Boursin Tomato Sandwich

After making this sandwich nearly every day in the summer, this Boursin tomato sandwich really is the most delicious lunch…ever. And with juicy tomatoes and crispy garlic bread, it’s elevated enough to serve to friends and family. (Ready in just 15 minutes, so you can spend more time enjoying your company and less time preparing food!).

Sandwiches are always on the menu for summer. They’re quick, transport easily, and can be jazzed up in so many fun ways. I’m sure you’ve had a BLT, but what about a tomato sandwich?

One of my favorite sandwich shops inspired this sandwich, where they pair creamy Boursin cheese with juicy tomatoes. I’ve taken it a step further and toasted it with fresh basil for a sandwich that is SO, SO good and ready in just 15 minutes! I mean, who doesn’t love a quick summer lunch that highlights all the produce at the peak of its existence?!

This is quite possibly the perfect sandwich

• Garlic toasted bread, need I say more? If you’ve never had a sandwich with garlic butter then you are in for a real treat!
• Use up that basil that’s probably exploding from the pot or garden like mine is. (At one point in my life, I thought I couldn’t grow anything, and now I don’t know how to use all these herbs??)
• When you have no ingredients, or seemingly none, make this sandwich. With just a few staple ingredients, I’m pretty sure you’ve got everything you need already (you’ll be keeping Boursin stocked all the time after this one)!

Here’s what you’ll need

This is just an overview. Jump to the recipe card for the full quantities.

• Tomato: I use any large tomato, like beefsteak tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes, seasoned with a little salt and black pepper.
• Sourdough: This bread rises from dough that is fermented rather than yeast. This gives us the “sour” taste in sourdough, the perfect complement to sweet basil and tomato. Not a fan? White bread or whole wheat will also work well!
• Boursin: This garlic and herby cheese is a creamy and spreadable cheese from Normandy. It can be found in a white box alongside most specialty cheeses in the store (like where the feta and goat cheese are). Or make your own Boursin with my copycat recipe!
• Basil: Fresh basil is a must because it replaces lettuce or other leafy greens.
• Garlic Butter (well, margarine): I don’t want to be dramatic, but garlic margarine on the outside of your toasted sandwich is life-changing. It’s the secret to every great restaurant sandwich you’ve ever had (don’t tell them I told you)!
• Optional Spinach: Feel free to add more leafy greens to this sandwich with spinach!

Here’s what you do

Get the pan heating up now while you prep the other ingredients. Jump to the recipe card for the full instructions.

1. Prep the tomato slices by seasoning them with salt and pepper.
2. Mix together the garlic and margarine.
3. Assemble the sandwich, spreading the garlic butter mixture on the outside of each piece of bread.
4. Toast in a skillet until both sides are golden brown.

Let’s get creative!

Yet another thing to love about this sandwich – you can make it your own with a variety of swaps!

• Leafy Greens: Try this with arugula for a peppery bite, or try parsley.
• Extra Heat: Spread on garlic chili paste for a little heat.
• So Sweet: Try a drizzle of hot honey in the sandwich or add caramelized onions.
• Swap The Boursin: If you can’t find this cheese, goat cheese has a similar texture. Some tomato sandwiches will use mayonnaise, but with toasting, I recommend a soft, tangy cheese over mayo.
• Add Homemade Pesto: This can be another way to use up extra garden herbs and bring more summer vibes to the tomato sandwich.
• Add Bacon: Vegan tempeh bacon that is for a BLT vibe!

why it works

I have personally tested this sandwich hundreds of times, so when I say it works, I mean it.

• Toasting the sandwich helps to melt the cheese a bit and, therefore, hold everything inside the bread pieces. This also prevents a soggy sandwich!
• Using salt to dry out the sandwich might seem simple, but it’s actually a trick I learned during my food science training. It uses the process of osmosis in which the salt binds to the water molecules, drawing them out of the tomatoes.
• Boursin cheese is ideal because it’s already mixed with garlic and herbs so there’s so much flavor added without any more ingredients.

Sandwiches shouldn’t be alone

This can be served with so many easy sides; my personal favorite is chips or fries, like:

• Healthy Oven Baked Carrot Chips use another summer produce staple and add the perfect crunchy to munch on with your tomato sandwich.
• Frozen Sweet Potato Fries (In The Air Fryer) are almost always on my plate because they’re so easy to toss in the air fryer while I make the rest.