Give Tomato Sandwiches An Instant Flavor Overhaul With A Sprinkle Of This Overlooked Seasoning

If you grew up in the Southern United States, or even certain areas of Appalachia, you're likely familiar with one of the simplest, most delicious culinary staples in those regions: the almighty tomato sandwich. Deceptively simple, everything you need to make the best tomato sandwich includes white bread, mayo, a few thick slices of juicy tomato, and a shake of salt and pepper. However, Americans are nothing if not innovative. We love to infuse our favorite comfort foods with global flavors. It's no surprise, then, that we've discovered seasonings that elevate the Southern classic to the next level, namely za'atar.

Traditionally used to season meat, vegetables, and bread in Middle Eastern cooking, the delicious flavors included in za'atar are also a perfect match for the acid earthiness of tomatoes and tangy, creamy mayonnaise. Since most blends already include salt and pepper, you can leave those off your sandwich and sub them with za'atar, which adds aromatic oregano, smoky cumin, and lemony sumac to the mix, along with lightly bitter and nutty sesame seeds.

The reason this combination works so well is because of the bright, nuanced flavors present in both components of this sandwich upgrade. The tomato and spices in za'atar enhance each other, letting flavors bloom and meld, while the sesame seeds and mayo provide a pleasant contrast to the juicy brightness of the other ingredients. White bread, meanwhile, soaks up spice-infused juices from the tomato, cushioning the flavors in toasty deliciousness.

Sometimes a delicious culinary staple just needs a bit of a boost to come back into the limelight. That's exactly what za'atar does for tomato sandwiches, offering sophisticated flavor for the clean, unfussy ingredients to lean against (along with inspiration for other ways to boost the flavor of your tomatoes all summer long). Za'atar in place of salt and pepper is only the beginning; the other components can also be mixed and matched, such as replacing the mayo with another Middle Eastern staple.

Both hummus and labneh are excellent substitutes for mayonnaise on a za'atar-infused tomato sandwich, not only because they're classic pairings for the spice, but also because they're gorgeously tasty with tomatoes. Labneh is strained, thickened yogurt that's tangy and tart, and it creates layers of beautiful brightness with za'atar and tomato. It may be a little too sour for some palates, so there's nothing wrong with mixing up a 50/50 blend of mayo and labneh, or adding a little Dijon mustard and honey to create a deeper, more savory flavor.

Hummus is creamy, garlicky, lemony, and nutty, aligning with many of the same flavors present in za'atar in perfect harmony. It's also a protein-rich option for making a vegan sandwich if you're looking for alternatives. If you're feeling especially innovative, you can also swap out the ordinary white bread for man'oushe, a Lebanese flat bread traditionally served with za'atar and olive oil.