Is it too much to say a BLT recipe is a revolution in sandwich science? We don’t think so now that Amber Cardosi from A Toasted Crumb has totally transformed this classic. That’s right – it’s a BLT Pasta Salad. Complete with uniquely flavorful Sangria® Medley Tomatoes that add a colorful splash, this salad is perfect for flexing your kitchen creativity muscles.

BLT: who said it needs to be just a sandwich?

Bacon, lettuce and tomato are the only ingredients required in this classic and, though it may be simple, the flavor is always amazing. It’s no wonder BLTs have become a staple on menus both in restaurants and peoples’ homes since the 1940’s. But what if we told you there was another way to make this sandwich – one that isn’t a sandwich at all?

Our friend Amber Cardosi from A Toasted Crumb makes an incredibly savory BLT Pasta Salad that you just have to try! It’s a natural combination of your favorite three ingredients, along with bowtie pasta noodles and a homemade buttermilk ranch dressing. Once you make this BLT Pasta Salad recipe yourself, you’ll be telling everyone about it.

Of course, there are endless ways to experiment with this classic combo of bacon, lettuce and tomato. You could try making a wrap, or maybe add them to a burger or breakfast sandwich. Amber’s recipe can help to get us get a bit more creative in the kitchen. It’s so much fun to take a tried-and-true family favorite recipe and make it new again!

Now, for most BLTs, the tomato of choice is either a Beefsteak Tomato or Tomato on-the-Vine, but since we’re changing things up, let’s find something a bit more… vibrant!

Pure Flavor® Sangria® Medley Tomatoes are a flavorful (and colorful) mix of snacking tomato varieties. There are hundreds – maybe even thousands – of tomato varieties in the world. Pure Flavor® has chosen the varieties that go into this tomato medley for maximum flavor.

In other words, it’s no surprise that Amber has chosen to use Sangria Medley Tomatoes in her BLT Pasta Salad. If you’re going to experiment and have fun in the kitchen, you better go all the way!

One added benefit of cooking with Sangria Medley Tomatoes is that you can keep a pint of tomatoes on the kitchen counter to snack on the whole time. On second thought, make that two pints – your family will probably sneak a few while you’re not looking!

Amber’s instructions for how to make a BLT Pasta Salad are incredibly simple.

Start by making her fresh, homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. Whisk together mayo, sour cream, buttermilk, minced garlic and lemon juice. Then, season with garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard powder, cayenne, fresh parsley, fresh dill, fresh chives, and salt and pepper. Mix it all up and put it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for the ingredients to come together and for the dressing to cool.

Now, get to work on making some BLT magic happen in your kitchen: boil a pot of water and cook your preferred style of pasta noodle according to the instructions on the pack. Amber prefers bowtie noodles – and kids love them too! – but you can go with fusilli, clamshell or any other pasta you choose.

While your pasta is boiling, fry or bake your bacon and chop up your Sangria Medley Tomatoes, red onion, and lettuce. Remove your bacon and set it on a paper towel-lined plate once it’s reached crispy perfection. You can also remove your pasta noodles and place them in a serving bowl once they turn al dente – not too soft, not too hard.

All that’s left to do now is add your BLT ingredients to the bowl of pasta, mix with dressing, and chill in the fridge for a half-hour.

Want to take this BLT Pasta Salad a bit further? Amber likes to add avocado and we have to agree that this can really take the recipe up a notch. Slice or dice an avocado and add it right before serving the salad to keep it from browning.

Dig in and enjoy your BLT salad. We’re sure you’ll love all the amazing flavor you normally get in a BLT, plus the extra vibrancy that Sangria Medley Tomatoes bring to the dish.

Isn’t it fun to try something new – to transform a regular old BLT into a salad you can enjoy for lunch, dinner or as a side?

Experimentation is something we encourage and indulge in pretty often ourselves whenever we’re in the kitchen. Take, for example, Amber’s Chicken Parm Sliders with Juno® Bites Red Grape Tomatoes Chutney, or our Bell Pepper Tacos recipe. These are some great examples of how quickly and easily you can transform your favorite dish into something totally new.

To make this BLT Pasta Salad recipe yourself, click here.

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