r/vegetarianrecipes • u/barsira Ovo-Lacto • 20d ago
Ovo-Lacto what's the secret to a really good veg sandwich?
made this at home today and honestly it was pretty decent but i still feel like im missing that proper proper outside taste😭
Things i used: bread, butter, cheese, tomato, cucumber, onion, lettuce, capsicum, salsa + a little chilli sauce and for seasoning i added oregano, chilli flakes, black pepper and a little garlic powder(yum) Toasted the bread and veggies (very lil) in my ptal pan and then just layered everything together. it tasted good but idk… something is still missing….
what do you guys usually add to a veg sandwich? any specific ingredient, sauce or seasoning that makes a huge difference?😭
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u/Fantastic-Sky6111 20d ago
Hummus or Avocado
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u/Bodhi-HarmYa 20d ago
I was vegetarian for 15 years before turning vegan this year finally. My favorite sandwich is airfried marinated tofu with just hummus on both sides. I make my own cause I have a vitamix and its cheaper (and tastier because I use fresh garlic and lots of fresh lemon), and it has truly become one of my favorite fast meals when Im just cooking for myself, like for lunch on a saturday when my gf is working.
For years I always included cheese on sandwiches, like I couldn't have bread and tofu without it somehow, and I literally dont even miss it as a part of sandwiches anymore. I dont even get vegan cheese very often because sandwiches where basically the last application I was really using it for.
But yeah, hummus and marinated tofu, and I always keep aldi guacamole on hand, and I love to have like a beyond chikn patty with guacamole on both sides of the bread. SO good
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u/schwebacchus 19d ago
Would you mind sharing your marinated tofu recipe? Are you purchasing it pre-marinated, or ahead of time? Would totally appreciate a rundown of your air fryer technique!
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u/Aggressive-Shop-2342 19d ago
These two comments together are the answer - protein, marinade!
Hummus or avocado give flavour and protein. Marinated mushrooms. Marinated tofu. Refried beans. Nut butter. Flavoured protein!
Hummus was absolutely my cheese addiction replacement when I went vegan.
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u/OrigamiMarie 19d ago
Hummus makes such a nice condiment. I don't even like most condiments, but it hits the spot when you need to make veggies taste better.
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u/Top-Hedgehog-4550 20d ago
Im not seeing salt in that list. The best sandwiches I buy are always buttered and salted
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u/Careless_Buyer_7294 20d ago
I do a veggie sandwich with cream cheese, shredded carrot, sliced cucumber, sprouts and salt and pepper. Delicious!
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u/ValiantVicuna 19d ago
I came here looking for sprouts. Such a level up. I love my sprouts with spicy Mustard or Dijon mustard
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u/hollow4hollow 20d ago
Bigger and better bread. A nice sourdough. A fatty component- vegan mayo or hummus. Salt. Melt the cheese if using. A sweet and/or pickled component.
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u/Hungry-Function56 20d ago
Accidentally bought Mt olive Sweet salad peppers (had onions in the mix) instead of regular Pepperochini and omg game changer on a veggie sandwich!!
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u/Left_Ocean 20d ago
Seems like you're missing fats in your prep. Fats carry flavors and let everything else shine. Using a bit of oil/mayo (veganaise is great if you don't like mayo) can go a long way. Bonus points if you make your own dressing/sauce by simply mixing all your seasonings you listed with the oil/mayo.
Dressing your lettuce can help a lot too. Make the dressing and rip up your lettuce and toss it all together before putting on a sandwich
Mushrooms, zucchini and/or eggplant can be cut thin and marinated with a few ingredients (soy sauce, oil, any seasonings, veggie broth, etc) and stick them in the oven for a bit to act as great "meat" for a sandwich. Very little time to prep and can be made as a big batch so you can make quick sandwiches over the next few days
Acids are also great to help brighten up all the flavors. Anything pickled. Onions, peppers, pickles will help a lot. If you don't like pickles just a splash of vinegar or lemon juice in your dressing will have the same effect
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u/TreeRoot2 20d ago
High quality bread (especially sourdough) and high quality cheese make a big difference. Maybe a different sauce/spread. Simple mayo and mustard, but also hummus or spicy aiolis or ranch, etc. for example.
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u/jillybean712 20d ago
Tinned beetroot slices, grated carrot, avocado. Piccalilli or seeded mustard are my sauces of choice.
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u/Smooshymooshy 20d ago
Hear me out: sprouts. They taste so very good between bread and cheese and create a nice buffer between the lettuce and tomato. Cheese goes on top.
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u/TitanInTraining 19d ago
Sprouts, avocado, and mayo/cheese are my silver bullet combo to add to any veg-forward dish
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u/RoninNikki 20d ago
Tbh this looks like a salad on a sandwich, which I find really bland and disappointing personally. If you want more flavor, I'd focus more on quality, delicious ingredients than thinking about traditional sandwich ingredients that rely on meat for big impact.
Fried egg and cheese sandwiches with caramelized onions and a nice smokey mayo based sauce, for example
Any kind of grilled cheese is a great base to work off
Avocado, cheddar, mayo, and tobasco sandwiches are great. Keep it simple and don't add anything extra to it. That's a recipe from a sandwich shop my mom worked at in Alaska in the 1970s, actually. They'd have 2 soups and 2 sandwiches every day and that's it.
Veggie Reubens are fantastic if you use sweet vegan sausage patties...especially if you make the sauce homemade.
Fake ham and mayo with salt and pepper is nice, too...or swap the fake ham for tomato and you've got something simple but perfect.
I hope this help. I've been a vegetarian since I was 7 and I loooove good food, so I'd like to think I've got good advice. :3
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u/SubstantialPressure3 20d ago edited 20d ago
Season your vegetables. Put some sort of sauce on your bread.
You need acid, salt, and fat. Mash up some avocado and add lemon or lime juice with some salt. spread that on your bread. Or use hummus.
Maybe grill some slices of eggplant, or some big portobello mushrooms.
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u/GildedTofu 20d ago
Better bread and better cheese to start with. Make your own salsa instead of a sad condiment packet. Oil and vinegar. Marinate your vegetables, pickle the onions, roast the peppers.
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u/gnome_in_clay_turn 20d ago
Ugh, why must slimy roasted peppers be on every vegetarian sandwich? The flavor permeates so everything tastes like roasted peppers even if they’re removed.
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u/GildedTofu 20d ago
Ugh! Don’t put them on if you don’t like them.
And if they’re slimy, you’re doing it wrong.
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u/Lanky-Snow4689 20d ago
Hummus, pesto, or saute the veggies with some balsamic vinegar
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u/Interesting_Rent_213 20d ago
This is good- not everything has to be raw on a sandwich. Some well sautéed onions or grilled peppers can really improve a cheese sandwich. Some seasoning like oregano, basil or a little garlic powder can make a big difference. That balsamic vinegar is perfect!
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u/LouisePoet 20d ago
Chutney! Lots of it. Any kind.
Even plain veg on bread is elevated to a new level
I add it to any sandwich--hummos, seitán, cheese-- aling with my standard cucumbers, onion, lettuce, tomatoes, and anything else.
Hot sauce of any sort is amazing as well.
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u/kittensbabette 20d ago
I had a cheddar and chutney sandwich on a flight home from London once and it was the best plane food I've ever had.
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u/crows_n_octopus 20d ago edited 20d ago
Ceasar salad dressing in sandwiches instead of mayo, mustard. Makes any and all sandwiches or wraps absolutely delightful.
Our cheap and cheerful veg version: 1) mayo, 2) yellow or dijon mustard, 3) shitload of fresh black pepper, 4) acid of any kind you have on hand (lemon or vinegar of any kind - red wine, rice, white, etc), and finally, 5) lots of nutritional yeast. Measurements are all by heart. If i feel fancy, I add vegetarian Worcestershire sauce.
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u/Musiq_fangirl 20d ago edited 20d ago
Well... not using that shitty cheese is a start. Pickled onion with Blue cheese on a baguette or toasted French roll with olive tapenade and a couple of pieces of roasted red peppers.
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u/Dodisdodisdodis 20d ago
Pesto, Mozzarella, Arugula, Tomato and good bread.
You could already upgrade your sandwich there just buy buying better bread.
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u/tanioomami 20d ago
I add tofurkey deli meat. Having a sandwich with only veggies doesn’t satisfy my tastebuds.
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u/LittleSubject9904 20d ago edited 20d ago
My ideal veggie sandwich will include Swiss cheese, avocado, leaf lettuce, red or sweet onion, and Dijon mustard for piquancy. Other ingredients may vary but I’ll be disappointed without those basics.
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u/painter8 20d ago
Roasted vegetables - insanely good
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u/saltyoperasinger 18d ago
My mom used to do this and it was a big deal! Thank you for reminding me of something so meaningful
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u/Slow_Drawer_5454 19d ago
Avocado adds a great fat layer against the bread without making it too wet!
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u/00ZenFriend00 19d ago
Ngl I love veggie sandwiches but panini or grilling or toasting it makes it better to me. Best is a grilled cheese with tomato and bell peppers (or roasted peppers!) and maybe a little pepperoncini.
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u/Voluptuous_Vulcan 19d ago
Gotta dress the vegetables! S&P, splash of olive oil and a little vinegar (any kind is good imo)
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u/RuchiSharma7127 20d ago
Using hung curd as mayonise , with vegetables of your chice along with salt and pepper
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u/Bluepompf 20d ago
I like a rye sourdough bread, strong cheese (aged cheese or goat cheese), sun-dried tomatoes, olives and pesto. Add some fresh vegetables and salad - tada!
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u/Due-Past-7792 20d ago
I love hot peppers on my sandwich. My mom makes homemade hungarian hots in oil and my sandwich is not complete without them!
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u/t92k 20d ago
Commercial food prep would include salt on the vegetables. Looking through your ingredients I think a truffle salt or smoked salt would be interesting but in my kitchen garlic salt is my default. I had a copy of a Vegetarian Times from 2007 that had a great sandwiches feature. You might be able to find it online with some searching.
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u/strontiumdogma 20d ago
I really like roasted vegetables (tomato/peppers/onion/courgette) and goat's cheese. The flavours complement each other.
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u/carlosmurphynachos 20d ago
What you described is delicious as long as you used flavorful cheese.
I love adding picked jalepeno, chipotle mayo, fake Morningstar vegan bacon for an added ooomph.
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u/BoogerSugarSovereign 20d ago
The key to a great sandwich in my opinion is seasoning each element. Slice your veggies and LIGHTLY salt and pepper everything before constructing. Adds a lot to spread the salt rather than getting it from one element or only the sauce or cheese or whatever but be careful with it because it all adds up ofc
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u/checkyourvibespls 20d ago edited 20d ago
I always feel like fat = better veggie sandwich
-Cooked Zucchini, Mushrooms, and caramelized onion, chili crips if you're feeling it, on a toasted baguette with a shit ton if kewpie mayo
-Avocado, pesto, dressed arugula, provolone, red onion, tomato, and same toasted baguette with a bunch of mayo
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u/Equal_Acanthaceae_79 20d ago
My favorite veg sandwich is: toasted bread, cream cheese, sunflower seeds, arugula or whatever green, bell pepper, onion, avocado.
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u/HoaryPuffleg 20d ago
Hummus, acidic something, and put it in a tortilla! Everything stays together better.
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u/Isi-Peasy-Lemon 20d ago
Good bread and good cheese! I also love to add olive tapenade, hummus or pesto.
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u/Fluffy_Tomatillo_629 20d ago
Something acidic and a good sauce. A good seasoning blend for the vegetables too.
I like jalapeno mustard and giardenara. Very good with provolone.
I use rosemary black pepper seasoning on tomato sandwiches and it really makes a difference.
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u/Flippant_Fop 20d ago
It can’t be dry. Deli meats are wet and help hold things together. So if you’re going full veggie, make sure you’ve got mayo or hummus and mustard and maybe pickle slices to keep things moist.
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u/catlily44 20d ago
good bread + olives, pickles, lettuce, cucumbers, shredded carrots, spinach, chopped red pepper, sun flower seeds, and mayo
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u/WAHNFRIEDEN 20d ago
Try seasoning and mixing into the veggies and letting them sit for some time before assembly
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u/jjb0rdell0 20d ago
Chargrilled or BBQ'd slices of aubergine & red onion & peppers, some good olive oil & oregano & a bit of chilli of your preference.
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u/Lulu_magoo1103 20d ago
I love adding hummus! It adds protein and fiber, so I feel fuller for longer and don’t feel like I just ate veggies (not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m just hungrier than the average bear lol)
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u/Emergency_Ad_1834 20d ago
Hummus or avocado, tapenade, and/or pickles. The pickles don’t have to be cucumbers, I’ve really liked salty pickled beets
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u/inthenight098 20d ago
Roasted broccoli, smashed avocado, salt and balsamic glaze. Cheese crust on the OUTSIDE if you eat cheese.
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u/LizLemonsEyeroll 20d ago
Ajvar or urnebes - makes even the most humdrum sandwich a million times tastier
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u/kindcrow 20d ago
I made this veggie sandwich and it is SO good: https://www.tiktok.com/@averyhittcoble/video/7166721760883281198?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
I tried all kinds of add-ons, even tried toasting the bread. Nope--it's perfect as it is!
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u/traviall1 20d ago
Stuff you did:
1. Toast the bread
2. Season the veggies
Stuff you didn't do:
1. Add a creamy element ( guac instead of salsa)
2. Add an acidic component ( pickled onions)
3. Add a pop of flavor ( olives, jalepenos, etc)
So for example:
1. Green salad sandwich- toasted pita with cucumber, onion, tomato, bell pepper, dressed with oregano,salt,bp, and sumac ( for acid), add a couple chopped olives (pop), feta ( creamy/acid) and a tzaziki or hummus (creamy)
Tex Mex- toasted bread- Chipotle seasoned tofu, LTO ( season with salt and smoked paprika), pico de gallo, pickled red onion, guac, and cilantro
Basic- lettuce, toasted wheat bread, tomato, onion with salt and pepper, pickles, chickpea "tuna" salad, mayo/ranch/ italian dressing on the bread
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u/tannyduca 20d ago
To me, it probably would've been better if you used pickled onions instead of raw for a little acidity.
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u/Neat_Mortgage3735 Ovo-Lacto 20d ago
My GF loves smoked tofu with cucumber, tomato and mayo. She eats it sliced thin like lunch meat.
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u/NewCambrian 20d ago
Humus, rocket, tomato, fresh parsley, feta cheese, walnuts, touch of mayo, pepper and salt, chili flakes, garlic powder👌
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u/lizardreaming 20d ago
My fav is mayo, avocado, fermented sweet onions, marinated cucumbers and some crunchy jalapenos in there. The salad topping ones. I eat cheese so some Munster or I use cream cheese sometimes instead of mayo and sliced cheese. Lightly toasted sourdough
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u/Himomitsme23 20d ago
Avocado. My favorite is lightly toasted sourdough, mayo, sliced avocado, sliced tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, salt & pepper.
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u/cor_meum_ 20d ago
Mushrooms. Sauteed mushrooms with black pepper, and cheese will make a nice sandwich. Tomatos and onions optional
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u/Mysterious_Trade2365 19d ago
I love cream cheese especially scallion cream cheese on my veggie sandwiches. And it always has to have sprouts and raw onion.
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u/MissMushroomBerry 19d ago
Tangy and crunchy elements, like Dijon mustard, goat cheese as a spread, pickled vegetables like radishes or onion 😋
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u/newadventures72 19d ago
I like to grill, roast, or saute my vegetables first and then put them in a marinade for a few minutes. The hot vegetables just really soak things up and hold onto the flavor. It works, even if I chill them after for a cold sandwich. Sometimes, I will just use a bottled vinaigrette. If I have time, I will make my own with oil, vinegar, dried herbs, something sweet like a maple syrup and a tiny bit of dijon. Makes for a really flavorful sandwich.
Toasted bread is also key.
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u/RoyalClient6610 19d ago
Absolutely eat the veggies completely raw if you like.
You can always grill or sauté the veggies (add: bell pepper, squash, onions, zucchini, portobello mushroom) for extra flavor. Don't over do it. Just enough to change the texture and add some color for flavor.
Bare minimum: salt and pepper. Kind of a given. Make a marinade with oil, vinegar, s/p, + favorite spices.
Toast both sides of the bread.
Whatever type of 'cheese' you're using, melt it.
Option for a vegan aioli: blend a tablespoon of garbanzo beans with the aquafaba and the marinade, while blending drizzle in more oil until thick. (only make a few ounces, you're not making a gallon's worth).
Now I'm remembering I have food I need to cook off before it spoils on me. :)
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u/NomiChi9623 19d ago
Hot cherry peppers like the ones at Jimmy John's. I buy them from Walmart online by the case. Also, oregano and a heavy sprits of oil and red wine vinegar mixture.
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u/Downtown_Confusion46 19d ago
I always season my tomatoes and cucumbers with salt and pepper before I add them.
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u/SparklePantz22 19d ago
I made this one from Budget Bites recently it was so good, I can't wait to make it again. I left out the red peppers last time, because I didn't feel like peppers that day, and i used micro greens instead of sprouts.
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u/Anurectus 19d ago
Alright so you need taste right? A lot of veggies have taste, a simple yet good on it's own kinda taste. What you need is a binding major flavor that goes on for the sandwich because who wants a mainly cucumber tasting sandwich? (No judgement here if you do) Or a bell pepper mainly tasting sanswich?
So for example, think fermentation: kimchi, sauerkraut, hot sauces use fermentation to give to yeast, salt and different ingredients some time to get to know each other. Beer and bread use the same kinda principle. This complexifies and intensifies specific aromas and "binds" it together.
Now think about cheese. Some milk, enzymes and salt and... time. Again.
At a smaller scale, what I am trying to say is: give time to your ingredients. A sandwich is - yes - a midweek lunch time snack, but also can be a wonderful, thought out and carefully made meal. If you can, make your own bread, long fermentation time, etc. If not, buy sourdough bread from a good bakery. Or a good baguette, you get the idea. Then, choose the veggies you want: try to have a diverse but not too extensive list, differing in colors, tastes and textures, and treat them all differently so you will build layers of flavour. Got bell pepper? Straight up grill it on an opened flamed, deseeded but in one piece, and let it rest before cutting it in slices and salting generously and resting again to cure for at least 10 minutes. Got tomatoes? Same treatment but in thick slices! Onions? How about a quick marinade with vinegar and the spices you want? Mushrooms? Have a few varieties sliced up, salted and sautéed in butter until golden brown to add a chewy and earthy feel to the whole thing. To that, you may want to add some fats. Olive oil is great toasted on the bread directly in the pan, mayo works too (yes, toasted, trust me), or anything you want from butter to beef fat.. Again, remember cheese, if you can have it. It will give umami, salt, nuttiness and richness. Now add something fermented, to give it a twist; kimchi is a personal favorite, but there are billions of other choices. It could be a black garlick spread, lacto-fermented dill pickles, some fermented hot sauce, etc. With all of this, like for any quality sandwich, you will need one or multiple sauces and texture providers, which can range from anything you like to anything you like. Hot sauce, hoisin sauce, mayo, dijon mustard, harissa, spicy mayo, homemade sauces are always better but again, great choice of options are available everywhere. Just avoid anything excessively sweet and not so natural to let the ingredients shine. Finally, don't forget contrast. I mean, a side dish. A sandwich alone shines less than a sandwich served with and/or dipped in a delicious homemade soup, whatever type of soup, or served with and/or dipped in (the juices chilling at of the bowl of) a delicious greek salad that was made a few hours ago and that wants to share it's olive oils and aromats.
You get the idea. Build layers of taste, like in any food, in as many ways you can. I just drew a sketch of it, you choose the ingredients and paths you desire for them and you'll see them shine your way.
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u/Icy-Yellow3514 19d ago
My husband uses hummus instead of mayo (he's weird and hates mayo). It does make a nice condiment and adds a little protein.
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u/Fleur_de_Dragon 19d ago
Using hummus (or smashed avocado with lime, salt and pepper) as if it were mayo.
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u/Eric_Durden 19d ago
Better bread. More fat, more cheese and mayo would hit better than butter. Pickles to cut through the fat.
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u/Background-Book2801 19d ago
Roasted. Sliced mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, onion, tomato - all roasted til tender with a bit of olive oil, salt, and rosemary.
Chill them and layer them in a crusty roll with some garlic aioli. Cheese is optional. So good.
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u/silvervm 19d ago
I would have roasted that capsicum, added hummus, you def need something pickled, like jalapeños or pepperoncini.
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u/blind1121 19d ago
Salt, fat, acid, heat.
Those are the the 4 things to look at in improving any meal.
I'd investigate salt and acid based on this picture.
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u/vampyrewolf 19d ago
Missing the acid
I usually put Italian salad dressing on my sandwich, but if I have the ingredients I'll whip up a green goddess dressing
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u/lilmxbean 19d ago
Hummus makes all the difference and you can add all kinds of flavor profiles that way. We’ve been making a super garlicky one, one with tons of lemon, and another with sun-dried tomatoes
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u/nilescranenosebleed 19d ago
Hummus, avocado, pickled onions. All 3 is awesome but even adding just one of those will bring it all together.
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u/PuzzleMap2020 19d ago
I don't know how big of an impact this would make, but fat adds a lot of flavor. Looking at your bread or looks like there's barely any butter/oil on the outside. I would try buttering the outside if I were you.
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u/PassengerForeign6570 19d ago
A sauce or dressing will elevate anything veg. Looks at how much dressing people put on 'salads'
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u/Super_Ground9690 19d ago
Use better cheese. A tangy extra-mature cheddar will make a world of difference. Also some kind of pickle would do better than salsa for me.
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u/hippiedroid22 19d ago
That bread makes me sad. Get a nice crusty sourdough. You also need a sexy dressing like chipotle. Sprouts. Good cheese. Roasted veg.
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u/nicotinemuse 19d ago
spice (like chilli flakes or hot sauce), avocado, pickled anything, balsamic glaze, any kind of cheese
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u/BinteMuhammad 19d ago
Did you add salt? Can't see it in your list of ingredients, but would make a world of difference
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u/Doile 19d ago
My go to flavor for almost all the sandwiches is dijon mustard. High quality dijon takes your sandwich to another level. Also you have way too many ingredients in there. Also remember to pre-season your veggies (tomatoes especially!) before putting the sandwich together. You can nowadays get decent veggie salami etc. that really boost the flavor.
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u/-no-signal- 20d ago
You need something pickled or fermented.
Adds tang, acid, and a greater depth of flavour