Scrumptious Picnic Approved Veggie Sandwich!
This scrumptious picnic approved layered sandwich is a hearty meal sized feast that is perfect for lunch or dinner, while on a picnic, hike, or just sitting in your home.
I recently made myself a sandwich for lunch – truth be told, I was trying to clean out the vegetable drawer of my fridge – but I was reminded of how AMAZING a basic veggie sandwich can be when you add inspiring components. So, I decided to BE BRAVE and play with the ingredients, the spreads, and the textures and I had to share this version that I absolutely love.
Fresh juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, herbaceous basil, crisp cucumber, flavorful microgreens, crunchy carrots, and the lightly sweet and charred flavor of roasted red peppers, pair deliciously with the smooth garlicky cream cheese spread and the sweet-spicy kick of mustard to create a texture and flavor explosion with every bite.
BE BRAVE and substitute the cream cheese with a vegan version or even with some hummus to add protein. And I encourage you to also experiment with the choice of vegetables – perhaps some shredded red cabbage, or left-over grilled vegetables. Who said dinner couldn’t be on the table in 15 minutes!
Happy and Healthy Sandwiching to you!
Multicolored Veggie Layer Sandwich
Ingredients
(* indicates my preferred ingredients – see notes for alternatives)
4 slices bakery bread (whole wheat or 7 grain bread)
2 teaspoons O&V Roasted Garlic oil *
1 avocado, sliced
1 large piece O&V Roasted Red Pepper * (drained, patted dry and thinly sliced)
1 tomato, thinly sliced
¼ cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup microgreens (arugula or radish)
½ thinly sliced cucumber – about 1/3 cup of slices (preferably a seedless cucumber)
½ cup matchstick or shredded carrots
1 ½ teaspoons O&V Devils Mustard *
2 ½ teaspoons O&V Honey Mustard *
4 heaping tablespoons whipped cream cheese (see Chef Note)
1 tablespoon minced green onion (from the white part of one green onion)
½ teaspoon lemon juice plus more for the avocado
1 teaspoon O&V Garlic Butter Mix *
1 teaspoon water
Freshly cracked pepper
Preparation
Brush the 4 slices of bread with the oil, and using a panini press or grill pan, toast the bread until some grill marks appear on the bread and bread is well toasted
In a small bowl combine the two mustards. In a separate small bowl combine the garlic butter mix, water and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the herbs to rehydrate. Then fold in the whipped cream cheese and minced green onion.
Lay the bread on a cutting board and begin assembling the sandwiches. Slather two slices of toasted bread with the cream cheese mixture and the other two slices with the mustard combination.
Press the avocado slices onto the slices of bread smeared with mustard and spritz them well with lemon juice. Grind fresh cracked pepper generously over the avocado.
Nestle some matchstick carrots on the whipped cream cheese, then layer slices of cucumber followed by red pepper slices, sliced basil, sliced tomato. Top the tomatoes with microgreens.
Carefully close the sandwich with the slice of toast and avocado slices. Slice in half and serve
Serves 2
Active time 15 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes
Chef Note
You can replace the cream cheese spread with a vegan version or with some roasted garlic hummus to add protein to the sandwich and make it vegan. Alternatively, add some sliced grilled chicken for a non-vegetarian option.
Notes
* The Roasted Garlic oil adds an additional layer of flavor to the toasted bread, but you can use a good unflavored extra virgin olive oil. The Roasted Red Peppers are delicious and easy, but feel free to roast your own red peppers instead if you prefer. The combination of the Devil’s Mustard and Honey Mustard add amazing sweet and tangy heat to the sandwich. You can use another sweet and spicy mustard, but it will certainly change the flavor of this sandwich.
Finally, the Garlic Butter Mix adds the most intense and delicious lemony, garlicky flavor to the cream cheese and there is no easy substitute but you can use some garlic powder, lemon juice, minced dill, minced parsley and minced chives.
Serve this with my Asparagus Soup or finish the meal with this easy Strawberry Parfait
Categories: Entrée, Snacks & Sides, Lunch, Easy Weeknight Meal, Quick Dinner, Layered Sandwich, Picnic, Roasted Garlic Oil, Roasted Red Peppers, Devils Mustard, Honey Mustard, Garlic Butter Mix, Multicolored Veggie Layered Sandwich, Al fresco Dining, Vegetarian, Vegan Option, Plant Based,
