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This article is about the sandwich. For other uses, seeBLT (disambiguation).

BLT sandwich
A BLT sandwich on toast
Alternative namesBacon, lettuce, and tomato
Main ingredientsBacon, lettuce, tomato, bread
VariationsClub sandwich
Food energy
(per serving)
350[1]kcal
Nutritional value
(per serving)
Protein16g
Fat34g
Carbohydrate42[2]g

ABLTis a type ofsandwich,named for the initials of its primary ingredients,bacon,lettuce,andtomato.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 addingmayonnaise.More pronounced variants can include using turkey bacon ortofuin place of bacon, removing the lettuce entirely, or adding other ingredients such as afried egg,avocado,orsprouts.

History[edit]

Although its ingredients have existed for many years, there is little evidence of BLT sandwich recipes before 1900. In the1903 Good Housekeeping Everyday Cook Book,a recipe for aclub sandwichincluded bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and a slice of turkey sandwiched between two slices of bread.[3]While the 1928 bookSeven Hundred SandwichesbyFlorence A. Cowlesincludes a section on bacon sandwiches, the recipes often include pickles and none contain tomato.[4]

The BLT became popular afterWorld War IIbecause of the rapid expansion ofsupermarkets,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 theSaturday Evening Postmakes 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 ofModern Hospitalcontains 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 Mayonnaiseadvertised 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 ofBruce Jay Friedman's play entitledSteambathtitled: "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[edit]

As the sixth-most popular sandwich in the United States, it falls behind theham sandwich,[11]the roast beef sandwich, turkey sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, and the grilled cheese sandwich. A 2008 poll byOnePollshowed that the BLT was the "nation's favourite" sandwich in theUK.[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[edit]

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, chefEdward Leestates "Your general supermarket bacon is not going to cut the mustard."[16]

Iceberg lettuceis a common choice because it does not add too much flavour while adding crunch.[16]Food writerEd Levinehas suggested that BLT does not require lettuce at all, as it is "superfluous",[17]a suggestion thatJon Bonné,lifestyle editor at MSNBC, described as "shocking". Michele Anna Jordan, author ofThe BLT Cookbook,believes the tomato is the key ingredient and recommends the use of thebeefsteak tomatoas it has more flesh and fewer seeds.[16]Similarly, chef and food writerJ. Kenji Lopez-Altbelieves 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[edit]

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 useturkey baconin lieu of normal bacon.[1]One of the variations on the BLT is theclub 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[edit]

United States[edit]

In 1963,pop artsculptorClaes OldenburgcreatedGiant BLT,asoft sculpturerepresenting the sandwich, now in the collection of theWhitney Museum of American Art.[22][23]It measures 32 by 39 inches (81 cm × 99 cm) and uses vinyl,kapokand 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 inSonoma County, Californiaand 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 inSt. 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[edit]

In 2004, theNew Statesmanreported that the sandwich chosen by a politician as his "favourite" is loaded with political symbolism. For example, it suggested that achicken tikkasandwich 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 thenLeader of the OppositionWilliam Haguehad accused the thenPrime MinisterTony Blairof being a hypocrite with regards to food, telling one portion of society that his favourite meal wasfish and chipsand another that it was a freshfettuccinedish. The conclusion of the article was that Blair chose the BLT as his favourite sandwich, which appeals to all classes.[27]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abBricklin, Mark (1994).Prevention Magazine's Nutrition Advisor: The Ultimate Guide to the Health-Boosting and Health-Harming Factors in Your Diet.Rodale. p. 454.ISBN0-87596-225-4.
  2. ^"Sandwich, BLT (5 strips bacon, 2 tbsp mayo) w. 3 oz Bread".Calorie King.CalorieKing Wellness Solutions, Inc.Retrieved15 June2018.
  3. ^Gordon Curtis, Isabel (1903).Good Housekeeping Everyday Cook Book.Hearst Books.ISBN1-58816-210-9.
  4. ^Cowles, Florence (1928).Seven Hundred Sandwiches.New York: Little, Brown & Company. pp. 31–35.
  5. ^Mariani, John F. (1999).The Encyclopedia of American Food & Drink.New York: Lebhar Freidman. p.190.ISBN978-0867307849.
  6. ^Martin, Harold H. (27 January 1951). "Lightning Joe, the GI's General".The Saturday Evening Post.223:21.
  7. ^"Modern Hospital".Modern Hospital.83:122. July 1954.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^For example, see the version that ran inLifemagazine on 20 October 1958.Hellmann's Mayo Ad.20 October 1958.Retrieved25 March2013.
  9. ^Prideaux, Tom (21 August 1970)."A B.L.T. for God – Hold the Mayo".Life.Time Inc.ISSN0024-3019.Retrieved25 March2013.
  10. ^Friedman, Bruce Jay(1971).Steambath.New York: Knopf.ISBN9780573615818.
  11. ^abcPruess, Joanna; Lape, Bob; Cole, Liesa (2006).Seduced by Bacon: Recipes & Lore about America's Favorite Indulgence.Globe Pequot. pp. 80–81.ISBN1-59228-851-0.
  12. ^"BLT is named nation's favourite sandwich".Daily Record.Glasgow. 27 October 2008.Retrieved3 February2011.
  13. ^Tuttle, Brad (5 July 2011)."Is It Time to Start Stockpiling Bacon".Time.Retrieved28 November2011.
  14. ^McFerron, Whitney (4 August 2010)."Bacon Price Surge May Last Through August as Herd Cutbacks Tighten Supply".Bloomberg.Retrieved28 November2011.
  15. ^Mason, Rowenna; White, Garry (15 August 2010)."Meat prices set to jump after wheat crop failures".The Daily Telegraph.London.Archivedfrom the original on 6 February 2011.Retrieved3 February2011.
  16. ^abcdefBonne, Jon (12 September 2006)."Secrets to a perfect BLT sandwich".MSNBC.Archived fromthe originalon 11 September 2010.Retrieved3 February2011.
  17. ^Levine, Ed."Does a BLT need the L".Serious Eats.Retrieved3 February2011.
  18. ^Lopez-Alt, J. Kenji."The Food Lab's BLT Manifesto".Serious Eats.Retrieved27 September2020.
  19. ^Lopez-Alt, J. Kenji."A BLT is Not a Bacon Sandwich. It is a Tomato Sandwich".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-11.Retrieved27 September2020.
  20. ^"Cafe chains promise to reduce salt and fat".Belfast Telegraph.7 March 2009.Retrieved11 February2011.
  21. ^Civitello, Linda (2007).Cuisine and culture: a history of food and people.John Wiley and Sons. p. 180.ISBN978-0-471-74172-5.
  22. ^"Whitney Focus presents Claes Oldenburg's" Giant BLT "".Whitney Museum of American Art.Retrieved28 August2014.
  23. ^"Claes Oldenburg / Giant BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich)".AMICA library.Retrieved3 February2011.
  24. ^Kino, Carol (15 May 2009)."Going Softly Into a Parallel Universe".The New York Times.Retrieved3 February2011.
  25. ^ab"There's a beef over that 146-foot BLT".PressDemocrat.9 September 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 31 December 2019.Retrieved18 February2011.
  26. ^Schultz, Brian (5 November 2009)."Bentley cooks up world record BLT".Eagle Eye.Archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2011.Retrieved3 February2011.
  27. ^Vigor, Anthony (12 April 2004)."Exposed by his sandwich".New Statesman.Retrieved11 February2011.
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