Sunday, May 24, 2009

Caprese-Style BLTs






DC woke up with a migraine this morning and I am still recuperating of a week's worth of sleep deprivation (getting 5 or fewer hrs. of sleep per night) so we got quite a late start this morning. We went out for brunch around 2 and got home around 3:30, so my thoughts (and stomach) did not turn to dinner until about 7:30. I was feeling hungry, but not ravenous, and in the mood for something non-fussy.

For some reason, I've had a craving for BLTs lately, but wanted to think of a way to dress it up enough that I could get away with calling it dinner. I thought it would be fun to play with the idea of a caprese-salad style BLT. Caprese salad is one of my favorite things about summer, when sweet, ripe and sun-warm tomatoes are plentiful, along with fragrant basil. And of course, the divine creaminess of fresh mozzarella (I swear I could just sit down and eat about 1/2 lb. plain, all by myself). For dinner tonight, I whipped up some open-face Caprese-style BLTs, with fresh basil chiffonade standing in for the lettuce.

Caprese-Style BLTs



To start, I toasted some sliced semolina bread (from WF). I spread each slice with a generous slather of basil pesto.

To spice things up a bit, I added some thinly-sliced hot Genoa salami.


I would have preferred some hot Sopressata, but WF was out. I topped the pesto and salami with some fresh sliced tomatoes, and topped them with some fresh basil chiffonade, along with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.


The tomatoes were crowned with crisp bacon and velvety slices of fresh mozzarella.

I ran the sandwiches under the broiler to melt the cheese.



This is DC's plate, after drizzling the sandwiches with sme balsamic vinegar:



This dish was perfect for tonight-- simple, flavorful, and quick. The hot salami added a nice touch to the sandwich. If I'd had time, I would have marinated the fresh mozzarella slices in some balsamic vinegar, more sliced fresh basil, red pepper flakes, and a little olive oil. That would have brought a lot to the party. I make a really tasty and tender foccacia style bread, and this sandwich would have been fantastic on that bread, split.

This combination would also make an awesome grilled pizza. Alas, I no longer have a bbq grill, but if I did, I would definitely be coming up with a margherita-style grilled pizza. My little sammies are yet another example of how the simplest dishes can be the most delicious, with just a few great flavors and textures. The combination of the melty, gooey cheese, the juicy tomatoes, and the crisp bacon was amazing. Yum-o!!!

Easy, and scrumptions.

13 comments:

  1. Okay, here I am at 12:41 in the morning and I want this sammie right now!! I love a BLT anyway, but lordy woman...this looks so amazing :P

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  2. Hey, Ive missed you. Hope all is ok! This looks like one terrific sandwich, what an orginal idea. Glad to see you back here:)

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  3. Karen!!!

    I am heading over right now to enjoy one of these sandwiches!! They look incredible. I have a picky eater that would LOVE these so thanks for that. Have a great Monday and I hope all is well.

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  4. ok - thank you very much but where is mine? this is one tasty looking sandwich.

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  5. YUUUUMMM!!! I especially love the hot genoa salami. Delicious. What a stellar combo of flavors, and melty cheese... This is my kind of sandwich!

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  6. They look so mouth-watering delicious!! With all that yummy pesto and salami - just heavenly!!

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  7. Oh my WORD - those look fantastic! I think my fussy husband would even like those. Oh wait. No he wouldn't - the tomatoes and pesto would make it a no go. Guess I'd just have to eat his portion...

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  8. That's my kind of BLT - love it, what a great idea, caprese salad is my favorite!

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  9. OMG!!!!
    Karen!! Thank you very much for your great idea again!! Your BLT will be one of my this week's menu for my kids.
    Also, I made your Chipotle-chili cheese-fries last Saturday and it was a BIG HIT!!! I had about 10 kids in my house that day and they all LOVED it!! Thank you, Karen!
    Suzie

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  10. These BLTs look awesome! I'm so impressed. Man oh man, this is a perfect "late" dinner. They come together easily and aren't too heavy, but man are they perfectly satisfying, or what?! You're making me reconsider my own dinner choices for tonight!

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  11. Gorgeous! What an amazing sandwich. I will be willing to stand in line for one....

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  12. Wow - this looks so tasty - I'm going to have to make a point of picking up the stuff to make this BLT :)

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  13. Hi, y'all! Thanks so, so much for all your wonderful comments! They mean the world to me!

    Heather-- thanks so much! Judging from the delicious tortas Mexichef is capable of producing, I will take your comments as high praise! 12:41 a.m.?? No wonder you get so much done!

    Donna-- thanks so much-- and thanks for continuing to visit, even though pickings here have been slim lately. I am crawling my way back to blogworld!

    Ginger, thanks, and you just come on over anytime! We'll have a feast!

    Doggybloggy, you too! You are welcome at my house anytime!

    Christina, I hope you'll give this one a try! Let me know how you like it! :)

    Reeni-- aw, thanks!! I am hoping to make your Croque Madames soon. My mouth is watering just thinking about them!

    Mrs. J-- hee, hee, make you could smother it in so much salami and cheese he wouldn't notice? Ah well. More for us, I say! :)
    Suzie, thank you so, so much! I can't believe you made my chili, and I am so glad it turned out well! You totally made my day. Let me know if the BLTs turn out.

    Natasha, thank you-- I adore a good caprese salad too-- it's not easy to find a good one, where the tomatoes are really ripe-- but soooo goood when you do!

    Elyse, sounds like we are living parallel lives these days! It is rare lately that dinner gets on the table prior to 9 p.m. My poor son, he has to leave for school at 6 a.m.! Yeah, this was great for a late night dinner. Satisfying, but not TOO heavy. I think I forgot to mention in my post that 7:30 p.m. was the hour I got in the car to head out for groceries!

    Jamie, I'll just have to figure out how to express mail one to France for you, along with some cherry pie filling! Actually, it is probably a very good thing it's not available in France, as homemade cherry pie "filling" is so vastly superior. (I can't get fresh sour cherries around here, or I'd make my own.)

    Hornsfan, if you do, let me know how you like it! Thanks all!

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