Nothing compares to a decent sandwich when midday hunger strikes. However, those limp and lacklustre fillings such as plain cheese, salad, or ham just won’t do the trick, which is when you need to go all out.
A BLT – bacon, lettuce and tomato butty – is genuinely hard to beat. It’s an enduring classic for excellent reason, but if you’re keen on shaking things up with a novel take on this cherished staple, then one recipe is certainly worth a go. It requires replacing the bacon with a tasty and wholesome alternative that still provides that characteristic smoky, savoury flavour.
Tofu, a plant-based protein made from soybeans, can be used to replicate bacon in your BLT and acts as an excellent option if you’re trying to cut down on your meat intake. A delectable tofu BLT recipe was recently shared on TikTok by BOSH!, a pair of vegan chefs who have been writing cookbooks and posting recipes online for years.
They said: “Do you want to know the secret to a perfect sandwich? Crispiness, contrast, crunch. And this tofu lettuce tomato has them all.”
The video was also shared on Instagram, where viewers in the comments were overflowing with praise. One person commented, “I made this and it was delicious,” whilst another called it “divine”.
Ingredients
- One block firm smoked tofu
- One tbsp soy sauce
- One tbsp maple syrup
- One tbsp tomato puree
- One tsp smoked paprika
- One tsp liquid smoke (optional)
- One tbsp olive oil
- Two large tomatoes
- Little gem lettuce
- Ciabatta loaf
For the chilli maple mayo
- Three tbsp vegan mayo
- One tsp chilli crisp oil
- One tsp maple syrup
Method
Slice the tofu into very thin strips, using a cheese peeler or knife. Combine the soy, maple, tomato puree, paprika, and liquid smoke.
Slice the tomatoes, chop the lettuce and halve the ciabatta. Marinate the tofu strips and pan-fry them in olive oil until they become golden, sticky, and smoky.
For the dressing, blend vegan mayo, chilli crisp, and maple syrup together.
Finally, toast your ciabatta, spread it with the chilli-maple mayo, and add layers of tofu, tomatoes, and lettuce. Cut the sandwich into pieces and enjoy every bite.
