Let me introduce to you, The Best Turkey Sandwich Ever! Piled high with juicy turkey, sweet roasted red bell peppers, and melty provolone, it’s topped with a creamy basil mayo that takes every bite to the next level. A handful of fresh arugula adds the perfect crunch, making this the ultimate sandwich for lunch or a quick, satisfying dinner.
One of my favorite, favorite things – grilled cheese sandwiches. When I was in my very early twenties, living in a studio apartment, and just trying to learn how to be a “sort of adult” in the world, one of my favorite things to make was what I liked to call a “fancy grilled cheese”. It was basically just me adding a random ingredient or protein to a grilled cheese and calling it “fancy”. I know, creative. Well, I’ve gotten a little more creative with just a little bit more life experience, and have upped my game to “gourmet grilled cheese”. I’d definitely put this sandwich on my “gourmet grilled cheese list”.
And the Basil Mayo on this sandwich, it’ll change your life. There’s something about adding red wine vinegar and lemon juice to mayo that just transports you to this little Italian deli where you convince yourself this is the best sandwich you’ve every had. (Is it just me that this happens to? Can’t be.)
What ingredients are needed to make The Best Turkey Sandwich Ever?
- Crusty Bread
- Smoked Turkey (preferably thinly sliced)
- Provolone
- Roasted Red Peppers (I use Alessi roasted red peppers, they come in a jar.)
- Arugula
- Butter
What about the ingredients for the Most Incredible Basil Mayo?
- Mayo
- Dried Basil
- Lemon
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Cracked Black Pepper
Grilled Sandwiches 101: Good Butter
For a perfectly toasted, nicely crisp, and delicious buttery crust on the outside of your grilled sandwich, you need to use good butter. Something that’s spreadable and won’t tear your bread to shreds, something that melts nicely (no oily margarine mess here!), and something that has a nice salty flavor. If you can’t get fresh churned butter from the farmer’s market (it is SOOO worth a trip!), a nice spreadable butter like Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter or Land O’ Lakes Butter with Olive Oil and Sea Salt will work perfectly.
I’m watching my fat intake, can I make a grilled sandwich without this “good butter” you’re talking about?
100%! It just won’t be a crispy and delicious.
No, but in all seriousness, yes. You can absolutely make a grilled cheese without butter. You can use cooking spray, avocado spray, or even a very little bit of coconut oil. You just want to make sure that you lubricate the pan so the bread doesn’t burn right away. Butter just adds that salty taste and golden hue to the outside of your grilled cheese.
I think I saw on Buzzfeed or somewhere that you can use mayonnaise on the outside of a grilled sandwich?!
You can! Although, I don’t recommend it for this particular sandwich, because of the mayo on the inside. The extra mayo can lead to a bit of an oily sandwich. It is delicious on the outside of standard grilled cheese though!
Get ready, you’re about to make the Best Turkey Sandwich Ever:
Prep your basil mayo by stirring a tbsp of mayo, a tsp of dried basil, a tsp red wine vinegar, a tsp of fresh lemon juice and a couple of cracks of black pepper.
Spread each side of the bread with a very thin layer of basil mayo. To one slice of bread, add a couple slices of provolone cheese, a few strips of roasted bell peppers, and a small handful of arugula. To the other, a few slices of roasted turkey and a couple cracks of salt and pepper.
Close the sandwich, press down a tad, and spread a thin layer of butter on either side of the sandwich.
Heat a cast iron pan over medium heat, and drop your sandwich in!
Cooking 101 – Know your stove! I am able to set my stove to medium for this and it works perfectly, but if you’ve got a real go-getter of a stove, start with closer to medium low so you don’t burn your sandwich before the cheese starts to melt.
I cook mine for about 90 minutes on either side, and the cheese melts just right.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe for The Best Turkey Sandwich Ever with the Most Incredible Basil Mayo. If you try this recipe, be sure to leave a comment or tag @atoastedcrumb on all socials! I’d love to see your work!