Cooking & Baking
Related: About this forumThe BLT, as You've Never Seen It
Crunchy, spicy and quick to make, BLT tacos are a simple after-work dinner, or a brunch you can make while youre still half-asleep.
'The problem with a BLT, my friend Neil opined, is that theres always too much bread and not enough bacon.
This was why, one Sunday morning last spring, he served us BLT tacos for brunch.
It was set out taco-bar style. There was a platter of crisp brown bacon, some romaine lettuce and sliced tomatoes, and a soft towel filled with warmed corn tortillas. Best of all, instead of using plain mayonnaise, he spiked his version with vinegary Cholula hot sauce a bright orange condiment to slather over everything.
Not only were these BLTs lighter than the usual sandwich, they also had a far more exciting texture. Without the bread slices smothering the shatter and snap of bacon and lettuce, theres a lot more crunch.
My version stays pretty close to his, though I did gussy up the tomatoes a bit, dicing them into a salsa with lime juice, cilantro and jalapeño. But if it seems like one too many things to chop on a weeknight (or weekend morning), skip it and slice up a ripe tomatoes instead.
Another minor deviation: I also added avocado to the tacos for creaminess. But if you cant get a good one, leave it out.
The bacon, however, is nonnegotiable in any BLT, taco or otherwise.
I like cooking my bacon spread out on a rimmed sheet pan in the oven because I can do a lot of it all at once, and I dont have to stand over it like when its frying. Also, all that splattering bacon grease stays behind the closed oven door, where I can pretend it doesnt exist.
While the bacon bakes, you can make the salsa (or slice the tomatoes), cut up the avocado and mix the spicy mayonnaise. I like the vinegary sharpness of Cholula hot sauce here, but Tabasco and Crystal are two other good bets. Just stay away from Sriracha, which is slightly sweeter than what youd want for this particular combination.
Just before serving, warm the tortillas. If youve got a gas burner, youll be able to get a little char on them. Or warm them individually in a dry skillet. Either way, be sure to wrap them in a kitchen towel to keep in the heat.
All told, its dinner in under 30 minutes or an unexpected but still bacon-filled brunch.'
Just before serving, warm the tortillas. If youve got a gas burner, youll be able to get a little char on them. Or warm them individually in a dry skillet. Either way, be sure to wrap them in a kitchen towel to keep in the heat.
All told, its dinner in under 30 minutes or an unexpected but still bacon-filled brunch.'
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/dining/blt-tacos-recipe.html?
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019478-blt-tacos
Crutchez_CuiBono
(7,725 posts)I'm going to try to blend up tomatoes to make a tomato soup. Gotta get a few more things though.
DemoTex
(25,397 posts)BTW: Have you ever tried Benton smoked bacon? It is incredible. I can buy it in Brevard, NC, but it is available from Benton's online store.
But a proper BLT is like many other "classics." It has standards that should be met. Otherwise, it's a hybrid sandwich which I have no opinion about.
elleng
(130,901 posts)P.S. Still not a decent tomato around here; neighbors' are pretty large, but were all GREEN 2 days ago, so I'll wait.
IADEMO2004
(5,554 posts)Still warm from the garden tomato on not quite crisp bacon on toasted fresh bread with lettuce as the only optional letter.
This is why I'm happy to live in fly-over-country.
When the wind is in the right direction I get a popcorn-like smell from where they make flour for white corn tortillas here.
unc70
(6,113 posts)These have been variously rated among the best BLTs in the country -- best, top ten, etc. They are worth a side trip. A single is enough bacon for me, but you can get a double or triple. No idea how you can eat those as a sandwich.
Also in Chapel Hill is Al's Burger Shack where the burgers were just rated number one by TripAdvisor.
Benton's bacon is quite good, but ... I spend a lot of time in Knoxville and the local restaurants there put bb on everything. After a while, I don't want to even see it on another menu -- for a while.
MontanaMama
(23,314 posts)This is going on my menu for the weekend. Thanks elleng.
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)But I believe I could put some whole pinto beans in my bacon tacos. Plus all that other stuff.
I sometimes make a bean and bacon panzanella salad with bacon, cannellini beans, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and grilled onions. Super yummy!
Will definitely be trying those tacos!