Celebrate the deliciousness of summer-ripe tomatoes with this juicy, satisfying Tomato Sandwich that doubles down on umami flavor. You’ll want to eat it every day for lunch, just like Harriet in Harriet the Spy!
I didn't grow up reading Harriet the Spy, but now that I know her, boy, do I love her. Harriet's childhood world is very different than the one I experienced--urban where mine was rural, fraught where mine was pretty tame, set in a fancy brownstone with a nanny and a cook where my house decidedly did not include domestic staff--but her trials and tribulations are eminently relatable. Harriet is a keen and honest observer of everything around her, determined to succeed as a writer, and perhaps most importantly, devoted to tomato sandwiches. To which I say: same, same, and SAME.
About Harriet the Spy
Louise Fitzhugh (1928-1974) published Harriet the Spy in 1964. It was her second book written for children, and one of just a handful she published before her untimely death a decade later. While it was met with mixed reviews at the time for its honest and gritty portrayals of city life, unpleasant people, and the struggles of growing up, it has become a beloved classic with a loyal following. Harriet is an amazing protagonist--a loner, a weirdo, a creative thinker, brutally honest, and unapologetically herself in all the best ways.
In the story, 11-year-old Harriet M. Welsch lives on the Upper East Side of New York City and knows she wants to be a writer. Encouraged by her nanny, "Ole Golly," she writes down everything she observes in a notebook that she carries with her everywhere. Every day after school, she puts on her spy outfit, gathers her spy tools, and walks her spy route, eavesdropping on neighbors, shopkeepers, and her friends along the way. When her notebook accidentally falls into the hands of her classmates, they are shocked and horrified by her honest, unfiltered observations of them. Faced with complete ostracization, Harriet must learn how to apologize and how to channel her flair for creative writing into stories everyone can enjoy.
Recipe Inspiration
The next morning, Mrs. Welsch asked, 'Wouldn't you like to try a ham sandwich, or egg salad, or peanut butter?' Her mother looked quizzically at Harriet while the cook stood next to the table looking enraged.
'Tomato,' said Harriet, not even looking up from the book she was reading at breakfast.Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy
Harriet is a creature of absolute routine. She likes things the way she likes them, and doesn't want anything to change. And one thing that never changes? Her lunch. Every single day, Harriet takes a tomato sandwich to school and eats it for lunch. When you find what works for you, why change it?
I adore a tomato sandwich, too, specifically during peak tomato season at the end of summer. When beautiful slicers come rolling off the vine in my garden or are piled high at the farmers market, I just can't get enough! A tomato sandwich showcases juicy, summer-ripe tomatoes in all their glory, with just a few key adornments to make their best aspects shine.
The book doesn't go into any detail to describe Harriet's preferred tomato sandwich (though I'm sure she was particular about it!), so I decided to hone in on my personal favorite style. Now, I know folks out there have strong opinions about tomato sandwiches and their preferred bread/mayo/seasonings/etc., and I'm here to say that's totally fine! I'm not here to fight! There is room in my heart for all tomato sandwiches! This is just the way I happen to like my sandwich best (and I hope you'll try it at least once).
One of the things I love most about tomatoes is their umami flavor. If umami (pronounced "ooh-mommy!") is new to you, it's known as the "fifth taste," in addition to the basics of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, and translates from Japanese to "pleasant savory taste." You can taste savory umami flavor in foods that contain the amino acid known as glutamate, such as Parmesan cheese, kombu seaweed, miso paste, mushrooms, and (you guessed it!) tomatoes.
Since umami is my favorite taste, I decided to double down and make an Ultimate Umami Tomato Sandwich, highlighting the natural savoriness of the tomatoes. I chose to build my sandwich on white sandwich bread for its sweetness to contrast the other savory ingredients, and toasted it to make it sturdy enough to stand up to the juicy tomatoes (sorry, Southern-style tomato sandwich purists, I know toasting is blasphemy to you, but it's effective!).
Arguably, the best part of a tomato sandwich is a thick, unapologetic layer of mayonnaise (mayo haters, this recipe is not for you). I opted for Kewpie mayo here, a special type of Japanese mayo made with all egg yolks and some additional ultra-savory ingredients, including MSG (more glutamate! and no, MSG isn't bad for you). While sprinkling the sliced tomatoes with a good pinch of salt is crucial in a tomato sandwich, I decided instead to reach for my trusty bottle of Sandwich Sprinkle, a spice blend made by the fine folks at Penzeys, to really put this one up and over the top. The blend contains coarse salt, dried herbs, and also a good dose of garlic (another glutamate-rich ingredient!), and it gave this sandwich just the right balance of savory, salty, flavor. Crisp on the outside, juicy and creamy on the inside, and ultra-umami forward, I hope this is a sandwich Harriet would approve of.
Ingredients You'll Need
To make this Ultimate Umami Tomato Sandwich, you'll need:
- Hearty white sandwich bread: The fine crumb of sandwich bread ensures no tomato juices drip through, and the sweetness of white bread is a nice balance for all of the salty and umami ingredients. But you can use whatever bread you have on hand or is your favorite!
- A large, ripe tomato: The tomato is the star of this sandwich, so use a lovely seasonal, heirloom slicing tomato if you've got it.
- Kewpie mayonnaise: I love the ultra-umami flavor of Kewpie mayo, a Japanese style mayonnaise made with egg yolks, vinegar, and MSG (not sponsored, I just like it!). You can find Kewpie mayo at Asian grocery stores or order it online.
- Sandwich Sprinkle: This is a salt and spice blend made by Penzeys that I love sprinkled on a sandwich, salad, or roasted veggies (again, not sponsored, just a fan!). You can order it online, or I included a note in the recipe for how to make a similar blend of your own at home.
How to Make an Ultimate Umami Tomato Sandwich
The full recipe with detailed timing and instructions for this sandwich is below, but here are some key moments to look out for along the way:
- Slice the tomato: Lay the tomato on its side on a cutting board and use a serrated knife to cut it into thick slices. (A serrated knife helps with cutting through the tomato's skin, but you can also use a sharp chef's knife instead.)
- Add the mayo: Squeeze or dollop a generous amount of mayonnaise onto the toasted bread, then spread it out in to an even layer.
- Season: Lay the tomatoes on one mayo-slathered slice of bread, then sprinkle evenly with Sandwich Sprinkle or a big pinch of flaky salt.
- Assemble and slice: Put the second piece of bread, mayo-side-down, onto the tomatoes to form a sandwich. Cut in half and devour (with lots of napkins at the ready!).
Why This Recipe Is Great for Kids
I've spent years writing cookbooks and creating recipes that are safe, fun, and engaging for kids and home cooks of all ages. Here are some key features of this recipe that make it perfect for kids and families to make together at home:
- This tomato sandwich is quick to make and serves one, so kids can make their own lunch or after school snack (assuming you don't have a cook on staff in your household!). A large tomato will yield enough for two sandwiches, if kids would like to make a second sandwich to share with you, a sibling, or a friend.
- While I like the specific combination of ingredients called for here, this sandwich is infinitely flexible and customizable. If kids like a different kind of bread, great! If your household only stocks Hellman's or Duke's mayonnaise, awesome! Only have yellow tomatoes on hand? Lovely! Use whatever you like best.
- Making a DIY sandwich sprinkle blend is fun for kids to mix up, if you don't feel like ordering the Penzeys version. And kids can get creative here, too--want it a little spicy? Add some crushed red pepper flakes! Don't like garlic? Try using onion powder instead. Play around until you find a house blend that everyone enjoys.
Let's Cook!
Gather your equipment, measure your ingredients, and get cooking with this kid-friendly recipe! If you loved making it together, please leave five stars and share your stories in the comments.
Ultimate Umami Tomato Sandwich
Good To Know
- The fine crumb and slightly sweet flavor of white sandwich bread works well for this sandwich to catch the tomato juices and to contrast all of the umami flavor, but you can use whatever is your favorite sandwich bread.
- Kewpie mayonnaise is a special kind of Japanese mayo made with all egg yolks and extra ingredients that make it taste ultra-savory. You can find it at Asian grocery stores or order it online. It’s my favorite kind of mayo to boost umami flavor, but you can swap in whatever type of mayonnaise you like best.
- Sandwich Sprinkle is a special seasoning blend made by Penzeys, one of my favorite spice companies. It’s delicious sprinkled on sandwiches (obviously!), and also salads, pasta, french fries, and roasted veggies. If you’d like to make a similar blend instead of ordering it, mix together 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning (or a mix of dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, and/or dried thyme), and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
Equipment You'll Need
- Toaster
- Large plate
- Cutting board
- Serrated knife
- Butter knife
Measure Your Ingredients
- 2 slices hearty white sandwich bread
- 1 large, ripe tomato
- Kewpie mayonnaise (see note)
- ⅛ teaspoon Sandwich Sprinkle or big pinch kosher salt (see note)
Let's Cook!
- 2 slices hearty white sandwich breadPlace the bread slices in a toaster and toast until golden brown. Transfer the slices to a large plate and let cool completely, about 5 minutes.
- 1 large, ripe tomatoMeanwhile, hold the tomato on its side on a cutting board. Use a serrated knife to cut the tomato into thick slices, discarding the core and top.
- Kewpie mayonnaiseSqueeze or dollop a generous amount of mayonnaise onto each cooled slice of bread. Use a butter knife to spread the mayo into a nice, thick layer on each slice, covering the bread evenly.
- ⅛ teaspoon Sandwich Sprinkle or big pinch kosher saltPlace 2 to 3 tomato slices onto one piece of bread, overlapping them as needed. Sprinkle the tomatoes evenly with Sandwich Sprinkle or a big pinch of kosher salt.
- Place the other piece of bread, mayo side down, on top of the tomatoes, forming a sandwich. Place the sandwich on a dry part of the cutting board (wipe it down if your tomato was extra juicy!) and use the knife to cut the sandwich in half. (I’m team triangle for sandwiches, but you cut it whichever way you like best!) Serve with lots of napkins.
Conversation Starters
As you enjoy your tomato sandwiches, talk about what it was like to make the recipe together, and the themes in Harriet the Spy. You can help young readers make connections to the book and share your own answers, ideas, and stories with them with the following prompts:
- Harriet likes to spy on her neighbors and friends. Have you ever spied on anyone or eavesdropped on a conversation when someone didn't know you were listening? Do you think there are times when spying is okay, and times when it's not?
- This recipe focuses on umami flavor. Can you name the four other tastes that our taste buds can detect? (They are sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.) What is your favorite taste, and why?
- Can you think of other foods that have umami flavor? Umami is often described as "savory" or "meaty" and can make your mouth water when you think about it. (Some examples are Parmesan cheese, seaweed, miso, mushrooms, tomatoes, shrimp, scallops, soy sauce, and cured ham, among others!)
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