Upgrade The Flavor Of Tomato Sandwiches With One Tangy Seasoning

Growing up, my mom often enjoyed a tomato sandwich that was simply made of two slices of white bread slathered in mayonnaise and thick slices of the fruit. As a child, I never understood why she liked the sandwich so much — but I did adore ranch dressing on just about everything back then. In adulthood, it's a no-brainer to combine those flavors for a best-of-both-worlds tomato sandwich, featuring not just salt, black pepper, and mayonnaise, but also ranch seasoning.

As delicious as ripe tomatoes are, especially during the peak season in summer, you need something to bring out their full flavor. Salt, of course, is the first go-to for drawing out excess moisture and highlighting flavor, but ranch seasoning will take your tomato sando even further. Ranch seasoning embodies loads of herby, tangy flavor from ingredients like dried dill, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, and chives. That means with just a sprinkle of homemade ranch seasoning blend or store-bought packet, your tomato sandwich will get loads of flavor from various herbs and spices.

There are different ways to add ranch seasoning to your tomato sandwich. Perhaps the easiest way is to sprinkle it directly on your tomatoes. For this method, season the tomatoes with salt to draw out some moisture first, then add the ranch seasoning just before you assemble your sandwich. Another way is to fold the ranch seasoning into the mayonnaise that you plan to slather on the sandwich anyway. You only need a pinch of the seasoning in the mayonnaise for one sandwich. Or, you can really step it up and blend ranch powder with mayonnaise and cream cheese to make a tangy spread that will pair with the tomatoes deliciously.

As tasty as tomato sandwiches are, with or without ranch seasoning, there are other ingredients that pair well with both components. If you have any spare fresh herbs that need to be used up, fold those into the mayonnaise with the ranch seasoning for a fresher flavor. Cucumbers are another seasonal vegetable that make for an easy-but-flavorful sandwich that would also pair well with ranch seasoning. And there's almost nothing better than a BLT sandwich (especially with a little sweet heat), so add some ranch powder into the mayonnaise when you build your next one of those, too. Of course, if ranch isn't your thing, pimento cheese is another top-tier topping for a tomato sandwich instead.