For the last little while we have been in the middle of tomato season where the field tomatoes are perfectly sun ripened and just packed with flavour. One of my favourite ways to enjoy these tomatoes while they are at their peak of deliciousness is in a simple BLT sandwich where the juicy tomato takes the center stage and shines in all of its wondrous glory! After having enjoyed perhaps a few too many BLTs I wanted to change things up a bit and I remembered that I had wanted to try doing a roasted tomato BLT. As amazing as the tomatoes are right now, they get even better when you slowly roast them as their flavour concentrates, rather like a sun dried tomato.
The idea was to start with some roma or plum tomatoes and cut them into roughly quarter inch slices so that they would roast quicker and this meant that the smaller ones could be cut in half and the larger ones would need to be cut into three. These tomato slices are then tossed in olive oil along with some thyme and a touch of salt and pepper before roasting. (A splash of balsamic vinegar would also work wonders here.) The tomato slices are then slowly roasted at a lower temperature until they shrivel up but still contain some juices on the inside. Roasting the tomatoes can take 3 or 4 hours so it is a good idea to do it the day ahead of time and they keep well in the fridge for a few days. Just make sure to roast as many of them as you can fit into your oven as they are like candy and you will find yourself heading back to the fridge throughout the day to snack on them!
Once you have your roasted tomatoes, the BLT is finished the usual way. I like to start with a nice whole grain bread and use some thick double smoked bacon from fresh from the butchers shop when I can. Normally I garnish my BLTs with some mayo but this time I had leftovers from a batch of basil pesto on hand and mixed them up together to add even more summery freshness to the sandwich. I have to say that as good as a BLT sandwich is, this roasted tomato BLT is so much better! It’s just too bad that those roasted tomatoes disappeared so quickly! I will have to make some more of them soon!
Slow Roasted Tomato BLT
Slow roasting tomatoes brings out their flavour and this concentrated flavour takes your average BLT sandwich from great to amazing!
ingredients
- 4 slices bread, lightly toasted
- 2 handfuls lettuce
- 2 slow roasted roma tomatoes (see below)
- 6 strips bacon, cooked until crispy
- 2 tablespoons mayo mixed with 2 tablespoons pesto
directions
- Assemble sandwich and enjoy.
Slow Roasted Tomatoes
Slowly roasting tomatoes really brings out their flavour and it is so easy to do!
ingredients
- 10 roma/plum tomatoes , cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons thyme
- salt and pepper to taste
directions
- Toss the tomatoes with the olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper to coat.
- Place the tomatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet with the cut side facing up.
- Roast the tomatoes in a preheated 250F/130C oven until mostly dry, about 3-4 hours.
Balsamic Roasted Tomato Caprese Sandwich
Burrata Crostini with Roasted Tomatoes
Peameal Bacon and Roasted Tomato Sandwich with Cheddar Cheese
More BLT recipes:
Caprese BLT Balsamic Roasted Portobello Mushrooms
Grilled Zucchini Rollups Stuffed with Lemon-Basil Ricotta and Slow Roasted Tomatoes
Jalapeno Honey Crispy Fried Chicken BLT
Jalapeno Honey Drenched Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich
This looks amazing! I would prob need to add some avocado because I can't resist
You really are inspiring. Imagine what these would taste like with some fabulous chevre cheese. (I personally would pick Charmell's.)
Just when I thought a BLT couldn't get any better!
That BLT looks amazing! I want one now… ;-P
Cheers,
Rosa
Considering how many roasted tomato recipes I've fawned over, I can't believe I've never thought of this! Looks amazing!
this looks brilliant as are so many things that you share with us all.I always keep a healthy bowl of slow-roasted tomatoes, and often also slow-roasted aubergine in my refrigerator.and often roast them with basil leaves, shallots, and of course garlic cloves "en chemise" as we say here.
Just curious though, about what looks like a spot of mold/mildew on the tomato almost dead center?
This sounds heavenly!
jfoureur: Just the stem which I did not bother removing. The photo definitely looks better with it removed though.
I have to say, you have the most perfect slow roasted tomatoes I've ever seen.
This looks good enough to forget about the fact that I don't eat bacon 🙂
My husband loves to make roasted tomatoes , so this is definitely on our list now !
Looks delicious! Now i know what is for supper!
Wow, this calls to my tomato addiction in a HUGE way. Lazy Sunday lunch this weekend, here we come! Beautiful photos as always!
For years, I haven't touched tomatoes. Maybe it was because I no longer could get them from my Grandfather's garden, but this year, something changed. Now, I can't get enough! And this sounds totally amazing. I can't wait to try it out!
I love a BLT and this version sounds sooo good. I've pinned it for future reference!
Nice variation on one of my favorite sandwiches. I like the pesto mayo. Tomatoes and basil are such a classic combo that putting some basil on your BLT should really be done more often!
The Short (dis)Order Cook: The Tomato and basil combo are one of my favourite parts of late summer!
I made these tonight, replacing the pesto mayo with some locally-made chevre. Amazing, thanks for posting!
Thornmallow: A nice creamy chevre would be be good in this sandwich!
Hello! I love your blog and like to write a post on my blog (www.omeueularanja.blogspot.com) on your own. Can I? I will cite the ideas are yours and the link of your blog.
a Kiss
I had a roasted tomato once in my brother-in-laws place in
Sydney, and have since then wondered how to do it. Thank you I tried it today. I am sure it will be delicious.
What!! I have no idea how you got the tomatoes to look that good. Whenever I roast them, they fall apart. I guess I'll just have to make a lot more until they are picture perfect like yours. Great work!
Made this for lunch yesterday and it was amazing.
Made a basket full of the tomatoes and froze them so I can make this in the winter.
This. THIS is what I'm having for dinner tomorrow!
Mmm I have grown some gorgeous tomatoes.. this year.. I love the straight up BLT or in my case BBT (bacon basil + tomatoes) but I am tempted to try these roasted ‘matoes.. Thanks for your inspiration as always!