Summer Sandwich Perfect for Showers

If you are hosting a baby shower or a bridal shower this summer, the food is always one of the biggest parts to plan.  When hosting a group of people for a shower, we love to offer foods that are simple, colorful, and healthy!  One of our favorites is this delicious Avocado & Tomato Sandwich that is perfect for any occasion.  We love that it is vegetarian, you don't need a fork and knife to eat it, and all of the ingredients are in season during the summer.  We always try to use locally grown tomatoes and fresh bread from our local bakery to make it a bit more special :)

Ingredients

Serves 4 (double or triple depending on guest count)

• 1 pound (scant 2 cups) fresh ricotta
• Zest of 2 lemons
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 4 teaspoons for drizzling
• 2 pinches coarse kosher salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 4 long, even slices of very good bread
• 2 large, perfectly ripe avocados (approximately 18 ounces), at room temperature
• 1 pint mixed-color grape tomatoes, cut in half horizontally (you won't use quite the entire pint)
• 8 red pearl onions equaling 2-3 ounces, thinly sliced into rounds (or equivalent in thinly sliced red onion)
• 4 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
• Skin of 1 preserved lemon, flesh removed, finely diced
• ½ teaspoon toasted poppy seeds

 Directions

1. Mix the ricotta with the lemon zest, ¼ cup olive oil, and salt and pepper, and set aside.

2. Arrange slices of bread on a cutting board and divide the ricotta mixture evenly among the four slices. Spread into a generous even layer.  If you want your pieces to be smaller, cut the bread into desired size.

3. Split the avocados, remove the pits, and slice each half into even slices without cutting all the way through the leathery skin. Then, with a soup spoon or a flexible rubber spatula, release the flesh and arrange the slices neatly and evenly among the bread slices.

4. Artfully and attractively arrange the tomatoes by nesting them into the soft avocado. Then arrange the red onion slices over the tomatoes.

5. Garnish each sandwich with the sesame seeds, the preserved lemon skin, and finally, the poppy seeds.  Transfer to plates and drizzle with olive oil.

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We love how this recipe doesn't need to be baked, and it can be whipped up in no time!  Make sure to check out Our Green House for beautiful shower gifts and great pieces for entertaining. 

{Recipe and image via House Beautiful}