Gluten-Free Southern Tomato Sandwich (Vegan, Allergy-Free)

The classic summer sandwich! This is how to build a perfect Gluten-Free Southern Tomato Sandwich that’s also vegan, allergy-free, and so simple, quick, and easy to make! Soft gluten-free white bread, creamy egg-free mayo, and thick, ripe, juicy, tomato slices with a sprinkle of salt and pepper!

Nothing can keep us from making the classic Southern summer sandwich! The traditional South Carolina tomato sandwich isn’t just a staple in the South anymore! With a few swaps, you can still make a perfect tomato sandwich that’s vegan, safe for celiacs, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly! If you’ve never heard of this summer tradition, then you’re in for a double treat! Three simple ingredients come together to make such a perfect sandwich you’ll be crying tears of joy (no lie!)

What is a Tomato Sandwich?

Let’s back up a second. In the South, when peak tomato season arrives, it’s time to break out the white bread and mayo. According to research done by Ask Alabama, the sandwich originated after the 1850s when tomatoes finally lost their stigma of being dangerous to eat. Due to the extreme heat and length of summer in the South, tomatoes THRIVED in southern gardens which gave them an abundance of huge, ripe, juicy tomatoes to use. The first reference of a legitimate tomato sandwich was found in the Virginia Chronicle in 1911, where a man described the sandwich as part of his lunch.

Mayo is (and was) also extremely popular in the South. Emily Wallace, who hold a masters in southern folklore from UNC and a Southern Foodways Alliance collaboration, say’s the obsession with so many mayo-based dishes hold a historic significance in the poverty-stricken south and that, “I think a lot of those salad spreads [containing mayonnaise] that started cropping up around the ’20s or a little bit earlier, and then became popular in the ’50s as a way to extend food and make cheese or ham or tuna last longer.”

This is where the debate around Duke’s vs Blue Plate. Hellmann’s mayonnaise isn’t an option (it’s from New York). Duke’s mayo is the OG. Operating in Greenville, South Carolina, it’s the spread you have to use. Blue Plate Mayo is from Gretna, Louisiana, which is still a viable option for some Southerners. To be truly authentic, you’ve got to grab the Duke’s, or in our case today, mayonnaise that doesn’t contain eggs.

The only other point to make is that that bread needs to be WHITE, soft, “stick to your teeth”, kind of bread. Nothing healthy, nothing whole grain.Something like Sunbeam or Wonder Bread.

How to make the BEST Southern Tomato Sandwich

Okay, the best gluten-free and vegan tomato sandwich! But trust me, it’s just as good (if not better, if you want my biased opinion)!

1. Grab 2 thick slices of WHITE gluten-free bread (I used Aldi’s gluten-free/vegan, extra-large white bread loaf. BFree or Little Northern Bakehouse are great too.)
2. Slather on a nice layer (about 1 tablespoon on each slice of bread) of vegan mayonnaise (you can use my allergy-free homemade mayo, vegan Hellmann’s *gasp*, or Trader Joe’s brand.)
3. Layer on a thick, juicy slice of ripe Heirloom tomato (you can use beefsteak, as long as that tomato is ripe and in season!) If you can fit more than one slice, feel free to do so!
4. Sprinkle just a touch of salt and pepper over the tomato slice, to taste, then close your sandwich and BITE IN, ASAP! Don’t let it sit and get warm and soggy! (Here are some tips on eating the sandwich!)

How to Upgrade Your Sandwich

If you want to make this gluten-free tomato sandwich a little fancy, a little more unique, and even less “traditional”, here are some ideas:

• Add some leafy greens like green or red lettuce, Romaine, kale, arugula, etc.)
• Add some eggplant bacon (or meat-based bacon).
• I guess that makes it a BLT.
• Toast your bread before making the sandwich. Some always toast the bread (just slightly), but traditionally it’s not toasted).
• Use a whole grain gluten-free bread. Rye-style would be awesome.
• Add some fresh herbs like basil or parsley.
• Add a few slices of avocado.
• Add other fresh veggies like onion, cucumber, bell pepper, etc.
• Add a slice of vegan cheddar cheese. Melt it on one slice of the bread (in a toaster oven or on a skillet) before assembling your sandwich for a cheesy melt.
• Add some mustard (dijon, honey mustard, or spicy brown!)
• Add another sauce like ketchup, bbq sauce, tahini, even a dash of hot sauce!
• Add other dried spices or herbs, like chili powder, garlic, onion, maybe curry?
• Eat it open face!
• Grill it like a panini.
• Use colored heirloom tomatoes for the ultimate Instagram-worthy tomato sandwich!
• Add some pickle slices, fried pickles, banana peppers, pickled beets, or sauerkraut!
• Combine a bunch of these ideas for your DREAM ‘Mater Sandwich (as they call it!)

Is it only a southern thing?

If you ask a random person on the streets of a non-southern state or in another country, I’m sure you’ll get some odd stares. Ask someone in the south and everyone will know what a tomato sandwich is (obviously!). They’ve become more popular throughout the country over the years and once you have your first bite of a summer tomato sandwich, you’ll understand why! Bonus points for you here, since THIS version is:

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Corn-Free, Coconut-Free)
• Still Simple, Quick, & Easy
• Kid-Friendly
• Only 3 Ingredients!

Gluten-Free Southern Tomato Sandwich Recipe

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Now, before you run off to the kitchen to make this E.A.S.Y. sandwich, what should you pair it with? I’d say some gluten-free, chips or crackers, fresh crunchy veggies, or some potato salad!

Try your hand at these other Southern recipes

• Southern Vegan Banana Pudding
• Southern Potato Salad
• Air Fryer Fried Pickles
• Air Fryer Gluten-Free Vegan Chicken & Waffles
• Rustic Gluten-Free Cornbread
• Gluten-Free Cornbread Stuffing
• Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallow

So tell me:

+ Will you keep it traditional or add some extras to your sandwich?

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