Summer is the season of veggie-forward and protein-packed lunches that are as quick to make as they are delicious: a little something to bring along on those leisurely picnics, relaxing beach days, and life-affirming hikes you’ve waited all year for. Need a little lunch sandwich inspo, though? We’ve got you covered with veggie sandwich recipes that—watch out now—people are going to want a lot more of.
Welcome to the club
Vegetarians, vegans, and folks who just want to cut down on their meat consumption can appreciate meat-inspired flavours and still stay true to their choices. Which explains the current popularity of products that seek to reproduce the taste and texture of chicken, pork, fish, and more. So if you haven’t already, it’s time to join the veggie club sandwich crew. It’s a tasty place to belong!
With La cuisine de Jean-Philippe’s seitan chicken, you can enjoy all the meaty goodness of the classic club sandwich without any of the animal, but with all the protein, as this seitan packs an impressive 11 grams per 50 g portion. To sub in for the traditional bacon, it’s all about the frozen Paradis Végétarien version. Slip these savoury meat-free ingredients between two slices of bread alongside crunchy organic lettuce, refreshing (also organic) slices of tomato, and the nutty taste/buttery texture of avocado. Don’t forget to add a bit of avocado oil veggie mayo by Chosen Foods. For the bread: the deliciously sliced and organic À chacun son pain will seal the deal. Crunch on, crew!
Wrap up and frappe up
For a 1950s throwback ending to your lunch that’s as colourful as the diners that once dotted every city streetcorner, make yourself a decadent almond milk frappe with vanilla extract, your favourite frozen fruit, and vegan ice cream from Laiterie Chagnon—just one of this local company’s many vegetarian products worth savouring this summer.
Mind-blowingly meatless chicken, egg, and ham sandwiches
Getting the young ones to eat their vegetables is an age-old struggle. And for adults, too, it’s sometimes nice to enjoy something that reminds us of when we were little. The intergenerational solution: try this timeless trio of (meatless) sandwiches that look strikingly like the originals.
For “chicken” sandwiches: grind canned white beans and nutritional yeast, then add in garlic and onion powder, celery salt, ground sage, lemon juice, vegetarian mayo, salt, and pepper.
For joy-inducing yellow “egg” sandwiches: put canned chickpeas in a food processor along with nutritional yeast flakes, veggie mayo, apple cider vinegar (or better yet pickle juice), green onion (or chives if sprouting nearby), garlic powder, curcuma, salt, and pepper.
And last but not least, for “ham” sandwiches: take red lentils and puree with water, vegetarian mayo, and liquid smoke. Salt and pepper to taste. Our secret for perfectly rosy colour? Beet crystals, which are also conveniently rich in vitamins and minerals.
Wrap it or roast it
Need to switch it up a bit? Switch out those traditional slices and sub in veggie tortillas or flat bread, both of which come in plain and flavour-filled versions. Spread a generous helping of hummus, lay down some strips of red pepper, cucumber, and shredded carrots, then a bit of kale. It’s the best of three worlds: dip, veggies, and a mouth-watering wrap all in one.
Also well worth a shot: the more unusual wrap flavours of almond butter and tofu spread topped with shredded carrots, scallions, and date slices.
For an at-home lunching experience, bust out the panini grill and give yourself the gift of a pressed crispy tofu sandwich. First, marinate your tofu in a blend of soy sauce, canola and sesame oils, nutritional yeast, maple syrup, garlic, and sambal oelek. After removing from the marinade, gently press tofu, then cover in corn starch, and sauté for a few minutes on an oiled pan. Place on ciabatta and top with the cheese of your choice, along with some baby spinach. For even more flavour, sauté mushrooms with red onion, which will propel this next-level sandwich into the stratosphere. Heat it in the panini grill for a few minutes and enjoy hot or just right.
