Smoky tempeh bacon, crispy butter lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and zesty garlic aioli – no wonder TTLA sandwich is a big hit!
I’m kind of mad at myself for not jumping on the bandwagon months ago. I feel like I’ve missed out on so much and everyone has been raving about it! So if your like me and have resisted–please stop resisting and join this life-changing vegan TTLA sandwich revolution at Whole Foods.
I know. Let me blow your mind for a hot second.
WHAT IS A TTLA SANDWICH?
It is basically a vegan twist on the classic BLT sandwich, However, instead of bacon, you get delicious tempeh bacon.
This is the layer of TTLA goodness:
- T – Tempeh (Lightlife Organic Fakin’ Bacon is what Whole Foods uses)
- T – Tomato (ripe beefsteak tomato)
- L – Lettuce (butter lettuce is my favorite although regular lettuce works well too)
- A – Avocado (I prefer a Hass avocado for creamier texture)
Plus, the most delicious vegan garlic aioli sauce!
WHAT DOES TEMPEH BACON TASTE LIKE?
Tempeh is an Indonesian dish made of fermented soybeans. When I grew up, I had the pleasure of eating fresh, not refrigerated, tempeh almost daily since it is a very easy-to-find and budget-friendly dish. However it is considered a luxury in the U.S. Unlike tofu, tempeh is minimally processed using whole soybeans and formed into a firm patty or block. In short, tempeh is the best option if you’re looking for meat alternative food.
So Lightlife tempeh bacon is awesome. Period. Imagine the smell of frying bacon but in a healthier way. This is it! If you like crispy bacon, you should try frying it a bit longer than usual or roasting it. I use an air fryer to “fry” my bacon which BTW, I am so in love with my air fryer. So tempeh bacon is a great substitute to make your #MeatlessMonday extra fancy.
And don’t forget to make it saucy with this vegan garlic aioli. Simply buy a good jar of vegan mayonnaise and combine it with roasted garlic. I didn’t roast mine, instead, I get store-bought roasted garlic. Haven’t heard of this “gone viral” post? Check these articles out to catch up…
- Tabitha Brown video
- Cooking Light video
- “Trending at Whole Foods: the TTLA” – Whole Foods Market
If you make this sandwich, be sure to use the hashtags #lightlife and #brunchnbites. I always love to see what you guys are making!
Ingredients
- 1 ciabatta loaf
- 2 roasted garlic cloves pressed
- 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1 tbs fresh lemon juice
- 1 pack of Lightlife Smoky Tempeh Fakin’ Bacon Strips
- 2 to matoes sliced
- 1 ripe avocado peeled and smashed
- 1 green leaf lettuce
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- To make vegan garlic aioli: whisk in mayonnaise, roasted garlic, and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- In a nonstick pan, add the olive oil and cook the Lightlife Smoky Tempeh Fakin’ Bacon Strips until brown and crispy, about 5 minutes on each side.
- Slice the ciabatta loaf into 4 pieces and then slice in half; then generously slather the vegan garlic aioli.
- Layer some lettuce, tomato, tempeh bacon, and avocado. Season with salt and pepper.
- Place the top half of the bread on and serve at once.
Notes
This post is sponsored by Lightlife. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lol, I have a love-hate relationship with tempeh and I will always choose real bacon over it (no contest). However this recipe actually makes it look and sound sexy tasty! Would be a good alternative for my veggie friends!
This sounds like a delicious combination for a sandwich. Perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner. Great meat alternative….but meat lovers just might want to give this a try too.
I love LifeLite smoked tempeh!! but I still haven’t made this sandwich with it… or tried the one at Whole Foods. Yours looks absolutely PERFECT!! Now I just need to make sure I have both the smoked tempeh AND the ciabata rolls in the kitchen a the same time! 😉
I’ve never tried tempeh but it sounds like a very healthy food. I’d love to try the bacon, although I’m not sure I can find it here in Italy.
This sounds so delicious! I can’t wait to try this for a picnic
Looks great, I will try this one with real bacon 🙂 Like that you use ciabatta, my favorite bread
I am definitely a bacon eater but this sandwich looks great! I’ll have to try it soon (maybe with real bacon though!)