Sometimes something comes into your life and looking back you don’t realize. how you. ever existed without out…..this sandwich is that thing. It’s complex in its simplicity, quick to make and so damn amazing! It is called a CLT…closely related to its cousin the BLT but veggie….now stay with me, do not assume all is lost because I assure you that it is not. Even The Hubby who likes all things meat (especially bacon) asks for this sandwich, The Boy too… it’s rare that I can get those two to agree on anything food-related. So moving right along the CLT is a cheese, lettuce and tomato sandwich….it sounds simple but specific elements raise it from the mundane to the amazing. So let’s begin…
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Let’s start with the bread, a bagel is a must. Most days I will opt for an everything bagel. For me this is the bagel of choice, it’s what I get a Timmy’s with herb and garlic cream cheese and at home, it serves as the base for the CLT. In hindsight, I can think of two things that could escalate this sandwich even higher….perhaps a Montreal bagel or a homemade bagel. Assuming those two options are not readily available, then go with the Everything Bagel, its a classic.
Toast it up and then we move onto the mayo. Please notice I said mayonnaise….it would be a travesty to taint this epic sandwich with “salad cream”….just don’t do it. I always stick with Hellmann’s, but recently I came across a new addition to their line and I must say I am in love.
It’s vegan and so damn yummy. Am I going vegan? No, but I do want to have less meat in my diet and if I can make some vegan choices along the way then so much the better. In all honesty, it tastes pretty damn close to the “regular” one and way better than the 1/2 fat version. Spread the mayo on both sides for full coverage, and now we come to a crucial step! The mustard…now you may be thinking, mustard? Not on my sandwich…but if you are thinking this then my friend you are mistaken. The needed mustard is most likely in your fridge, good old French’s yellow mustard.
The mustard plays against an upcoming ingredient to raise this sandwich above the competition, so put it on one side (I am a creature of habit and always put mine on the top piece of the bagel). How much mustard you put is up to you, but I go for a full, sometimes a double rotation on the bagel.
Then we move onto the cheese…I can not overemphasize this step enough….get the Balderson Cheddar!!! The flavour is rich and complex and it plays off the yellow mustard to make this sandwich great. If I can’t get the Balderson, I don’t make this sandwich…..it’s just not worth it. So cheese acquired put one slice on both sides, the slices I get are really big so I just cut one in half and put half on each side of the bagel.
The next step is to cut the tomatoes and THINLY chop the lettuce…I used a regular hothouse tomato as mine are not ripe yet. But I am definitely making this as soon as my Brandywine tomatoes are ripe. They are so sweet and wonderful, I hadn’t even heard of them until my parents went on vacation to Portugal where they had them. When they came back and were telling us about their trip and they kept ranting and raving out these Brandywine tomatoes so of course I went out and ordered some seeds!
Then you can accessorize with some Himalayan salt and freshly ground pepper (I love my Le Creuset pepper mill in Caribbean blue).
Then put the two sides together, cut it in half and enjoy complex simplicity at its finest…that’s my pepper mill off in the background…..isn’t it pretty. ***swoon***
CLT (Cheese, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwich)
Ingredients
- 1 Everything Bagel
- Mayo
- French’s yellow mustard
- Balderson cheddar (2 small or 1 large)
- Tomato
- Iceberg lettuce
- Himalayan salt
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Cut and toast the bagel
- Spread mayonnaise on both sides of the toasted bagel
- Put yellow mustard on one side of the bagel
- Apple the cheese to both sides of the bagel
- Shred the lettuce and put it on one side of the bagel
- Slice the tomato, and put on top of the lettuce
- Season with salt and pepper
- Put both sides together, cut in half and enjoy!
I hope you enjoy this sandwich as much as we do. It’s our go-to when we can’t agree on dinner or are short on time. A perfect companion would be a nice crispy homemade dill pickle!
What is your favourite type of sandwich?
No Comments