Vegan sandwich recipes: 6 tasty, cheap & easy ideas you must try

Posted by

Başak

February 2, 2025

On February 2, 2025

Preparation: 5 mins

Cooking: approx 6 mins

Difficulty: easy

Yields: 1 portion

Cost: low

If you want to go straight to the recipe click here

Introduction to 6 simple and delicious 6 vegan sandwich ideas

Of all the alternatives to meat, it is perhaps the vegan sandwich that causes the most discomfort to a person who has made the choice not to eat animal products. Of course, how could it be otherwise?
On the other hand, isn’t the sandwich (I mean the normal one) something that can be prepared in a flash, costs little and can be eaten in two minutes (five at the most)?
Yes, and that’s what my friend Daniele, who I could call the farsighted creator of CHE’s new look, was complaining about.
Although he now eats a more ethical and vegetarian diet, like most Italians he grew up with the simple but valid concept of “bread and mortadella (maybe you call it as Bologna)”, which can be found on every corner and in every latitude, moreover it is cheap and very satisfying in terms of taste and satiation (even if it is a highly “edulcorated”, inferior industrial product).
Since he no longer wants to use meat-based ingredients and he cannot find a valid vegan substitute for his ex fave tastes like bologna, ham or salami, he is running out of ideas for his vegan sandwich fillings.
So I decided to indulge him with 6 super tasty ideas for a vegan sandwich that is also cheap, healthy and easy.
And since the CHE Food Revolution is all about inclusivity, I thought I’d share all of these 6 vegan sandwiches with you: don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you to fill your sandwich with vegan ham! (Because at least here we can admit it: industrial vegan deli is rubbish)

Before we get to the ingredients, let’s see how healthy and balanced my six vegan sandwiches are:

They are satiating, thanks to the fibre and protein they contain, so they will help you get through the day and keep those extra kilos at bay;
They compete not only with deli, but also with food supplements, as they are rich in vitamins and minerals to boost the immune system (see link to learn more tricks to boost our defences);
The combination of complex carbohydrates with fresh vegetables and sauces rich in vitamin C allows us to reduce blood sugar levels and thus avoid insulin spikes (this trick should be applied to all dishes with a high glycaemic index; it even works with potatoes!)
Vitamin C also improves the absorption of certain minerals such as iron (read more about this from here).

And here are the best combinations for vegan sandwiches, as chosen by CHE Food Revolution

6 tasty ideas for delicious Vegan Sandwich fillings

1 – Vegan sandwich with hummus, aubergines and sun-dried tomatoes

Ingredients

4 tbsps of hummus
2 sundried tomatoes in olive oil
3 aubergines in olive oil
1 tbsp of pickled peppers (optional)
1 leaf of lettuce or a handful of rocket (optional)
1 whole cereal sandwich

Directions

Make a cut in the middle of the sandwich without cutting it in 2 separated pieces.
Spread both sides of the sandwich with store-bought or home-made hummus (I recommend my family’s recipe for perfect digestibility).
Arrange the aubergines and sun-dried tomatoes in the oil after draining them well.
Finally, garnish with a pickled pepper, if you want and lettuce leaves sprinkled with lemon juice.

Of course, making hummus at home saves you money, but it also takes more time. But don’t worry, I’ve got a tip for you: next time, cook the dried chickpeas in batches, divide them into portions and freeze them with their cooking water. This way we can thaw them on the spot and make the best and cheapest hummus in the world. And because homemade hummus can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, we can make tasty and cheap vegan sandwiches with hummus every 3-4 days.

2 – Vegan sandwich with veggie tuna (or chickpea tuna) and guacamole

Ingredients

3 tablespoons of vegan tuna (or homemade chickpea tuna)
2 generous tablespoons of guacamole
1 leaf of lettuce or rocket, sprinkled with lemon juice
Mustard or homemade vegan yogurt sauce
1 wholemeal sandwich

Directions

Make a cut in the middle of the sandwich without pulling the pieces apart.
Spread the store-bought (or homemade) guacamole on one side of the sandwich.
Add the store-bought vegan tuna, or the chickpea tuna you made at home using this recipe.
Garnish with lettuce or rocket leaves and, for extra softness and flavour, a drizzle of mustard or soy yoghurt sauce, lemon juice and salt.

Admittedly, the initial investment in buying all the ingredients needed to make chickpea tuna at home can be higher than buying the ready-made vegan tuna. However, if stored correctly, these ingredients have a long shelf-life, which means that the cost can be recouped and they can be used many times over.
In addition, homemade chickpea tuna can be kept in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. By taking the time once, we can make tasty and cheap vegan tuna sandwiches at least twice a week.

3 – Vegan sandwich with falafel, hummus and green tahini sauce

Ingredients

100g (5-7) falafel
2 tablespoons hummus
Lettuce or arugula and/or parsley
Green tahini sauce (optional)
1 tablespoon of plantbased yoghurt
2 teaspoons tahini
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tbsps of parsley, mint and/or dill, chopped finely
pinch of salt

Directions

Make a cut in the middle of the sandwich without cutting it in half.
Spread the hummus well on both sides.
Add the store-bought or home-made falafel.
Fill with the salad and sprinkle with lemon.
Finish with the green tahini sauce.

Making falafel at home will save you money, but it will take more time to organise. But fear not, I have a second trick for you: next time, make a large batch, cook them all and save the part you are not going to use immediately. Frozen falafels will keep for up to 3 months, and once defrosted they are as delicious as when you made them fresh.

4 – Vegan sandwich of Sausage and Turnip greens

Ingredients

1 vegan sausage (2 if small)
3 tablespoons sautéed turnip greens
1 wholemeal sandwich bun
Chilli pepper (optional)

Directions

Cook the vegan sausage according to the instructions on the packet.
Make a cut in the middle of the sandwich without cutting it in half.
Spread the store-bought or homemade turnip greens on top.
Place the vegan sausage in the middle.
Season with chilli pepper.

If, like me, you are not attracted to vegan sausage, you can make a very tasty and practical alternative at home from scratch by starting with tofu or seitan; or tempeh cut into chunks.
For an Italian touch, marinade your tofu (or whatever you decided to use) with garlic, chopped fennel seeds, thyme, marjoram, sage, bay leaf, juniper, chilli, wine, evo oil, salt and pepper. After at least half an hour, cook it in a pan like a normal sausage and stuff your vegan sandwich with turnip greens.

5 – Vegan sandwich with Chickpea Omelette (or Farinata in Italian or Socca in French)

Ingredients

150g chickpea omelette
1 tablespoon vegan pesto or homemade courgette pesto
Small salad sprinkled with lemon juice
1 rye roll

Directions

Make a cut in the middle of the sandwich without cutting it in half.
Spread the vegan pesto you bought (or made at home using this Sicilian recipe for courgette pesto, replacing the parmesan with nutritional yeast) on the sides of the sandwich.
Add the pieces of chickpea omelette you bought (you can find it ready made in some supermarkets) or made at home using this recipe.
Fill with lettuce or other vegetables, sprinkle with lemon and season with chilli, as they would do in Sicily with “pane and panelle“.

Making chickpea omelette at home reduces the cost but of course requires more organisation.
Again, the trick is to double the amount, cook it all and freeze the part that will not be eaten immediately.
Frozen chickpea omelette will keep for up to 3 months and is as good as freshly baked when reheated.

6 – Vegan sandwich with Doner Kebab

Ingredients

150g vegan doner kebab
Some sliced tomatoes, lettuce leaves and/or pickled vegetables
Plant-based yoghurt and tahini
1 whole cereal sandwich or wrap

Directions

I will leave you with what I consider to be an unforgettable experience: the vegan version of Turkiye’s most popular street food, the doner kebab, also known as kebab, shwarma or gyros.

Cook the store-bought vegan kebab, following the instructions on the package (or make your own using my favourite recipe, just replace regular yoghurt with soy yoghurt).
Make a cut in the middle of the sandwich without cutting it in half.
Fill the sandwich bun or your wrap with the spicy filling and garnish with the sauce made by mixing soy yoghurt, garlic powder, mustard and tahini if you like.

Enjoy your simple but appetising and healthy lunch. Good revolution to you all