Tomato Sandwich

Introducing the summer darling of the American South: the tomato sandwich. This sandwich is simply composed of white sandwich bread, mayonnaise, and the juiciest heirloom tomatoes available. While regular mayo is plenty delicious, try slathering your bread in this garlic aioli for an elevated twist! Serve the sandwich solo or with your favorite summer side dishes like pasta salad recipes, a cup of soup, or some of these spiced-up potato chips.

What goes into a tomato sandwich?

This recipe, at its core, has three ingredients. Simple white sandwich bread forms the base. Thick-sliced heirloom tomatoes make up the bulk of this sandwich. Have fun with the tomato colors! Choose tomatoes with a sweet, earthy scent that give a little bit when squeezed, like a just under-ripe peach. To put this sandwich over the top, swap garlic aioli for the usual mayonnaise.

What else can you add to a tomato sandwich?

The obvious answer is crispy, delicious bacon, but cheese is another tasty addition. Layer in slices of fresh mozzarella for a caprese-style sandwich or add a spoonful of creamy pimento cheese. For a protein boost, try adding a scoop of egg salad to this simple sandwich!

As far as condiments are concerned, this recipe calls for a homemade garlic aioli. If you're in a time crunch, regular mayo works too. Or try doctoring up a cup of store-bought mayonnaise by whisking in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (or any vinegar), 1 minced garlic clove, 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper. After folding in the chopped basil, this mayonnaise will taste like it’s completely homemade!

What kind of bread is best for tomato sandwiches?

Simple white bread is classic, but look for a sturdy country white bread that won't instantly fall apart when it encounters tomato juices. You can also choose to toast the bread for an even more textured sandwich.

What types of tomatoes are best for sandwiches?

Save the tiny grape and cherry tomatoes for bruschetta. For sandwiches, you'll want a type of tomato that's large enough to cut into slices. This recipe calls for heirloom tomatoes which come in a kaleidoscope of colors. If you can't find heirlooms, readily available beefsteak tomatoes work great, too.

Can you make a tomato sandwich ahead of time?

While the garlic aioli can be made up to 4 days in advance, this sandwich should be eaten immediately after assembly. Because of the juiciness of fresh tomatoes, assembling the sandwiches ahead of time and packing them in a lunch box or a picnic basket might result in soggy sandwiches. However, packing everything up separately and assembling them on-site leaves room for each sandwich maker to customize their own!