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A freshly made BLT sandwich with crisp bacon, lettuce, and tomato slices

Best way to grow a 4-Star BLT Sandwich garden at home

Cultivate your very own BLT ingredients at home by planting tomatoes, lettuce, and learning to cure your own bacon. This guide will walk you through creating a self-sufficient BLT garden.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 5 days
Total Time 5 days 2 hours
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Garden
  • 1 packet Tomato seeds Heirloom varieties like Brandywine or Better Bush are recommended.
  • 1 packet Lettuce seeds Butterhead or Romaine work well.
  • 2 lbs Pork belly For homemade bacon.
  • 2 tbsp Curing salt Prague Powder #1.
  • 1/4 cup Brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp Black pepper
  • 2 cups Wood chips Hickory or applewood for smoking.
For Assembly
  • 8 slices Freshly baked bread Sourdough or whole wheat.
  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise Homemade is a plus!

Equipment

  • Gardening tools (trowel, watering can)
  • Smoker
  • Resealable plastic bag
  • Meat thermometer
  • Sharp knife

Method
 

Planting and Growing
  1. Sow tomato and lettuce seeds in well-draining soil, ensuring ample sunlight and regular watering.
  2. Provide support for tomato plants as they grow and harvest outer leaves from lettuce as needed.
Curing the Bacon
  1. Combine curing salt, brown sugar, and black pepper, then rub the mixture evenly over the pork belly.
  2. Place the pork belly in a resealable bag and refrigerate for 7 days, flipping daily to ensure even curing.
  3. Rinse the pork belly thoroughly under cold water and pat it dry, then let it air-dry in the refrigerator for 24 hours to form a pellicle.
Smoking the Bacon
  1. Prepare your smoker to maintain a temperature of 200°F (93°C) and add the wood chips.
  2. Smoke the pork belly for 2-3 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 150°F (65°C), then cool completely before slicing.
Assembling the BLT
  1. Toast the bread and spread mayonnaise on one side of each slice.
  2. Layer freshly sliced tomatoes, lettuce from your garden, and your homemade bacon between the toasted bread slices to create a delicious BLT.

Notes

The quality of your ingredients, especially the fresh produce and homemade bacon, will elevate this BLT to a 4-star experience. Experiment with different tomato and lettuce varieties to find your favorites.