Southern Tomato Sandwich

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When it comes to the flavors of summer, you can’t beat the simplicity of a Southern tomato sandwich. This sandwich is made with sliced ripe heirloom tomatoes and mayonnaise sandwiched between 2 slices of sandwich bread and finished with a touch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.

 

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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the 
recipe card at the bottom of the post. 
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

This iconic sandwich is a summer tradition, and everyone in the South waits for those tomatoes to ripen on the vines so we can enjoy our Southern tomato sandwiches at their very best.

A simple tomato sandwich really does make the best of seasonal produce, enjoying tomatoes when they are at their best. If it’s the sweetest tomatoes you are after then I recommend buying at your local farmers market. Homegrown tomatoes are even fresher and can be picked straight from the vine.

I like to use sandwich bread and for my family, it has to be Duke’s mayonnaise which has the best flavor.

If, like me, you enjoy a good sandwich, then try my Air Fryer Shrimp Po’Boy Sandwiches, Garlic Butter Cheese Steak Sandwiches, or my Shredded Italian Beef Sandwiches which all go down a treat on Game Day. For an easy grab-and-go breakfast, why not try my Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Sandwiches.

Is a tomato sandwich a Southern thing?

If you’ve grown up in the South, it’s more than likely you’ll have heard of, and regularly eaten a tomato sandwich. This simple sandwich is made by sandwiching tomato and mayonnaise between two slices of bread. This sandwich is popular all over the South, particularly on game day.

Ingredients

This recipe uses simple ingredients that most of you will have in your refrigerator at home. Here’s what you will need for this recipe.  

• Sandwich bread
• Mayonnaise, store-bought or homemade
• Heirloom tomato
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

What’s the best tomato for a sandwich?

I like to use heirloom tomatoes as they have a great flavor. If you can’t find an heirloom tomato, a beefsteak tomato will do just fine. 

When looking for tomatoes, I recommend either homegrown or farmer’s market tomatoes for this recipe, as they have the best flavor.

How to make Southern Tomato Salad 

This simple sandwich can be prepared in a matter of minutes using 3 simple ingredients and a little seasoning.

Spread about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise on each slice of bread.

Place the sliced tomato on the bread. Season the tomato slices with salt and pepper. 

Cut the sandwich in half if desired and enjoy.

Expert Tips

These tips will help you make the best sandwich: 

• Make the sandwich fresh, that way, the juice from the tomatoes won’t make the bread soggy.
• For best flavor, use homegrown or farmer’s market tomatoes for this recipe.
• When it comes to mayonnaise, we like to use Duke’s mayonnaise. Homemade mayonnaise is also a good choice.

Variations 

This southern tomato sandwich recipe can be easily adapted to suit your tastes. Here are a few ingredients you could also add to your sandwich.  

• Sliced cheese, use any variety, cheddar, Gouda, and Swiss cheese would all work a treat.
• Ham and tomato make a great flavor combination.
• Add a slice of lettuce and some crispy bacon for the perfect BLT.
• Spread on some Dijon mustard for a mustard mayo twist.
• Add extra salad veggies like sliced cucumber or crispy lettuce.
• Add fresh mozzarella cheese, and some basil leaves for an Italian-inspired sandwich.

How to serve my Southern Tomato Sandwich  

This sandwich makes the perfect light lunch, and I like to serve it with a handful of my favorite chips or tortilla chips alongside.

On games day, I also like to serve some of my favorite sides, including:

• KFC Copycat Potato Wedges
• Vinegar Coleslaw
• Air Fryer French Fries
• Creamy Dill Potato Salad

FAQs:

If you have tried this Southern Tomato Sandwich recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

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