About this Vegetarian Sandwich
Got eggplants and fresh avocados? And maybe some cherry tomatoes? Great. Now, let’s make your dream vegetarian gluten free sandwich!
Most vegetarian and gluten free sandwiches are slathered with mayonnaise or cream cheese and stuffed with fresh veggies and salads. No, not in this amazing vegan, gluten free breakfast sandwich.
Instead, this sandwich features layers of roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes, caramelized onions, and fresh avocados.
Each layer is spread with the creamy-tangy “dream fraiche,” a vegan creme fraiche substitute with the same texture and taste as regular creme fraiche. It is a flavor-packed, gourmet sandwich experience that’s surprisingly easy to make!
What makes an excellent vegetarian gluten free sandwich
A delicious veggie and gluten-free sandwich primarily relies on three key elements: the gluten-free bread, the fillings, and the spread.
The Bread. Choosing the best gluten free bread must be your first priority before making this veggie sandwich recipe. A good base determines the quality and texture of the sandwich.
I used the Two-Way Gluten Free Dutch Oven Bread because it’s a gluten and dairy free bread that’s not too soft but firm enough to hold the fillings. Plus, it’s an easy gluten free bread you can bake anytime.
The other gluten free bread recipe that’s good for the sandwich is the no-knead gluten free artisan bread.
The Fillings. A variety of fillings add substance, texture, and overall taste. Depending on the vegetables, they add crunch, umami, and creaminess.
For this sandwich recipe, the fillings are fresh avocado, roasted eggplant, and cherry tomatoes. The added caramelized onions bring the flavors together. Sweet, salty, tangy, and creamy – best describe this incredible gluten free sandwich.
The Spread. You may not notice it, but the spread holds together the base and fillings of the sandwich. So, it’s equally important for the spread to be delicious and have an excellent texture to hold together the filling and the bread.
I used Creme Fraiche, or Dream Fraiche, its dairy-free counterpart, instead of vegan mayonnaise and cream cheese. The texture of creme fraiche spreads easily between layers of fillings, and its tangy-creamy flavor complements the roasted vegetables and avocado.
What You’ll Need and Their Substitutes
- Gluten Free Bread—homemade gluten free bread was used for this amazing sandwich. Of course, you can always buy a good loaf of gluten-free bread from your local grocery store.
- Creme Fraiche—we’re looking for a dairy-free creme fraiche without gluten, nuts, or soy in this sandwich recipe. If you can’t find it, your other options are vegan mayonnaise or plant-based cream cheese.
- Roasted vegetables—roasted eggplant and cherry tomatoes coated with olive oil and dried basil work perfectly as the veggie filling. The umami-rich caramelized onions bring this sandwich to another level.
Substitution Table
| Original Ingredients | Substitute With |
|---|---|
| Homemade Gluten free Bread | Schar GF Sandwich Bread |
| Oddly Good Dream Fraiche | Oatly Creamy Fraiche or Vegan mayonnaise |
Step By Step Process
Roasting Eggplants and Cherry Tomatoes
- Cut the eggplant into thin slices and cherry tomatoes into halves. Then, place them on a baking sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil and dried basil, and season with salt and pepper.
- Roast in the preheated oven (180°C/356°F) until the eggplants are tender and the tomatoes are blistered, approximately 20-25 minutes. Set aside.
Caramelizing Onions
- Slice onions thinly. Heat a pan over medium heat; add a spoonful of olive oil and the onions.
- Cook slowly, while stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden brown and sweetly fragrant, about 20-30 minutes. Set aside.
Assembling the Sandwich
- In a small bowl, mix crème fraîche with freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of salt until well combined. Adjust the seasoning according to taste.
- Brush the gluten-free bread slices with olive oil and dried basil. Toast lightly in a pan or bread toaster.
- Spread a generous layer of the seasoned crème fraîche on one side of each bread slice.
- On the other slice of bread, layer the fresh avocado slices, then the roasted eggplant slices, followed by the roasted cherry tomatoes. Spread a small amount of creme fraiche on each layer to keep the fillings together.
- Add the caramelized onions evenly over the tomatoes. Carefully place the second slice of bread, spread side down, on top of the caramelized onion to complete the sandwich.
The Best Vegetarian, Gluten Free Sandwich
Equipment
- Digital scale
Ingredients
Roasted Vegetables
- 250 g eggplant sliced thinly
- 250 g cherry tomatoes cut in halves
- 30 g olive oil
- 2 g salt
- 2 g dried basil powder
- 1 g black pepper
Caramelized Onion
- 300 g onions sliced thinly
- 15 g olive oil
- 1 g salt
Black Pepper Creme Fraiche
- 250 g creme fraiche, plant-based and gluten-free
- 2 g black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 g salt
Other Ingredients
- 500 g gluten free sandwich bread 8 slices
- 2 pcs avocado, large
Instructions
- Cut the eggplant into thin slices and cherry tomatoes into halves. Then, place them on a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper then drizzle lightly with olive oil and dried basil.
- Roast in the preheated oven (180°C/356°F) until the eggplants are golden and the tomatoes are blistered, approximately 20-25 minutes. Set aside.
- Slice onions thinly. Heat the pan over medium heat; add the olive oil, onions and salt.
- Cook slowly, while stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden brown and fragrant, about 20-30 minutes. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix crème fraîche with freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of salt until well combined. Adjust the seasoning according to taste.
- Brush the gluten-free bread slices with olive oil and dried basil. Toast lightly in a pan or bread toaster.
- Spread a generous layer of the seasoned crème fraîche on one side of each bread slice.
- On the other slice of bread, layer the fresh avocado slices, then the roasted eggplant slices, followed by the roasted cherry tomatoes. Spread a small amount of creme fraiche on each layer to keep the fillings together.
- Add the caramelized onions evenly over the tomatoes. Carefully place the second slice of bread, spread side down, on top of the caramelized onion to complete the sandwich.
