The Simple And Delicious Ingredient Ina Garten Swears By For BLTs

You could argue that food lovers are always in search of the perfect bite. When it comes to foods that incorporate many ingredients into one single bite like tacos, sushi, or sandwiches the satisfaction is garnered from tasting a little bit of everything all at once. Sandwiches are great vehicles for experiencing the perfect bite and there is one sandwich that absolutely nails this — the BLT.

When made correctly, the BLT has everything you're looking for in one bite. Crunch from the bread, crispness, fat, and salt from the bacon, freshness from the lettuce, and an unctuous texture from the tomato. According to Food Timeline, the BLT's origins date back to Victorian tea sandwiches and the Club Sandwich might be the BLT's closest ancestor. There is still some debate about where the acronym originated from, (per Food Timeline) but it's an unimportant nuance because the sandwich speaks for itself. Over the years, many people have put their spin on the BLT, but Ina Garten has a trick up her sleeve that you might want to try next time you have a hankering for this classic American staple.

Make it a California BLT

The one element that might be missing from the perfect BLT bite is a creaminess. Unless you're the kind of person who likes a lot of mayo, your BLT is likely going to be missing this element.

Ina Garten is a chef who is known for elevating the classics and her take on the BLT is simple yet effective. She suggests that you add a few slices of avocado to your BLT which adds a velvety texture, but also an increase in healthy fats that will help keep you full for longer. The difference between a BLT and a club sandwich is that the club adds a serving of turkey. The extra protein and calories in the turkey keep your belly satiated, while a BLT can be a bit sparse in this department.

By adding avocado to your BLT you're also adding extra nutrients to your sandwich. According to Medical News Today, avocado is a great source of Vitamins C, E, K, and B6. California's favorite fruit also contains riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium as well as lutein, beta carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids. Wow! As an added bonus, Garten suggests you add a squeeze of lemon juice to keep the avocado from browning. The lemon also provides a little extra zip to your BLT. Who says change can't be good?