Tomato Sandwiches Taste Better With This Spicy Addition

If you grew up like I did where the summertime meant fresh tomatoes, sometimes picked fresh from the garden or snatched up from your local farmers market, a tomato sandwich can feel incredibly nostalgic for you. If not, you're in for a whole new favorite mid-morning or afternoon snack. There's something amazing about having some fresh tomatoes sliced up and put in between bread with some delicious mayo. Add some salt and pepper and you have the tastiest summer treat. But if tomatoes on their own don't seem like enough and you're itching for a bit more flavor, there's one ingredient you can add: pickled jalapeños. 

Pickled jalapeños kick up the flavor profile of your tomato sandwich. You can find pickled jalapeños in a can or a jar at your local grocery store. You can use them for everything from bold and zesty baked beans to potato salad for extra flavor, even using the liquid in some cases. Add a few slices of these to your tomato sandwich and you've got an adult version of that nostalgic, delicious lunchtime treat. 

The mild spice and acidity of the pickled jalapeños combined with the sweetness from the fresh tomatoes and the savory flavor of the mayo makes this sandwich so much brighter and more flavorful. Use some fresh-baked bread to step it up even more — sourdough or brioche can work really well with the other ingredients. But it's not just pickled jalapeños that pair well with this tomato sandwich. Let's dive into three other pairings you can try. 

This first addition to your tomato sandwich with pickled jalapeños will add some umami flavor that this snack desperately needs. Adding garlic will give the sandwich the four pillars of flavor — umami, acidic, savory, and sweet. The best part is roasting garlic is really easy. Grab a bulb, trim the top to expose the cloves, drizzle with olive oil, and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 to 60 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes, then squeeze the golden, gooey cloves onto your bread. Layer your sandwich with the tomatoes, mayo, and pickled jalapeños and enjoy. 

You could add some fresh basil to your sandwich to add some more flavor, but why not instead use basil pesto for a kick? You can find some premade basil pesto wherever you buy groceries. A jar of pesto is a decent and super easy addition that pairs well with the pickled jalapeños. Just spread it on a slice of your bread. 

If the pickled jalapeños don't add nearly enough acidic and sweet flavor for you, this one addition should — balsamic vinegar. Just make sure you're avoiding subpar balsamic vinegar with these tips. Drizzle some on top of the tomatoes and pickled jalapeños. Avoid drizzling on your bread as it will make it a bit soggy, which can ruin an entire sandwich.