There’s nothing like a BLT, or Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich. Unless you don’t like bacon or pork or you are a vegetarian. What do you do then? That’s where this wonderful recipe comes in –  HLT Sandwiches, made with hummus, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Hummus is a mixture of chickpeas and tahini, or sesame paste. It is thick and flavorful and a great substitute for bacon. When combined with crisp sweet lettuce and a juicy sweet and tart tomato, on a toasted whole wheat bun, you have yourself a great sandwich.

You can certainly buy hummus, or you can make your own. The “recipe” couldn’t be easier. Just put a can of drained canned chickpeas, 1/4 to 1/3 cup tahini, some salt, about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and a clove of garlic if you’d like in a blender and whizz it up. This mixture also makes a great dip as well as a sandwich spread. Store it covered in the fridge for about four days, if it lasts that long!

I think it’s important to use the juiciest and sweetest tomatoes you can find in this sandwich, which means it’s best to make it in the summer and early fall. If you can find great slicing tomatoes in the winter, by all means use those.

And the bread is also important. No soggy bland white sandwich buns for this recipe! Choose a substantial whole wheat bun, spread the cut sides with butter, and toast until burnished and crispy. Yum.

This sandwich is great for lunchboxes, but you may want to just put the components in separately and let your child (or you) assemble the sandwich just before eating.

How to make the best HLT Sandwiches

• Choose a great hummus, crisp and fresh lettuce, and sweet and juicy tomatoes.
• You can add other veggies to this sandwich if you’d like. Some sliced cucumber, yellow summer squash, or zucchini would be delicious and would add a great crunch to this sandwich.

Why this recipe works

• The combination of smooth hummus, crisp lettuce, crunchy bun, and juicy tomato is perfect, with a great contrast in textures and flavors.