Tomato Sandwiches with Roasted Garlic & Basil Aioli

 Tomato Sandwiches with Roasted Garlic & Basil Aioli

Ingredients:

For the Roasted Garlic and Basil Aioli:

• 1 whole head of garlic
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt and black pepper to taste

For the Tomato Sandwiches:

• 4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced
• 8 slices of your favorite bread (such as baguette, ciabatta, or sourdough)
• 4 lettuce leaves (e.g., Romaine or Bibb lettuce)
• 8 slices of cooked bacon (optional)
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

Roasted Garlic and Basil Aioli:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Slice off the top of the whole head of garlic to expose the cloves. Place it on a piece of foil, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, and wrap it up in the foil.

3. Roast the garlic in the preheated oven for about 30-40 minutes or until the cloves are soft and lightly browned. Allow it to cool.

4. In a food processor, combine the roasted garlic cloves, fresh basil leaves, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.

5. Blend the ingredients until you have a smooth and creamy aioli. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.

Tomato Sandwiches:

1. Toast the slices of bread if desired.

2. On each slice of bread, spread a generous amount of the Roasted Garlic and Basil Aioli that you prepared.

3. Place a lettuce leaf on four of the bread slices.

4. Add the sliced tomatoes on top of the lettuce.

5. If you're using bacon, place two slices on each sandwich.

6. Season the tomato slices with a pinch of salt and black pepper.

7. Top each sandwich with the remaining slices of bread with the aioli side facing down.

8. Optionally, you can secure the sandwiches with toothpicks.

9. Slice the sandwiches in half and serve them. You can serve them immediately, or you can wrap them in parchment paper for a picnic or lunch on the go.

These Tomato Sandwiches with Roasted Garlic and Basil Aioli are a delightful and refreshing choice for a light lunch or picnic. Enjoy!