Introducing the TTLA – aka your new favorite sandwich! It’s a plant-based twist on the classic BLT. Loaded with our smoky tempeh bacon, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, pickles, romaine lettuce, and a zesty garlic aioli to tie it all together.
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Inspired by Whole Foods’ Vegan Sandwich
If you haven’t heard, Whole Foods Market introduced a vegan sandwich to their deli counters in 2018. It quickly gained popularity after Tabitha Brown shared her reaction to the sandwich in this Facebook video.
Within a week of its posting, Tabitha Brown’s viral video was reaching millions and the #TTLAChallenge was born. People started to pick up the sandwich at their local Whole Foods Market to capture their own TTLA sandwich-eating experiences, and post their photos and videos online.
It’s amazing to see vegans and non-vegans alike show the TTLA the love it deserves! On the off chance you don’t have this TTLA sandwich on menus near you, we’ve figured out how to make this sandwich at home. It honestly tastes identical and will satisfy any craving!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Tempeh bacon: Whole Foods makes their sandwich with Lightlife Tempeh Bacon Strips. If you’d like, you can pick up this pre-made smoky bacon and use it to make this sandwich. Or, try our easy homemade tempeh bacon recipe. It’s made in 15 minutes with simple ingredients like soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, liquid smoke and a few spices.
- Tomato: Any juicy tomato slices of choice will do.
- Lettuce: Try baby romaine or butter lettuce, cut or ripped into medium sized chunks. We used Pete’s Living Greens.
- Avocado: The classic BLT sandwich doesn’t contain avocado, but adding avocado to this vegan BLT truly takes it to the next level. The more creamy your sliced avocado, the better!
- Dill pickles: Adding pickles to your TTLA at Whole Foods is optional, but highly recommended for a sweet, tangy crunch!
- Favorite bread: Whole Foods Market makes their sandwich with ciabatta buns, but you can use any bread of choice. We used Dave’s Killer Bread.
- 5-Minute Garlic Aioli: We’ve cracked the code on making vegan garlic aioli at home with just 4-ingredients. Or, swap in your favorite sandwich condiments, such as regular vegan mayonnaise, mustard, relish, hummus, or another type of aioli, like Garlic Truffle Aioli!
Equipment Needed
- Wide, shallow bowl (with a fitted lid, if possible)
- Large skillet
- Small mixing bowl
- Whisk
How to Make a TTLA Sandwich
- Prepare the tempeh bacon. Go to our Homemade Tempeh Bacon and follow the recipe instructions to make. For the most authentic sandwich, you’ll want to cook the tempeh bacon in advance and refrigerate until chilled.
- Prepare the vegan garlic aioli. Our simple homemade garlic aioli recipe requires just 4 ingredients!
- Assemble. Smear one slice of the bread with garlic aioli. Layer on half of the lettuce, tomato slices, tempeh bacon, pickles, and avocado, and then seal the sandwich shut with the second piece of bread.
- Repeat! Use this method to make as many sandwiches as you’d like!
Recipe FAQs
The standard TTLA sandwich at Whole Foods is not naturally vegan because it’s typically made on ciabatta bread. By making it at home, you can ensure it’s 100% gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free bread and gluten-free tempeh.
If you’re using a regular vegan mayonnaise to make the vegan garlic aioli, this recipe is not oil-free because vegan mayonnaise is oil-based. However, it you make the vegan garlic aioli with an oil-free mayonnaise recipe, or another condiment such as oil-free hummus, this smoky TTLA sandwich is naturally oil-free!
Certainly! The classic choice is tempeh bacon, but you can of course use any vegan bacon of choice. You might like our Tofu Bacon, Shiitake Bacon, Eggplant Bacon, or Vegan Rice Paper Bacon.
As is, the sandwich is 100% vegan straight from the menu! If you have a chance to try Whole Foods’ version, we highly recommend it!
Storage Instructions
We recommend enjoying this sandwich immediately once assembled, as avocado does not tend to keep well.
If you’d like to meal prep these sandwiches for school or work lunches, prep the tempeh bacon and aioli in advance to make assembly throughout the week as quick as possible.
More Vegan Sandwich Recipes You May Enjoy:
Make sure you tag us on Instagram @sweetsimplevegan and @consciouschris and hashtag #sweetsimplevegan if you make this recipe. We love to see your photos!
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Homemade TTLA Sandwich Recipe
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Total Time: 26 minutes -
Yield: 2 sandwiches
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Introducing the TTLA – aka your new favorite sandwich! It’s a plant-based twist on the classic BLT. Loaded with our smoky tempeh bacon, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, pickles, romaine lettuce, and a zesty garlic aioli to tie it all together.
Ingredients
- Homemade tempeh bacon
- 5-Minute Garlic Aioli
- 1 tomato, cut into slices
- Baby romaine or butter lettuce, cut or ripped into medium sized chunks (we used Pete’s Living Greens)
- 1 avocado, peeled and sliced
- Dill pickles (optional)
- 4 slices of your favorite bread, toasted (we used Dave’s Killer Bread)
Instructions
- Prepare the homemade tempeh bacon and garlic aioli if you have not done so already.
- Smear one slice of the bread with garlic aioli. Layer on half of the lettuce, tomato, tempeh bacon, pickles, and avocado, and then seal the sandwich shut with the second piece of bread. Repeat with the second sandwich.
- Dig in!
Notes
- If you don’t want the aioli to be too strong, opt for 1/8-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
- Store the garlic aioli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 6
Category: Lunch
Cuisine: Vegan
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