California Club Recipe

Toast bread

If you prefer a warm toasted club, spread 1 tbsp butter evenly on one side of each of the three bread slices. Heat a skillet over medium heat or use a toaster oven and toast the bread, buttered side down in the skillet, 2–3 minutes per side until golden and crisp. If not toasting, simply use bread at room temperature.

Prepare avocado

Halve the avocado, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Lightly mash with a fork until mostly smooth but slightly chunky. Season with 1/4 tsp kosher salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Set aside.

Slice tomato

Slice the tomato into 1/4-inch (6 mm) slices. Lightly season the tomato slices with a pinch (about 1/8 tsp) of kosher salt and a pinch of black pepper. Set aside on paper towel to drain if very juicy.

Crisp bacon

If bacon is not already cooked, cook 4 slices in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, 6–8 minutes, turning once. Drain on paper towel.

Mix mayonnaise and Dijon mustard in a small bowl until combined. Spread the mixture evenly on the unbuttered sides of all three toasted (or untoasted) bread slices—about 1 tablespoon on each outer slice and the remaining 1 tablespoon on the middle slice.

Place one bread slice (mayo side up) on your work surface. Top with 1 leaf of lettuce, half of the sliced turkey (about 3 oz), and one slice of cheese. This is the bottom layer.

Place the second slice of bread on top (mayo side down if you coated it), then spread mashed avocado evenly over the top of that slice. Add the remaining lettuce leaf, remaining turkey (about 3 oz), the tomato slices, and the cooked bacon (4 slices). Season the tomato/bacon layer lightly with remaining 1/4 tsp kosher salt and remaining 1/8 tsp black pepper.

Top with the third slice of bread (mayo side down). Press the sandwich gently together to compact layers.

If desired, insert two toothpicks through the sandwich to hold it together and cut the sandwich into diagonal halves or thirds.

Plate the sandwich with pickle spears on the side. Serve immediately while toast is warm, or wrap tightly for later.