BLT Ideas

A listener called in to the excellent public radio show The Splendid Table a couple weeks ago, saying that he and his girlfriend host an annual BLT party, which already sounds like a great idea.  He went on to describe various innovations they've come up with (listen to the show here; the BLT segment is from about 27:45 - 33:15), and asked for suggestions from The Splendid Table's host, Lynne Rossetto Kasper.  I've noted down a few of their variations, plus a couple of ours.  Some of them are clearly not for everyday, but why not take the time, sometime, to make a sandwich really special?

Pretty straightforward, plus goat cheese!

BLT IDEAS
Inspired by, and mostly cribbed from, Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Mike from Charlotte

Bread

• Brioche slider rolls
• Good homemade or bakery-bought bread
• Waffles
• Buckwheat blini, split in half
• Sturdy, non-crumbly cornbread (best for an open-face BLT)

Bacon

• Turkey bacon, especially if you keep kosher
• Back or Middle bacon (meatier, without so much "streaky" fat)
• Canadian bacon

Lettuce

• Arugula
• Watercress
• Leafy red and green lettuce

Tomato

• Heirloom tomatoes in a few different colors, for pretty!
• Fried green tomatoes
• Deconstruct the whole thing into a salad with sliced-in-half cherry tomatoes and olive-oil-toasted croutons

Condiments

• Soft goat cheese (chevre)
• Fresh mozzarella (especially for a vegetarian version)
• Sriracha aioli
• Garlic aioli
• Really any interesting, tasty, homemade aioli
• Avocado slices, or mashed avocado spread on bread
• Coarse flakes of sea salt, such as Maldon, and freshly ground black pepper
• Wedges of slightly underripe peach, brushed with honey or sorghum and lightly grilled
• Fresh raspberries pickled in a simple brine (1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar) for 20-30 minutes, then drained
•  Homemade ricotta with a drizzle of olive oil and/or balsamic vinegar