BLT With Arugula

A jazzed up version of the classic BLT with baby arugula stepping in for the lettuce.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated December 14, 2024
Elise Bauer Elise Bauer
BLT with Arugula BLT with Arugula
Elise Bauer

Do you like BLTs? (BLT=Bacon Lettuce Tomato sandwich for those of you readers not familiar with this American classic.)

I've been mad for them as long as I can remember. But I never thought to sub out the lettuce for arugula (which grows like a weed around here) until my mother brought home an arugula BLT from a local bistro. So good!

The spiciness of the arugula is wonderfully countered by the fatty smokiness of the bacon. If you don't have arugula available (also known as rocket) you can use watercress.

I wilted the greens in a little bacon fat just to make it easier to pack more into the sandwich.

BLT with Arugula BLT with Arugula
Elise Bauer

BLT With Arugula

Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Serving 1 serving
Yield 1 sandwich
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 2-3 slices thick smoked bacon

  • 1-2 thin slices of large tomato

  • 1-2 ounces (a couple handfuls) fresh baby arugula (can substitute watercress)

  • 2 slices bread

  • Mayonnaise

Method

  1. Cook the bacon:

    Heat a large sauté pan or cast iron pan on medium low heat. Lay the strips of bacon in a single layer on the pan. Slowly cook the bacon, rendering out the fat, until lightly browned on one side. Using a fork or tongs, turn the strips of bacon over to cook the other side.

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer

    When the bacon strips are sufficiently cooked remove from pan and place on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb the excess fat.

    Pour out excess fat from the pan (leaving about half a teaspoon in the pan) into a jar or a container to either dispose of or to store. (Never pour bacon grease down the sink, it will clog your pipes.)

  2. Wilt the arugula:

    In the same pan, add handfuls of fresh baby arugula or watercress. Toss in the remaining remaining fat. As soon as the greens start to wilt, remove from heat and remove from the pan to stop the cooking.

  3. Toast bread, build sandwich:

    Toast bread slices in a toaster. Spread mayonnaise (or your favorite spread, butter will do too) over the slices. Layer the sandwich with bacon, sliced tomato, and lightly wilted arugula. Cut on the diagonal.

    Eat immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
442 Calories
25g Fat
34g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 442
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 6g 32%
Cholesterol 41mg 14%
Sodium 1008mg 44%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 10mg 50%
Calcium 144mg 11%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 463mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.