BLT

Last updated

BLT sandwich
Mmm... BLT for me! (5487341380).jpg
A BLT sandwich on toast
Alternative namesBacon, lettuce, and tomato
Main ingredientsBacon, lettuce, tomato, bread
Variations Club sandwich
Food energy
(per serving)
350 [1]   kcal
Nutritional value
(per serving)
Protein 16  g
Fat 34  g
Carbohydrate 42 [2]   g

A BLT is a type of sandwich, named for the initials of its primary ingredients, bacon, lettuce, and tomato. It can be made with varying recipes according to personal preference. Simple variants include using different types of lettuce or tomatoes, toasting or not, or adding mayonnaise. More pronounced variants can include using turkey bacon or tofu in place of bacon, removing the lettuce entirely, or adding other ingredients such as a fried egg, avocado, or sprouts.

Contents

History

Although its ingredients have existed for many years, there is little evidence of BLT sandwich recipes before 1900. In the 1903 Good Housekeeping Everyday Cook Book, a recipe for a club sandwich included bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and a slice of turkey sandwiched between two slices of bread. [3] While the 1928 book Seven Hundred Sandwiches by Florence A. Cowles includes a section on bacon sandwiches, the recipes often include pickles and none contain tomato. [4]

The BLT became popular after World War II because of the rapid expansion of supermarkets, which made its ingredients available year-round. The initials, representing "bacon, lettuce, tomato", likely began in the U.S. restaurant industry as shorthand for the sandwich, but it is unclear when this transferred to the public consciousness. [5] For example, a 1951 edition of the Saturday Evening Post makes reference to the sandwich, although it does not use its initials, describing a scene in which: "On the tray, invariably, are a bowl of soup, a toasted sandwich of bacon, lettuce and tomato, and a chocolate milk shake." [6]

A 1954 issue of Modern Hospital contains a meal suggestion that includes: "Bean Soup, Toasted Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich, Pickles, Jellied Banana Salad, Cream Dressing, and Pound Cake." [7] By 1958, Hellmann's Mayonnaise advertised their product as "traditional on bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches", suggesting that the combination had been around for some time. [8] However, there are several references to a "B.L.T." in the early 1970s, including in one review of Bruce Jay Friedman's play entitled Steambath titled: "A B.L.T. for God – hold the mayo." [9] The abbreviation used in title references a line of dialogue in the play in which God yells, "Send up a bacon and lettuce and tomato sandwich, hold the mayo. You burn the toast, I'll smite you down with my terrible swift sword." [10]

Popularity

As the sixth-most popular sandwich in the United States, it falls behind the ham sandwich, [11] the roast beef sandwich, turkey sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, and the grilled cheese sandwich. A 2008 poll by OnePoll showed that the BLT was the "nation's favourite" sandwich in the UK. [12] BLT sandwiches are popular especially in the summer, [13] following the tomato harvest. [14] In the United States, the BLT season is associated with an increase in the price of pork-bellies, which are processed into bacon. [15]

Ingredients and preparation

A BLT sandwich preparation Making a BLT sandwich with avocado and basil mayonnaise.jpg
A BLT sandwich preparation

While there are variations on the BLT, the essential ingredients are bacon, lettuce, and tomato, between two slices of bread (usually white), often toasted. [16] The quantity and quality of the ingredients are matters of personal preference. The bacon can be well cooked or tender, but as it "carries" the other flavours, [11] chefs recommend using higher quality meat; in particular, chef Edward Lee states "Your general supermarket bacon is not going to cut the mustard." [16]

Iceberg lettuce is a common choice because it does not add too much flavour while adding crunch. [16] Food writer Ed Levine has suggested that BLT does not require lettuce at all, as it is "superfluous", [17] a suggestion that Jon Bonné, lifestyle editor at MSNBC, described as "shocking". Michele Anna Jordan, author of The BLT Cookbook , believes the tomato is the key ingredient and recommends the use of the beefsteak tomato as it has more flesh and fewer seeds. [16] Similarly, chef and food writer J. Kenji Lopez-Alt believes that a BLT is not a bacon sandwich with additional ingredients, but rather, a tomato sandwich seasoned with bacon. For that reason, Lopez-Alt argues that the BLT is a seasonal sandwich best made with high-quality summer tomatoes. [18] [19]

The sandwich is sometimes served with dressings, like mayonnaise. [16] The bread can be of any variety, white or wholemeal, toasted or not, depending on personal preference. [11]

Variations

BLT with avocado Bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado.jpg
BLT with avocado

The sandwich has a high sodium and fat content, and has been specifically targeted by UK café chains in an effort to reduce salt and fat. [20] Due to this, low-fat mayonnaise is a common substitute along with low salt bread and less fatty bacon. A more visible solution is to use turkey bacon in lieu of normal bacon. [1] One of the variations on the BLT is the club sandwich, a two-layered sandwich in which one layer is a BLT. The other layer can be almost any sort of sliced meat, normally chicken or turkey. [21]

In culture

United States

In 1963, pop art sculptor Claes Oldenburg created Giant BLT, a soft sculpture representing the sandwich, now in the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art. [22] [23] It measures 32 by 39 inches (81 cm × 99 cm) and uses vinyl, kapok and wood, painted in acrylic. Every time it is moved, it must be restacked, which means it varies between exhibits. The artist has said that he has not set it up personally since its creation in 1963. [24]

In 2003, Michele Anna Jordan set a record for the world's largest BLT, which measured 108 feet (33 m) in length. [16] It was prepared at a 2003 tomato festival in Sonoma County, California and had an area of 14,976 square inches (96,620 cm2). [25] In 2008, Marie Ganister and Glenda Castelli created a 146 feet (45 m) BLT – a sandwich originally planned with Jordan. [25] The record was broken again by the Iron Barley restaurant in St. Louis, Missouri, with a BLT measuring 179 feet (55 m), and is currently held by Bentley Dining Services for their 2009 attempt, measuring 209 feet 1 inch (63.73 m). [26]

United Kingdom

In 2004, the New Statesman reported that the sandwich chosen by a politician as his "favourite" is loaded with political symbolism. For example, it suggested that a chicken tikka sandwich would be a "gentle nod to an imperial past and a firm statement of a multicultural present and future". The article went on to explain that the then Leader of the Opposition William Hague had accused the then Prime Minister Tony Blair of being a hypocrite with regards to food, telling one portion of society that his favourite meal was fish and chips and another that it was a fresh fettuccine dish. The conclusion of the article was that Blair chose the BLT as his favourite sandwich, which appeals to all classes. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Club sandwich</span> Type of sandwich

A club sandwich or clubhouse sandwich, is a sandwich consisting of bread, sliced cooked poultry, fried bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. It is often cut into quarters or halves and held together by cocktail sticks. Modern versions frequently have two layers which are separated by an additional slice of bread. Sometimes it is sliced diagonally and is called a wedge or wedgie, a term also used for a type of submarine sandwich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Open sandwich</span> Single slice of bread with food items on top

An open sandwich, also known as an open-face/open-faced sandwich, bread baser, bread platter or tartine, consists of a slice of bread or toast with one or more food items on top. It has half the number of slices of bread compared to a typical closed sandwich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canapé</span> Hors dœuvre

A canapé is a type of starter, a small, prepared, and often decorative food, consisting of a small piece of bread or cracker, wrapped or topped with some savoury food, held in the fingers and often eaten in one bite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grilled cheese</span> Type of hot melted cheese sandwich

A grilled cheese, sometimes known as a toasted sandwich, cheese toastie (UK), or jaffle (AU-en), is a hot cheese sandwich typically prepared by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread with a cooking fat such as butter or mayonnaise on a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster, until the bread browns and the cheese melts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bacon sandwich</span> Sandwich of cooked bacon

A bacon sandwich is a sandwich of cooked bacon. It may be spread with butter, and may be seasoned with brown sauce or tomato ketchup. It is generally served hot. In some establishments the sandwich will be made from bread toasted on only one side, while other establishments serve it on a similar roll as is used for hamburgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Brown</span> Open-faced sandwich

A Hot Brown sandwich is an American hot sandwich originally created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, by Fred K. Schmidt in 1926. It is a variation of traditional Welsh rarebit and was one of two signature sandwiches created by chefs at the Brown Hotel shortly after its founding in 1923. It was created to serve as an alternative to ham and egg late-night dinners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuna fish sandwich</span> Type of sandwich

A tuna fish sandwich, known outside the United States as a tuna salad sandwich or a tuna sandwich, is a sandwich made from canned tuna—usually made into a tuna salad by adding mayonnaise, and sometimes other ingredients such as celery or onion—as well as other common fruits and vegetables used to flavour sandwiches. It is commonly served on sliced bread.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ham sandwich</span> Common type of sandwich

The ham sandwich is a common type of sandwich. The bread may be fresh or toasted, and it can be made with a variety of toppings including cheese and vegetables like lettuce, tomato, onion or pickle slices. Various kinds of mustard and mayonnaise are also common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheese on toast</span> British dish of melted cheese

Cheese on toast is made by placing sliced or grated cheese on toasted bread and melting it under a grill. It is popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, United States, and in African countries.

Baconnaise is a bacon-flavored, mayonnaise-based food spread that is ovo vegetarian and kosher certified. It was created by Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow, founders of J&D's Foods, in November 2008, and sold 40,000 jars within six months. It was test-marketed in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to determine consumer interest. After being featured on both The Daily Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show, sales of Baconnaise increased significantly, with more than a million jars sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lettuce sandwich</span>

A lettuce sandwich is a wrap with lettuce substituted for the bread, or a sandwich with a filling consisting primarily of lettuce. It should not be confused with other sandwiches that use lettuce as one of many ingredients, such as the BLT sandwich or the tomato and lettuce sandwich. The lettuce sandwich has a long history in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It has been used as a metaphor to represent things like mundanity, weakness and poverty. In more recent times, the lettuce sandwich, including lettuce hamburgers have symbolized diets including the keto diet.

<i>The BLT Cookbook</i> Cookbook by Michele Anna Jordan

The BLT Cookbook is a cookbook about the preparation of bacon, lettuce, and tomato (BLT) sandwiches. It was written by Michele Anna Jordan and was published by William Morrow Cookbooks in the United States in June 2003. Jordan is a food writer and has written for The Press Democrat; The BLT Cookbook is her 14th published book. She researched the book for ten years and in the process she taste-tested hundreds of variations on the sandwich, describing it as America's most beloved sandwich. She instructs the reader on how to acquire and prepare the best ingredients for the sandwich. The book includes recipes with varying ingredients, though each recipe includes tomatoes. Many recipes in the book are not sandwiches, and include appetizers, soups, salads, and desserts. Jordan also suggests wines to accompany the sandwich.

<i>I Love Bacon!</i> Cookbook by Ben Fink

I Love Bacon! is a cookbook with over fifty recipes devoted to bacon and bacon dishes, many of them from celebrity chefs. The book was written by Jayne Rockmill and photography was provided by Ben Fink. Broken down into eight sections, the book covered how to make homemade bacon and moves onto "brunch" and "small bites" before covering soups, salads and sides, pasta, fish, meat, and desserts. I Love Bacon! was published in October 2010 by Andrews McMeel Publishing and met with favorable reviews for its unique dishes and helpful culinary tips for novices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toast sandwich</span> Sandwich with toast filling

A toast sandwich is a sandwich in which the filling between two slices of bread is itself a thin slice of toasted bread, which may be buttered. An 1861 recipe says to add salt and pepper to taste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilgrim (sandwich)</span>

A Pilgrim or Puritan is a sandwich which has connotations with the American Pilgrim Fathers and Thanksgiving Day. It was a traditional way of using up leftover food from Thanksgiving Day and thus is composed essentially of bread slices or a roll, into which are placed sliced roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries or cranberry sauce, gravy, and/or other toppings such as cheese, lettuce or mayonnaise. There is an enormous variation in its composition with a huge range of ingredients being employed in some sandwiches and a great variation of ingredients between recipes. A basic combination might include slices of turkey, herb stuffing, cranberry sauce and some gravy between two slices of bread.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lettuce soup</span> Soup made with lettuce

Lettuce soup is a soup prepared with lettuce as a primary ingredient. It may be prepared with additional ingredients, and some lettuce soups may use several cultivars of lettuce in their preparation. It is a part of French cuisine and Chinese cuisine. Cream of lettuce soup is a type of lettuce soup prepared using milk or cream. The soup may be served with toast or rolls as a side dish or with the soup atop them. It may be served as an appetizer, a side dish or as a main dish, and may be served hot or cold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomato sandwich</span> Tomato and mayonnaise sandwich

A tomato sandwich is a dish closely associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States. Recipes typically call for ripe-to-overripe non-commercially grown tomatoes, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper on soft commercial white bread. It is generally expected to be messy to eat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pastrami on rye</span> Classic American deli sandwich

Pastrami on rye is a sandwich comprising sliced pastrami on rye bread, often served with mustard and Kosher dill pickles. It was popularized in the Jewish delicatessens of New York City and has been described as New York's "signature sandwich". It was created in 1888 by the Lithuanian immigrant Sussman Volk, who served it at his deli on Delancey Street in Manhattan.

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