If you’ve been to the Peanut Butter & Co. Sandwich Shop in NYC you may have seen the Peanut Butter BLT on the menu. The only difference between that and a normal BLT is using peanut butter instead of mayonnaise. I hate mayonnaise but love BLT’s and the peanut butter version is quite tasty. But I’m sharing something different with you today. Instead of Peanut Butter BLT’s, how about some Peanut Butter T’s? No, not T-shirts (although I have a great shirt idea but am in need of an artist), but Peanut Butter Tomato sandwiches. Not really a sandwich, more like on toast…and for breakfast.
As strange as it sounds, I didn’t come up with this. I received an email from a reader named Dan who told me that his mom used to make him this for breakfast when he was young. I wanted to know more so I asked him to dig up some info. Dan’s mother, now 83, used to have it for breakfast growing up in West Virginia when her mother (Dan’s grandmother) would make it for her. Dan’s mother was born in 1925, about 30 years after peanut butter was first invented, but smooth peanut butter wasn’t commercially available until about 1928 when Peter Pan was founded. She missed the Universal Exposition of 1904 (and unfortunately so did I) where plain peanut butter sandwiches were all the rave, but she was born at a very exciting time for Americans (can you imagine a world without peanut butter?). Our old friend, the PB&J, wasn’t invented until after 1940, so she enjoyed what can only be one of the first peanut butter creations: Peanut Butter and Tomato on Toast. How can you not try this historical peanut butter landmark?
In addition, I want to thank Kath from Katheats for sending me a jar of Earth Fare peanut butter! When I recently shared that I had found a great new peanut butter, I heard otherwise from Kath. She told me that while Whole Foods brand peanut butter was good, Earth Fare’s was even better. I had never heard of Earth Fare and for good reason, it’s a small chain in the southern US, an area I have yet to visit. She is so excited about this peanut butter that she went to the trouble of shipping me a jar. While the shipping price was probably twice the price of the jar, it was worth it. This is some great peanut butter. It’s a no-stir creamy peanut butter with a touch of salt and sugar. The amount of sugar was perfect and greatly added to the fresh roasted nutty taste. Thanks again Kath! You’ll be receiving a package shortly too =). By the way, let me add that if anyone wants to send me peanut butter then feel free!
Print
1 slice whole grain bread
1T creamy natural peanut butter
1 thick slice of a large local tomato
kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
Instructions:
1. Toast the bread, spread on peanut butter and top with tomato. Sprinkle on salt and plenty of pepper. Eat with a knife and fork.
Additional Info:
I was impressed at how good this was. I had it for a midday snack but could definitely see eating it for breakfast. Apparently, Dan has it for breakfast to this day and he suggests adding some bacon underneath the tomato for an extra treat!
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I think we need a peanut butter exchange of some sort, where people from different regions can submit their favourite peanut butters, and receive something from somewhere else in exchange.
I would definitely pony up a jar of my favourite Bulk Barn organic with sea salt in exchange for something from the US.
Man, wish I was in the South? hmm, maybe… but this sounds interesting enough to give it a tri! :)
That does sound good! The options are limitless when PB is involved:)
So, what’s the verdict on the peanut butter and tomato. I love tomatoes and peanut butter, but together?
Heather
When I first saw the name “Peanut Butter Boy” on another blogroll, I immediately thought, “Hey! That’s my name, too!”
I clicked on the link with great anticipation, and was slapped in the face with a tomato. Whoa… didn’t see that coming.
I don’t really like tomatoes (at least in this form — ask me the question again when there’s a lasagna in front of me). And I initially thought this a strange combination. But then I remembered a dish served at a restaurant here: Spicy African Peanut Soup. Which is basically peanut butter melted into tomato soup, with lots of hot sauce mixed in.
Yum…
Horray for EarthFare PB!! I might just go have some right now…
I am all over that creation. Looks very good. I might just add a bit of cracked black pepper on top of the tomato. Very nice. I may try this tomorrow morning.
Thanks
zesty
Looks very pretty with the brown and red. But I personally am not a big fan of tomatoes. With that said, I sure can eat the rest of the toast!
Nick, have been meaning to tell you… you should try to register with blog aggregators like “Food world” and “Taste of India”. You might get good visibility. I am sure there are peanut butter fans everywhere :)
Hmmm, you never know it could become a craze like “hey, you got your chocolate in my peanut butter….” (that’s an OLD commercial for Reese’s pb cups).
I’ll have to try tomato and pb on toast one day (don’t have any tomatoes right now.)
Does Kath know that’s what you did with her pb? I don’t think she likes tomatoes! ;)
That looks odd but anyways I try very strange things so maybe that s delicious. That was really interesting info. Enjoyed reading it :-)
Now THAT’S an intriguing combination – yum!
Hooray for Kath sending PB!! :0)
Anne, I agree! That would be an awesome idea. I could even throw in my homemade cinnamon raisin variety, get some feedback and see if it’s a store-worthy item =)!
ttfn300, Not sure I’d want to live there but you never know until you try!
Sagan, And that’s the entire basis for my blog, I’ll never run out of ideas!
Hangrypants, Verdict is: try it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I’ve used peanut butter mixed with ketchup and a few other things for a meat marinade.
Charlie, Haha, good to find another peanut butter boy. I think I should totally make peanut butter boy/girl t-shirts, I think people would want em! I’m going to try a African peanut soup real soon, there’s a couple of great recipes out there.
ZestyCook, Let me know if you do, I’d love to hear feedback.
Divya, What’s the site for those places? I found some weird roundabout links when I searched for them.
Katrina, Haha yea, Kath commented right above you, but she was probably too angry to mention tomatoes =). I love that old commercial for Reese’s!
Snooky Doodle, Thanks! I enjoyed having you read it =)
Good point! I often make peanut butter sauces for noodle dishes that have other veggies, so I guess it’s not all the odd.
peanut butter and tomato sounds a little too crazy for me, but maybe pretty alright if i’ve got fresh and sweet tomatoes on hand. lol! :)
http://connect.sailusfood.com/ – Goto suggest a feed on your right.
http://www.recipemuncher.com/ – Goto Add your blog on the top.
http://foodworld.redchillies.us/- Email the ID on your right.
BTW, None of these are mine :)
You know, that sandwich saounds amazing. I eat tomato sandwiches and peanut butter sandwiches (on gluten free bread of course) so why not combine the two. ANd I am with zesty cook – fresh ground pepper and some course salt. YUM!
I just stumbled upon your blog…very cool. I had no idea that there was man as obsessed with peanut butter as much as my boyfriend.
That being said…the Safeway in Auburn, CA has a nut bar with 3 different “butter” machines; peanut, almond and I can’t remember the other.
Diva, Give it a try, let me know what you think!
Divya, Thanks! I submitted it to all 3, let’s see if I get added or not.
Carol, By tomato sandwiches you mean just tomato? or sandwiches with tomato and sandwiches with peanut butter? Either way, this on toast thing worked better than I thought. Can’t go wrong with tradition!
Michelle Ann, Thanks! Tell your boyfriend I say hello =). Oooh, I love those machines. We have a few Safeways around here but they don’t have those machines! Perhaps the third is honey roasted peanut butter? If so, get some ASAP! That is one of the best peanut butter you’ll find.
,
Sorry, but as a PROFESSIONAL CHEF, and the SENIOR ADVISER at the SeriousEats website, I think that your PB & tomato on toast is disgusting.
Louise,
(727) 467-9009
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Well, SeriousEats is one website I can cross off my list.
What an ignorant remark. Have you every tried it? This blogger saw it here, thought it sounded strange, but gave it a whirl:
http://ellacinderseats.blogspot.com/2009/05/peanut-butter-and-tomato.html
I found out a while ago that “therealchiffonade” is someone mocking the real senior adviser from Serious Eats. Apparently the real adviser was someone with “chiffonade” in her username but this person above got annoyed and started posting nasty comments all around the internet trying to ruin the real person’s reputation. People have tried talking to “therealchiffonade” but she is literally deranged.
You know, I wondered, after I replied to that, if it was someone pretending to speak for that blog. It was too tacky. I’m glad you told me, and I’ll put Serious Eats back on my list.
Yea, it was too off-base which is why I investigated it. Although since then I think the Serious Eats editor has changed her username to no longer include chiffonade.
Wouldnt hv paired peanutbutter with tomato but hey, never know till one tries. The range of PB over at your side of the world is amazing.
Nick, this is a really interesting history. Thanks for sharing! I need to go try that shop–they have adverts all over campus promising me my own free jar of PB with any purchase. How can I resist? The PBLT it will be.
The road to fame is so full of controversy isn’t it? I don’t think peanut butter and tomatoes together would do it for me but hey, what do I know. I’m only the grasshoppah here.
Gosh, I love peanut butter… with almost anything! I’m going off now to check out your no-bake post. Yummmmy!
Oh, and may I add you to my bloroll?
Hmmm, is new and interesting to me. I think I’ll try it.
Daphne, I never would have thought of it either. You should just order like 10 cases of peanut butter from over here so you’ll always have a jar handy!
Chou, Free jar? Why aren’t I going to that school??!?
Giz, Hey you never know, you may love it! Sometimes it’s the first things that come to mind that are the best, and this came before jelly apparently.
now that is a cool concept! We are both artists, would be happy to draw something for ya–what are you looking for?
Mmmmm… pb&co. I love their Elvis sandwich.
Do you ever eat PB and red onion sandwiches?
I am so glad I found this site. Peanut butter is my favorite food! I think this recipe captures the sweet/salty dual nature of peanut butter. I can’t wait to try it!
tried this lately and it is GREAT, the black pepper and salt really makes it! peanut butter and celery sandwich is also quite satisfying.
I’m 73, and I’ve been making this for myself & my five children (now for my grandchildren who love it too) since I was a child in Texas in the early 40s. We raised our own wonderful tomatoes, and because meat was rationed we ate a LOT of PB. It is still my–and most of my kids’/grandkids’–favorite quick breakfast or snack IF you have good tomatoes. (Thank goodness for the “Ugli Ripe” & “Vintage Variety” old species tomatoes my grocery now sells year ’round.) Try it with a slice of sharp cheddar, too. Put a slice of toast spread w/PB, the other w/the slice of cheese, under the broiler till they bubble. Lay on a slice or two (I like thin slices) of good tomato, sprinkle w/Kosher salt and cracked pepper, slap together.
Very interesting. This seems like such a rare recipe but one that is loved by the people who know it. I need to try it with some better tomatoes. I like the sandwich idea, I’ll give it a try real soon. Got any other PB-centric recipes? If so, click here to submit them, I’d love to try them out and/or post them!
Why it is rare I’ll never understand. Of all the countless things you can combine w/PB, (assuming, of course, that one loves both PB & tomatoes) this is the most mutually complimentary. AND the healthiest! I love what that ellacinderseats blog post points out: “Stunningly simple and healthy (carb plus protein plus fruit equals complete breakfast), this has become my go to breakfast…”.
P.S. Just noticed Caviar & Codfish’s comment re: PB & red onion. If you want the ultimate sandwich, add sliced red onion to my PB/tomato/sharp Cheddar combo. Almost too good.