle or burned. If you are making several sandwiches use the oven technique. Line a cookie tray with parchment paper, lay bacon on a cookie tray in a single layer, and bake in a 400-degree oven for about 15-20 minutes. If you are just making one or two sandwiches fry the bacon up in a skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side. Drain the bacon slices on paper towels and set aside until you’re ready to serve.
WHAT KIND OF LETTUCE SHOULD I USE FOR A BLT SANDWICH?
I love using butter lettuce or garden lettuce on a BLT. Any lettuce that is tender and slightly crisp is a great choice. If you want to channel that diner feel iceberg lettuce gives that familiar fresh crunch.
WHAT KIND OF BREAD SHOULD I USE FOR A BLT SANDWICH?
Thick slices of sourdough bread, artisan bread, Italian bread, or my no-knead olive oil bread work perfectly in this recipe! You could also build this sandwich on a ciabatta roll, or a piece of baguette.
NOW FOR THE INGREDIENT NOT IN THE TITLE BUT NECESSARY FOR A BLT
Mayonnaise. You need a good mayo for a good BLT. For this BLT recipe with a twist, I use my homemade basil mayo. It’s a mayonnaise made completely from scratch and packed with fresh basil. Here’s a link to that full post:
Ingredients needed for Homemade Basil Mayonnaise
Egg
Lemon Juice – lemon juice adds some acidity to balance out the mayonnaise and makes the flavor more of a lemon-basil mayonnaise which is so delicious!
Mustard – You don’t taste this but it adds great depth of flavor
Avocado oil –
1/2 cup Fresh Basil – there must be fresh basil leaves in basil mayonnaise! Don’t use dried basil, as the results will not work without the fresh basil flavor.
Lemon Juice – lemon juice adds some acidity to balance out the mayonnaise.
Sea Salt – just a pinch to bring out the flavors. You can add fresh cracked black pepper, too if you like pepper.
Printable Recipe Card
BLT with Basil Mayo and Avocado | BLT Recipes With a Twist
Ingredients
For the BLT Sandwiches
- 4 slices bread – like a good sourdough Italian bread, or my olive oil no-knead bread
- 1 large tomato-sliced heirloom are the best
- 2-4 pieces of butter lettuce or hydroponic lettuce
- 1 ripe avocado
- 4 pieces of bacon
- 2-4 Tablespoons of Basil Mayonnaise
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Basil Mayonnaise
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard
- 1 cup avocado oil
- 1/2 cup Fresh Basil There must be fresh basil leaves in basil mayonnaise! Don't use dried basilas the results will not work without the fresh basil flavor.
- Sea Salt Just a pinch to bring out the flavors. You can add fresh cracked black peppertoo if you like pepper.
Instructions
For the Basil Mayonnaise
- Add 1 egg, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of mustard, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, fresh basil, and 1 cup of avocado oil to a wide-mouth mason jar.
- Next, take an immersion blender and beginning at the bottom of the jar blend the egg until it is white and creamy. This will take about 1 minute.
- Next, move the blender up to incorporate the oil. Continue blending until it is fully mixed, about 1-2 additional minutes.
- Store the mayonnaise in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. It will keep for up to a week in the fridge.
For the sandwiches:
- This recipe should make 2 sandwiches.
- Cook the bacon according to the package directions.
- While the bacon is cooking, slice and toast the bread.
- Wash the lettuce and tomato and then slice the tomato into large, thick slices. Cut the avocado into thin slices.
- Once the bacon is crispy and done cooking place it on a plate with a paper towel to let the extra fat drain off.
- Then begin to assemble your sandwiches. Spread each slice of toast with some of the basil mayo.
- On one piece of bread layer the other ingredients. Some lettuce, tomato slices, sliced avocado, and the bacon. Top with the other slice of bread.