A BLT is one of those sandwiches that always hits the spot. It’s simple, delicious, and filling in every single bite. But even if you’ve been omitting (or limiting) animal products from your weekly rotation, you don’t need to ditch this classic sandwich. Meet the vegan BLT, a.k.a. your new favorite lunch recipe.
Featuring our go-to smoky tempeh bacon, this vegan BLT is full of flavor and veggies. You can even turn it into a BLT wrap, if that’s more your thing. Here’s how to make it.
Table of Contents
You Will Need:
- bread
- vegan mayonnaise
- tempeh bacon
- lettuce
- sliced tomato
- sliced avocado
- red onion
Use gluten-free bread if needed. For a lighter option, try using wraps.
The avocado and red onion are optional, but we highly recommend both ingredients. They add great flavor (and color) to the sandwich. Other tasty filling ideas include microgreens, freshly chopped herbs, or sliced vegan cheese. Don’t hesitate to get creative and use what you have on hand.
Not a fan of mayo? Go for hummus or mashed avocado… because you can never enough avocado!
If you’d like, lightly toast the bread. This will give the sandwich a nice crunch while providing support for the ingredients.
Add about 1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise, hummus, or mashed avocado to each slice of bread. If using a wrap, simply spread it evenly.
Add 3 or 4 leaves of lettuce. Depending on the size of each leaf, you may need to trim them. We used romaine lettuce, but feel free to use other types, like butter or iceberg lettuce. Spinach or kale is also fair game.
Although the order of ingredients won’t necessarily affect the taste, we prefer to use the “flatter” ingredients first. This creates a more even base for the oddly-shaped fillings, such as sliced avocado or sprouts.
Add 4 to 5 strips of tempeh bacon. Again, the magic number depends on the size of your bacon, as well as the size of your bread.
For those new to plant-based eating, tempeh is a fermented cousin of tofu, which is made from soybeans. Another great option is to use carrot bacon, but we love the tempeh for a BLT.
Add at least 2 slices of tomato. You may have to overlap the slices, depending on the size.
Now, for the grand finale: Add the remaining sandwich fillings, including the red onion, sliced avocado, or microgreens. You can also add a dash of salt and pepper, if you’d like.
Top of the sandwich a second slice of bread. Slice down the middle with a sharp knife. Try to make a clean, single cut—this will prevent the fillings from spilling out.
Enjoy your homemade vegan sandwich with a side of pickles, French fries, or a handful of pita chips.
Vegan BLT Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread or 2 tortilla wraps
- 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise or hummus
- 8 to 10 strips
tempeh bacon - ½ head romaine lettuce trimmed as needed
- ½ tomato sliced
- ½ avocado sliced
- ¼ red onion sliced
- Salt, pepper, or freshly chopped herbs optional
Instructions
- Toast the bread until slightly golden brown and crispy. Spread 1/2 tablespoon of mayonnaise on each slice.
- Layer the lettuce, sliced tomato, and tempeh bacon on one slice. Add the red onions and avocado, if using. Top with salt, pepper, or freshly chopped herbs.
- Top with another slice of bread. Slice down the middle in a single, clean cut. Serve with pickles, fries, or chips.
