MAKE IT YOURSELF

Recipes

Meat-Free: Grilled Veggie Sandwich

August 3, 2020

It’s a tricky thing sometimes, navigating the cost/benefit ratio of certain foods.  I’d like to think that just because I “know” more veggies are good for me, that this automatically translates into a tasty, easy meal that I eat for lunch each day.  But, as many of you probably experience too, the thought that a certain food is “best” for us, doesn’t actually mean we’re eating it as often as we should!  

Nonetheless, over the last 1 1/2 years, I’ve been consciously focusing on adding more meat-free options into my meals.  Like many things too, the more I step out of my meal making comfort zone, the more I realize that vegetarian doesn’t have to mean boring, hard or not-filling enough! Although I’ve had a few “misses” for sure, most of the time, I am pleasantly surprised at what I come up with.  Today, I wanted to share a simple recipe for a vegetarian grilled sandwich.  The nice thing about this one is that it can be easily modified to fit what you have on hand.  the recipe below is based on my favorite items to add, but I’d love to hear from you on what you try!

INGREDIENT LIST:

  • Zucchini (about a 2 in section) cut into wide strips.
  • Sliced mushrooms, my favorites are trumpet oysters and portobellos, as they are both thick and “meaty”, but using whatever you have on hand is good too!
  • Onion circles
  • Red pepper slices
  • Chard (or any leafy green)
  • Your favorite cheese–I like Brie, but I often use cheddar since that’s what I have on hand
  • Bitchin’ sauce (yes, it’s the name of the brand!) This is a vegan cashew spread that is really yummy.  Use whatever sounds good to you–mayo, pesto, aioli..
  • Small amount of butter (real or not)

Avocado, sprouts, jicama, pear or apple slices, all make great toppings after you grill it.

Step 1:  Add alittle bit of olive oil to a small pan over medium heat.  Sauté chosen veggies until soft and set aside.

Step 2: Take 2 slices of bread and lightly butter one side on each piece.  Put 1 slice in the pan, butter-side down.  Add cheese slices first then add sautéed veggies back onto the cheese. 

Step 3: Spread Bitchin’ Sauce on the back side of the remaining piece of bread and put that side against the veggies. 

Step 4: Continue toasting on one side for 2-3 minutes before flipping the entire sandwich over.  Continue toasting until both sides are lightly browned and the cheese is starting to melt. 

Step 5: Remove sandwich from pan.  Gently lift off the piece of bread without the cheese on it.  Add your remaining toppings, as desired.

Now enjoy!  This pairs perfectly with some apple slices or something crunchy and slightly sweet.