The traditional tomato sandwich is all in regards to the glory of juicy, ripe tomatoes! Right here’s our information for the best way to whip up the right mixture of juicy tomatoes, crusty bread, and mayonnaise for a sandwich that’s nostalgic and satisfying.


What’s summer season with no nice tomato sandwich? The mixture of golden toasty bread, savory tomatoes, and flavorful mayonnaise is really considered one of my favourite methods to get pleasure from this seasonal ingredient.
Alex and I each grew up consuming tomato sandwiches in the summertime. Curiously, my grandpa at all times ate a variation: tomato peanut butter sandwiches (have you ever tried this?). However I like to stay with an herby aioli! Right here is my greatest tomato sandwich recipe, stepping it up with basil aioli or tarragon aioli that takes it excessive! It’s considered one of my prime fast summer season dinner concepts.
Components you’ll want
The traditional tomato sandwich is nothing fancy. However like all recipe, it’s all about high quality of substances! Right here’s what you’ll want:
- Sourdough bread: Highest quality bread makes the perfect tomato sandwich. A traditional alternative is white bread, however I like one thing with slightly extra texture: sourdough bread or a crusty artisan bread like no knead bread or focaccia bread. You may as well use a top quality sandwich loaf.
- Tomatoes: Use solely the perfect ripe tomatoes. Multi-colored heirloom tomatoes add a pleasant contact!
- Mayonnaise: For a traditional tomato sandwich, plain mayonnaise works. Or, use my herb aioli (under) to step it up.
- Salt and pepper: It’s vital to season the tomatoes earlier than making the sandwich.


Step it up with basil or tarragon aioli
This tomato sandwich is scrumptious by itself, nevertheless it’s even higher with an herb aioli! Aioli is a sauce that comes from the South of France and Spain, often known as allioli or aïoli. Within the US for the reason that 1990’s, it’s turn out to be widespread to name any flavored mayonnaise aioli.
You may make a easy herb aioli by mincing garlic and both basil or tarragon, then mixing with mayonnaise and a touch of vinegar and mustard. I really like the tarragon aioli model, nevertheless it’s additionally nice with basil aioli!


My ideas for an important tomato sandwich
There are just a few tricks to take your tomato sandwich from good to nice! Listed below are just a few ideas:
- Toast the bread first. Toasting the bread in a skillet with olive oil helps to season the bread and make a crunchy, contrasting texture. That is important, in our opinion! (In any other case, the bread is slightly too squishy.)
- Use the herb mayo (aioli). Making tarragon aioli or basil aioli actually steps up this sandwich! It’s not required, nevertheless it provides quantity of herbaceous taste.
- Liberally season the tomatoes. All the time season the tomatoes with salt and pepper earlier than including them to a tomato sandwich.
Additionally, bear in mind to at all times eat a tomato sandwich with a serviette! They’re fairly messy—deliberately!
Variations and additions
Personally I really like including to my tomato sandwiches to offer them slightly extra texture and taste intruige! Listed below are just a few methods to combine up this sandwich:
Storing leftovers
A tomato sandwich is greatest eaten instantly after making, for the reason that liquid within the tomatoes causes the bread to turn out to be soggy. The tarragon aioli lasts as much as 2 weeks refrigerated.
Dietary notes
This tomato sandwich recipe is vegetarian and dairy-free. For vegan, use bought vegan mayonnaise (cashew cream additionally works as an expansion). For gluten-free, use gluten-free bread.
Incessantly requested questions
Heirloom tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, or any ripe, juicy tomato selection will work. Search for tomatoes which can be aromatic, plump, and yield barely to mild stress.
Toasting the bread is non-obligatory however really useful. It provides a refined crunch and helps forestall the bread from getting soggy from the tomato juices.
Retailer any leftover tomato slices in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as a day or two.
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The Greatest Tomato Sandwich (Actually!)
The traditional tomato sandwich is all in regards to the glory of juicy, ripe tomatoes! Right here’s our information for the best way to whip up the right mixture of juicy tomatoes, crusty bread, and flavorful mayonnaise for a sandwich that’s nostalgic and satisfying.
- Prep Time: quarter-hour
- Prepare dinner Time: 0 minutes
- Whole Time: quarter-hour
- Yield: 2 sandwiches 1x
- Class: Predominant dish
- Methodology: No Prepare dinner
- Delicacies: American
- Weight-reduction plan: Vegetarian
For the tomato sandwich
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 2 giant slicing tomatoes
- ½ cup mayonnaise (or herb aioli; see under)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly floor black pepper
- Olive oil, for toasting
For the basil or tarragon aioli (non-obligatory)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped basil or 1 ½ tablespoons finely chopped tarragon
- 1 small garlic clove
- ½ teaspoon white wine vinegar or lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon yellow mustard (non-obligatory)
- ½ cup prime quality mayonnaise (vegan if desired)
- Make the aioli (non-obligatory): Mince the garlic as finely as doable, then use the facet of your knife blade to mash and grind it right into a paste. Whisk collectively the garlic and herbs with the white wine vinegar, yellow mustard, and mayonnaise. (Shops refrigerated for two weeks.)
- Toast the sourdough bread: Add a drizzle of olive oil to a forged iron pan or skillet over medium warmth. Add the sourdough bread slices, inside facet dealing with down. Toast for 1 to 2 minutes till golden brown.
- Put together the tomatoes: Slice the tomatoes into ¼-inch thick rounds. Sprinkle either side of the tomato slices with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly floor black pepper.
- Assemble the sandwich: Unfold mayonnaise generously on one facet of every toasted bread slice. Layer the tomato slices evenly on two of the bread slices, making certain they cowl the bread fully. Prime with the remaining slices of bread, mayonnaise facet down.
- Serve: Lower the sandwiches in half and serve instantly. This sandwich is greatest loved recent to savor the juicy tomatoes and crispy bread (don’t thoughts the mess!).
Different tomato recipes to attempt
When it’s tomato season, make all of the tasty tomato recipes! Our favourite methods to make use of tomatoes are in a traditional Caprese salad or Greek salad. A tomato pie or tomato galette are additionally enjoyable methods to make use of these seasonal substances.