Reinventing The BLT — 9 Ways

Reinventing a classic sandwich can be risky business — while it's a great opportunity to exercise one's culinary creativity, it can also lead to disaster. OK, maybe disaster is a bit of an exaggeration, but it's all too easy to arrive at a sandwich that's just way too "out there," too hard to eat, or just plain bad.

Click here to see the Reinventing the BLT — 9 Ways (Slideshow)

So when we set out to find some recipes that injected new life into the classic BLT, we had a few criteria in mind. First of all, the recipes had to remain true to the original in the most basic way — they had to include bacon, lettuce, or tomato in some shape or form. And, they had to create a harmonious eating experience — nothing unwieldy, nothing soggy, and nothing with flavors that would clash. Lastly, they had to be doable in a reasonable amount of time — a BLT, after all, is still just a sandwich.

To whet your appetites, here are some highlights:

• A Southern Fried Chicken BLT from Brian Sonoskus, chef at Tupelo Honey Café an award-winning restaurant in Asheville, N.C., specializing in Southern cuisine.
• Sometimes, just a small change can make an old favorite exciting. This BLT with Balsamic Mayonnaise is simple and delicious.
• This whimsical take on the BLT, a Turkey BLT Sushi Roll, probably isn't on the menu of your local sushi joint, but maybe it should be.

For more recipes and inspiration, check out the slideshow.

Will Budiaman is the Recipe editor at The Daily Meal. Follow him on Twitter @WillBudiaman.