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elleng

(130,901 posts)
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 04:51 PM Aug 2018

The 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 you’re still half-asleep.

'The problem with a BLT, my friend Neil opined, is that there’s 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, there’s 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 can’t 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 don’t have to stand over it like when it’s frying. Also, all that splattering bacon grease stays behind the closed oven door, where I can pretend it doesn’t 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 you’d want for this particular combination.

Just before serving, warm the tortillas. If you’ve got a gas burner, you’ll 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, it’s dinner in under 30 minutes — or an unexpected but still bacon-filled brunch.'

Just before serving, warm the tortillas. If you’ve got a gas burner, you’ll 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, it’s 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



8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The BLT, as You've Never Seen It (Original Post) elleng Aug 2018 OP
Never enough bacon. I can see it now. Crutchez_CuiBono Aug 2018 #1
Ymmmm. Sounds great! DemoTex Aug 2018 #2
Okay PJMcK Aug 2018 #3
OK PJ, what's for dinner??? elleng Aug 2018 #7
Replace my homemade bread with a corn tortilla in a BLT? Abomination!!! IADEMO2004 Aug 2018 #4
If ever near Chapel Hill, NC get a BLT at Merritt's unc70 Aug 2018 #5
Oh my! MontanaMama Aug 2018 #6
I think that's a great idea... Cracklin Charlie Aug 2018 #8

Crutchez_CuiBono

(7,725 posts)
1. Never enough bacon. I can see it now.
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 04:53 PM
Aug 2018

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)
2. Ymmmm. Sounds great!
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 04:56 PM
Aug 2018

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.

PJMcK

(22,037 posts)
3. Okay
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 05:03 PM
Aug 2018

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)
7. OK PJ, what's for dinner???
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 05:24 PM
Aug 2018


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)
4. Replace my homemade bread with a corn tortilla in a BLT? Abomination!!!
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 05:14 PM
Aug 2018

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)
5. If ever near Chapel Hill, NC get a BLT at Merritt's
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 05:16 PM
Aug 2018

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.

Cracklin Charlie

(12,904 posts)
8. I think that's a great idea...
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 06:49 PM
Aug 2018

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!

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