This healthy BLT salad recipe with the traditional ingredients of bacon, lettuce and tomato is so much better than a sandwich. And if you miss the bread, just serve a fresh bread roll alongside!
I started off this week feeling like I needed to go on a diet. However, I don't really do diets. Sometimes I think about them but I don't think I have ever seriously considered following one.
What I normally do when I feel like this is just add lots of extra veggies to my diet. One way to do it is to fill a bowl so full of salad that there is physically no room left for the unhealthy stuff.
That is exactly what I've done with the bacon, lettuce and tomato salad, aka BLT salad. There's a lot of good healthy stuff in this salad. Well, you many question the bacon but unless you don't eat meat, there is almost always room for a little bacon. And this salad would not be a BLT salad without the bacon!
What ingredients are in this BLT salad?
As well as the classic blt sandwich ingredients of bacon, lettuce and tomato, I also added avocado to the salad. I think avocado goes brilliantly with bacon, tomato and basil. It also adds some creaminess to contrast with the texture of the crispy bacon.
I also love to add mozzarella to this salad. When I first made it, it didn't have mozzarella in but after making it quite a lot I've decided it definitely deserves a place! A little torn mozzarella adds a lovely texture and flavour dimension.
Along with the avocado it makes the salad more filling so you really can just eat a big plateful and feel full afterwards.
How to make this BLT salad
I haven't included step by step images for this recipe as it's so simple you don't need them. All you need to do is cook the bacon. Use your prefered method -fry, grill, microwave or air fry.
Then just assemble the salad. Toss everything together and serve! It couldn't be an easier salad to make.
Can you adapt this salad?
Yes of course. But, if you remove the bacon, lettuce or tomato it won't be a BLT salad any more!
Feel free to add any other veggies you want to use up. I like to add some sliced onions and a spoonful of sweetcorn sometimes. You could add some boiled or steamed baby potatoes to make it into a potato BLT salad. That's just one way to make it a bit more filling.
What to serve with this salad
As I said, if you want a light healthy meal you can just eat this salad. But if you want to make it a bit more filling then garlic bread goes very well! Why not try my garlic and herb butter quick bread with it? Or how about this focaccia?
What can you do with the leftovers?
I tend to assemble the amount of this salad that we're going to eat when serving. The bacon keeps well in the fridge and so does the chopped lettuce and tomatoes but, if you add dressing, the lettuce goes a bit soggy so it's best to only dress when serving.
Avocado can discolour and is not so appetising if it is sliced and then kept overnight in the fridge.
A note about Spoilt Pig Bacon
Just a little good quality bacon can add so much flavour to a recipe.
For this BLT salad I used Spoilt Pig Bacon, which is the first raised without antibiotics bacon in the UK market. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to resistance to antibiotics which is then a threat to both people and livestock.
This doesn't mean the pigs are denied antibiotics if they need them, but those pigs are treated individually rather than the whole herd.
Not only is the bacon responsibly farmed, it also tastes delicious and is not at all watery as some supermarket bacon can be. For a BLT salad with crispy bacon bits, this bacon definitely did the job!
Recipe
BLT Salad
Ingredients
- 100 g bacon about 4 slices
- 100 g Lettuce
- 16 cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 avocado cut into strips
- 2 tablespoon chopped basil
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 150 g mozzarella ball
Instructions
- Fry the bacon in a dry frying pan until it is crisp. Let it rest on some kitchen roll to soak up any fat after it has cooked.
- Roughly chop the lettuce and divide between two bowls or plates. Top with the tomatoes, avocado, torn up mozzarella ball, basil, lemon juice and olive oil. Toss together.
- Crumble the bacon over the top. Or keep it whole, it's up to you!
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
More salad recipes
If you Like this BLT Salad? How about these salads?
Keep in touch
Do let me know if you make this BLT salad or any of my other recipes. I love to get feedback from readers.
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Places I'm sharing this BLT salad
Cook Blog Share hosted by Easy Peasy Foodie
Disclosure: I was sent complimentary samples of the spoiltpig bacon but the recipe and all opinions are my own.
Kate - gluten free alchemist
With the hot weather we have been having, this is way better than a sandwich for sure! lovely looking salad xx
Corina
Thanks Kate! We've just got back from a holiday and need some healthy meals this week so I'll probably be making it yet again! x
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
This sounds amazing Corina, right up my street!! I love the idea of adding just a touch of bacon to pep up a super healthy salad and that Spoilt Pig bacon sounds AMAZING!!! Must check it out. Thanks for libnking up to #CookBlogShare 🙂 Eb x
Corina
You're welcome Eb! The bacon was lovely and I'm going to be eating this salad again and again this summer x
Emily
BLTs are my favorite sandwich, I love how you put it into salad form!
Corina
Thanks Emily! It works so well as a salad and you can still have some bread on the side!
rika
I love avocado! This BLT salad looks so tasty and so easy to make!
Corina
Thanks Rika! It is a lovely summer salad.
Renee
These days I can't do a BLT without the avocado, once you add it there is no going back, so to me this salad is perfect!! I just need someone to deliver the bacon so I don't have to go out in the heat... 🙂
Corina
Thanks Renee! I think the avocado really makes the salad along with the bacon. I've also made it a few more times and now love to add some mozzarella too when I have it. I wish it was too hot to go out here - we're having quite a wet summer!
Jacqui
What a lovely salad I'll have some please:)
Corina
Thanks Jacqui!
Angela @ Allergy Free Angela
This salad looks and sounds delicious! Bacon makes everything better! 😉 I love that you made your own simple vinaigrette with the olive oil and lemon juice.
Corina
I love making my own vinaigrettes. I added a little mustard one of the times when I made this and that is really yummy too! You can also just use white wine vinegar instead of the lemon juice.
Claudia
I love this recipe, good avocados are hard to find here but I have to try! 🙂
Corina
I hope you enjoy it! It's such a shame avocados can be hard to find or at least the good ones. We also sometimes have that problem!
Ginny
You are right that this is better than a sandwich! Salads are so satisfying!
Corina
I'm so pleased you think the same way as me Ginny!
Jeni @ Biscuits & Booze
Looks like a super tasty salad 🙂 Especially right now with all the fresh tomatoes in season! I'll sub veggie bacon for the real thing. It's a great way to cut the carbs and still indulge!
Corina
I'm sure this salad would be just as delicious with veggie bacon. And yes, it's a great way to eat fresh tomatoes - I think they're always so good in a salad.
Amanda
Absolutely love the combination of avocado and bacon. It all looks so good!
Corina
It's one of my favourite combinations too! I'm so pleased you like it.
swayam
Avocado is definitely my favorite thing to add to sandwiches these days! This looks like a great alternative.
Corina
I have to say I love avocado in a sandwich too!
Calleigh - TheForkBite
This salad looks so refreshing and I love the color combo.. nice.
Corina
Thanks Calleigh!
Alyssa
I love the addition of avocado to the salad! That's always something I add to my BLT sandwiches!
Corina
It works so well with bacon, doesn't it?