Some recipes live in your hands before they live on paper. This is one of them. Lisa is Pat's daughter, and for years this sandwich was what we made together almost every time she came to visit. It is the kind of meal that does not need much: just good bread, a little care, and the right company.
The sourdough is the foundation here. Toasted golden and rubbed with fresh garlic while it is still hot, the bread becomes something entirely its own. Layered with creamy goat cheese, bright pesto, and a thick slice of summer tomato, it is the taste of August on a plate. If you can get your hands on labneh from our local Brush Creek Creamery, use it. You will not be sorry.
- 2 slices Crow Bench Farm sourdough bread
- 1 chicken breast, sliced crosswise to make 2 thin fillets
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole
- 1 tablespoon goat cheese, or Brush Creek Creamery labneh if you can find it
- Basil pesto, or your favorite olivada, to taste
- 1 ripe tomato, cut into thick slices
- Olive oil, for the pan or the grill
- Salt and pepper
Directions for the chef
Slice the chicken breast crosswise to create two thinner fillets. If you are protein hungry, leave the breast whole. No judgment here. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
Film a skillet or the grill grates with olive oil and cook the chicken to your liking. Thin fillets need only a few minutes a side.
At the same time, grill or toast your sourdough in a skillet or on the barbecue until golden and toasty.
While the bread is still hot, take a peeled garlic clove and rub it firmly across the surface of each slice. The toasted bread acts like sandpaper, leaving a thin, fragrant deposit of fresh garlic. This step is the secret.
Spread a thin layer of goat cheese or labneh across both slices, then follow with a layer of pesto or olivada to taste.
Layer on the chicken and top with a thick slice of fresh tomato. Season the tomato with a pinch of salt.
Close it up. Eat it immediately. Preferably outside.
On the garlic: It has to be raw, and the bread has to be hot. A cold slice will not take the garlic, and cooked garlic will not give you that sharp top note that makes this sandwich what it is.
Makes one generous sandwich. Everything scales cleanly, so multiply as needed.