Smoked Turkey Sandwich with Avocado and Pesto
This smoked turkey sandwich with avocado and pesto is an easy way to turn a basic deli lunch into something genuinely crave-worthy. Layered with creamy avocado and herby pesto on ciabatta bread, it's fresh, flavorful, and ready in 20 minutes.
Ingredients
For the Walnut Basil Pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil
- ⅓ cup walnuts
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (Note 1)
- ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Pinch of ground black pepper
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
For the Sandwich
- 2 ciabatta rolls (Note 2)
- 1 avocado peeled and sliced (Note 3)
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Pinch of ground black pepper
- 6-8 slices of smoked turkey
- 1 large vine-ripened tomato sliced thinly
- 4-6 tablespoons walnut basil pesto (see above)
Instructions
- Make the walnut pesto by combining all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Pulse everything together until it reaches desired consistency. Add more olive oil if the pesto looks a bit dry; taste and adjust for seasoning.
- Slice open the ciabatta rolls. On the bottom of one roll, spoon 2-3 tablespoons of pesto and spread. Layer up to half the avocado on top, finishing with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place 3-4 slices of smoked turkey on top of the avocado, followed by 2-3 tomato slices. Spread another 2-3 tablespoons of pesto inside the top half of the roll. Place it on the sandwich and press down gently, then cut in half. Repeat this process for the second ciabatta roll. Enjoy!
Notes
Note 1: Raw garlic sometimes makes pesto too strong/bitter, so I like to use garlic powder here.
Note 2: Toast the bread if you want it to have more structure.
Note 3: You don't have to use the whole avocado.
General Notes:
- I don't recommend preparing these sandwiches more than 1 hour before planning on serving them. You don't want the pesto and tomatoes to make the bread soggy.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 585kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 65g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 53g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 700mg | Potassium: 975mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2637IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 401mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!