Veg Sandwich with Sprouts and Hummus

These yummy sandwiches are one my favorite things to have for lunch! Every bite is fresh and crispy and filled with flavor. You can use any veggies you like, but I usually just use cucumber, red pepper and a green, such as spinach, baby kale or lettuce. For me the red pepper is a must. The sweet flavor is the perfect contrast for a nice garlicky, sesame hummus.

Sprout sandwich

I need to blog my hummus recipe sometime because it deserves a post of its own, but it's actually pretty basic and typical anyway, other than skipping the extra oil. The only oil in this one is from the tahini, and you could reduce it from 2 tbsp to 1 if you wanted to; would just have a bit less sesame flavor.

Hummus
1 can chickpeas (drained)
2/3 cup water
1 bulb garlic (peeled)
2 Tbsp tahini
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt

Throw it all in the food processor and whiz on high a minute or two until creamy.

The Sprouts

We've been sprouting on and off for about four years. Sprouting is easy to do and sprouts are extremely packed full of nutrition. We've sprouted broccoli, fenugreek, mung beans and red clover. We buy our seeds and sprouting lids from Mumm's Sprouting Seeds and we're still using some seeds that we bought four years ago, although the germination rate isn't quite as high.

Sprouting lids on mason jars

Greening up in the window

Drying on paper towel

There are a lot of benefits of eating sprouts. They help with digestion, reduce acidity, they help build immune system, increase protein content, and they are highly nutritious.

Red pepper, kale and sprouts on flatbread with hummus

Roast "Beef" Sandwich

I think I gave up beef about 5 years ago. I have not had a roast beef sandwich in a very long time. Now, it may be the case that I don't really remember what one is supposed to taste like, but I don't think that is the case. At all. In fact, I had a couple other people try this sandwich and they both agreed it was pretty darn close if not just like the real deal. Only again, no beasts were harmed.

Roast "Beef" Sandwich

Seitan Mushroom Roast

Laura made the seitan roast for Easter dinner. It was good although it didn't have an exact roast beef taste or texture. But, it was comparable.

Mushroom Seitan Roast recipe here.

Seitan Loaf

The next day, I had the idea to slice it thinly and use it to make a sandwich. And wow. It was the most amazing thing! The texture was very believable, the taste, with the mustard, was crazily similar to real beef, and I was in heaven to find another of my old favorites revamped to be enjoyed as a vegan meal.

Sandwich & Potato Salad

Was so good served with a scoop of potato salad!

Philly Not-Cheese Melts

So yep, these can go on my "Favorites" list any day...

Philly Melt

Seitan

Loving the seitan. This time, we bought the gluten flour but somehow forgot to use it and made the seitan with regular flour - and it was delish! It was kind of a happy accident.

Seitan is wonderful because it takes whatever flavors you give it, and has a much, MUCH meatier texture than soy, and allows us to have those meals that are kind of lame without the "meat". Like these Philly melts.

If you're interested in making it, this is the recipe we used.

Seitan

Philly Melts

A Philly Melt is short for Philadelphia Steak and Cheese Sandwich and is a steak and cheese oven sub topped with sautéed onions and peppers, and in this case, mushrooms. Alas, I did not stop loving them when I stopped eating meat and dairy. So, using substitutes for the meat and cheese is the answer to maintaining a vegan diet while not having to give up all your favorite meals. We used Earth Somethingorother "mozzarella" for the "melt" part. More on that and other subs in a later post.

Verdict?
I'm dedicated to keeping this blog real, so I can't lie and say this is exactly like the real thing. Or that it's better (just my opinion, Laura disagrees). But, it was still fantastic, and granted us our daily doses of protein and Vitamins A and C as a bonus!

The sub looks bad in the photo because I forgot to take a pic while it still looked pretty. I had already cut it in half and since it was overstuffed, the filling, sauce and breadcrumbs went everywhere. Still looks yummy, eh? It really was...

Philly Melt