Breadless BLT
Living a block from the 14 & U St. Farmers Market and working a few blocks from the White House Farmers Market there is little reason for me to venture to any of the other markets in the city, unless of course ES’ own Gansie is working it. This past Saturday I battled the rain and headed north to Mt. Pleasant, and let me tell you, the weather was not so pleasant. The market might be smaller than most in the city but it doesn’t stop short of selling everything the others do, I went in search of chili peppers for a cook-off at work- but that’s for another post.
As I was perusing for the great deal on habaneros, poblanos and jalapeños, my eye wandered over to the fresh meats, since I needed some beef round for my chili. Instead it was the bacon that caught my eye, naturally. A whole slab of bacon, I’d seen these before but not really thought much of it, I bought some anyway figuring I could make a delicious treat- and that I did.
Before heading home I went over to Gansie to show her what I had bought and she too marveled at the bacon, immediately, without hesitation she suggested I make a breadless BLT, and without hesitation, I said OK.
Having the freedom of carving my own bacon was liberating; it made sense for me to keep the rasher thick- I had a steak of bacon in my hands. I was tempted to just cook the thing as a whole but to me, there is nothing quite like a fresh BLT on my plate.
I sliced the bacon thick enough so it could support the weight of a tomato. I then pan fried the bacon (but cook it whichever way you desire), trimming the rind off, as slices this thick it might have been a little too much for my liking.
Rinse and towel dry some fresh arugula, sprinkle with s&p, slice tomato, halve and once the bacon is cooked build away. I slathered the bacon with mayonnaise as any true Brit would, but I know y’all wont appreciate that. As I knew the whole rasher of bacon wouldn’t support itself I halved it and created a slider like bite, a carb friendly breadless BLT slider. Such a good gay I was.
It was delicious. Who needs bread. Bakeries of this world, beware.
Ok – I admit that I am of the school of thought that anything with bacon has got to be yummy – but you have surpassed that! What an amazing idea for an appetizer!
I agree that the cutting of your own bacon is liberating. Nothing is worse than separating out the bacon with paper thin slices. Good on you for going for artisan bacon. I wonder if making bacon is in your future?