What do vegans actually put on their bread? I get asked this a lot, and I can assure you, the options for us are anything but boring.
Here are my now 15 favourite vegan sandwich ideas that are genuinely worth making: from a quick vegan sandwich for packed lunches or travel snacks to a proper showstopper for weekend brunch. Some are ready in two minutes, others need a little more love, but all of them are worth it.
Smoked Tofu BLT
There are many ways to make a vegan BLT sandwich, but my absolute favourite is the version with smoked tofu. Sliced thin and fried hot, it gets wonderfully crispy and is the perfect vegan bacon substitute. You’ll find the recipe and video for this veganized classic sandwich here.
Smoked Tofu Satay Sandwich with red cabbage
Crispy plant-based smoked tofu satay sandwich with red cabbage, loaded with a creamy 3-minute peanut sauce, on the table in 10 minutes. You’ll find the recipe here.
Avocado Mayo and sweet potato sandwich
Cut sweet potato in slices and bake them from both sides in a pan with a little olive oil and salt for a few minutes at high to medium heat.
Spread vegan mayo on two slices of toasted bread, then layer the sweet potato, sliced avocado, salt and pepper, cilantro and other two slices of bread.
Vegan Banh Mi sandwich
A satisfying sandwich with seasoned tofu, pickled carrots, pink onions, cucumber, cilantro and sriracha mayo. Find the recipe for my banh mi sandwich here.
Sweet potato, miso mayo and sauerkraut
Bake the sweet potato slices with a little salt in a pan from both sides. You can also steam or grill them. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of shiro miso with 1/4 cup of vegan mayo. Layer on the sandwich with pink sauerkraut and fresh parsley.
Lemongrass sweet potato wraps
These aromatic lemongrass sweet potato wraps with smoked tofu and satay sauce are almost sandwiches and go so well with coffee!
Superfood Burger
Why not have a burger for breakfast when it is so healthy? These burger patties are made without meat substitutes and consist mainly of sweet potatoes, kidney beans, and rolled oats. The psyllium husk powder is good for our gut health and keeps them perfectly together!
Sandwich with cashew butter, sundried tomatoes and alfalfa sprouts
For this vegan sandwich, spread cashew butter generously on sliced bread, top with sundried tomatoes (I use the oily ones for this recipe) and loads of fresh alfalfa sprouts, maybe add a little salt and pepper.
I grow my own alfalfa sprouts, it’s easy and cheap with a sprouting glass. Simply soak the seeds in water in the upright glass for a few hours, then rinse and put into the rack. Rinse every morning and evening. From day 7 you can enjoy the delicious sprouts. It is not recommended to eat them before that because they contain canavanin, a natural protector, which disappears in seven days.
Mushrooms and baked beans
Baked beans from a can for this vegan sandwich are warm in minutes (check if vegan), and sliced mushrooms can be fried just as quickly. Simply put them in a pan with olive oil at high to moderate heat and fry until brown and crispy. When they’re almost done, add salt and some fresh herbs like oregano.
Spread some vegan butter on bread, add the mushrooms, beans, rocket salad and a little salt and pepper.
Hearty eggplant scramble sandwich
This hearty eggplant scramble is perfect for a healthy vegan sandwich for breakfast or dinner. This recipe is not only rich in protein, you’re already getting 7 of the 30 plant-based foods recommended per week.
Too much effort and too many veggies? Then I’ve also got a super simple scramble that we enjoy almost every morning after a workout. Ready in minutes, and you only need tofu and a few spices.
Scramble and peanut sauce
I was also surprised at first by the wild combination I tried at Veganerie in Bangkok, but scramble and peanut sauce are so delicious together! Naturally, I don’t want to keep this from you.
Here you can find the super quick recipes for my 5-minute scramble and my delicious peanut sauce with red curry paste, just like in Thailand.
Avocado toast with smoked tofu
For this sandwich, I cut smoked tofu in slices. You can use them just like that or fry them up with a little olive oil and soy sauce to make them a bit bacon-y.
Now spread some vegan butter on toasted bread, add sliced avocado with salt and pepper, a layer of sprouts and the tofu. If you have sweet mustard, that’s the best.
Sauerkraut sandwich
Find the full recipe for this vegan sandwich with sauerkraut here.
Caprese vegan sandwich
For this vegan sandwich, I make my own creamy almond mozzarella. You’ll find the vegan mozzarella recipe here, and you can find my spelt bagel recipe here.
Sweet potato hummus
Our favourite to put on bread at the moment is this creamy sweet potato hummus with crispy roasted chickpeas.
Sandwich with fermented cashew cheese
This fermented cashew cheese is a delicious vegan alternative to cream cheese, and a real nutritional powerhouse. With its pretty coating of herbes de Provence and blueberry powder, it’s also a real eye-catcher on a cheese board or as a topping for your vegan sandwich.
FAQ: Vegan Sandwich Questions Answered
What goes on a vegan sandwich?
Basically anything you like, but a few things make all the difference: a good spread (hummus, avocado, vegan butter, vegan cream cheese or miso mayo) is the foundation. Add a protein component like tofu, falafel or baked beans, then fresh or roasted vegetables. Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, pickled vegetables or sprouts for crunch, and you’ve got a vegan sandwich recipe that’s genuinely worth showing off.
Which vegan sandwiches are good for packed lunches?
For a vegan sandwich to take away, I recommend firm spreads and ingredients that don’t release moisture straight away: hummus, cashew butter, roasted sweet potato or smoked tofu all work brilliantly. Wraps and ciabatta hold up better than sliced bread. Keep very moist ingredients like fresh tomatoes or sprouts separate and add them just before eating.
How do I stop my vegan sandwich from getting soggy?
Don’t spread too much on the bread, pat moist vegetables dry beforehand, and use lettuce as a barrier layer between the bread and juicy fillings, that helps the most. For packed lunches and lunchboxes, I always pack the sauce separately in a small jar.
Which vegan sandwich ideas go down well with guests?
In my experience, it’s the sandwiches with familiar flavours that win over non-vegans too: a classic BLT with smoked tofu and miso mayo, a banh mi with seasoned tofu and pickled carrots, or a satay sandwich with peanut sauce and red cabbage. All three disappear first at my brunches.
Which vegan sandwiches work for a buffet?
Small portions work best here like baguette slices like my pumpkin bruschetta. They are easy to prepare ahead, look great on a platter and combine well. For more inspiration, check out my 12 ideas for the perfect vegan buffet, including portion planning and timing tips.
Which vegan sandwiches need no cooking?
Loads of them! Hummus, guacamole, vegan deli slices, antipasti from a jar, pickled vegetables, sliced smoked tofu, cashew butter with sundried tomatoes, it all just goes straight on the bread. My cashew butter sandwich with alfalfa sprouts for example is ready in two minutes.
Which breads work best for vegan sandwiches?
Wholegrain, sourdough, baguette, ciabatta, toast, wraps, bagels (picture): basically anything that can hold the filling. What matters is matching the bread to the filling: a juicy banh mi works better in a baguette than on soft toast, while a creamy cream cheese sandwich is best on good sourdough. For gluten-free versions, I use gluten-free toast bread.
How many sandwiches per person?
As a main meal, I count on 1–2 sandwiches per person. For brunch or a buffet, halves or smaller pieces are enough, people tend to prefer a little of many things rather than a lot of one.
Which vegan sandwiches are good for kids?
Mild spreads like hummus, vegan cream cheese, peanut butter or avocado tend to go down well. Colourful ingredients: red pepper, yellow carrots or sprouts make sandwiches more appealing for kids.
Can you make vegan sandwiches ahead of time?
Yes, many versions can be prepared 2–3 hours in advance if wrapped airtight and kept cool. Add very moist ingredients like fresh tomatoes, sprouts or sauces just before serving, otherwise the bread goes soft.
You love smoked tofu? Then you might also like my 13 most delicious smoked tofu recipes.
You’re planning a buffet? Check out my 12 ideas for your perfect vegan buffet.
Do you love brunch? Have a look at my 7 ideas for your perfect brunch.
