America’s Top 10 New Sandwiches — Veganized

Our recent article on America’s Top 10 New Sandwiches has caused quite a stir in the blogosphere, but no one was more riled up  than a group of spunky vegan bloggers. Their de facto leader, Namely Marly, explains:

We read this article with great curiosity but it didn’t take long until the curiosity faded and was replaced with something else. OK. We were grossed out. Particularly at one sandwich that referred to an ingredient called suckling pig. We hoped this was a reference to something other than the obvious, but it appears it is exactly as it sounds. Only one of the 10 sandwiches appeared to be vegetarian. We felt like a cross between Stan Laurel and Rodney Dangerfield, scratching our heads with a half whimper and half scowl thinking, “Why don’t we vegans get any respect?”

So they decided to demand their own respect, teaming together to create tasty and healthy versions of each cholesterol-laden entry on the list of America’s Top 10 New Sandwiches. Hence, America’s Top 10 New Sandwiches — Veganized. Here are all ten of ’em. Follow the links for recipes.

10. The Vegan Spuckie

We called this olive-carrot-mortadella goodness from Cutty’s in Boston “the one sandwich that most successfully merges the old-school method of overdoing it on Italian meats with the new world of artisan, veggie-centric goodness.” Drop the meat part and it’s still drool-worthy. Trina Jaconi Biery of Your Vegan Mom made her own meat-free mortadella, featured here on a ciabatta roll topped with vegan mozzarella and a sweet carrot-olive salad.

Recipe: The Vegan Spuckie

(Photo: Trina Jaconi Biery)

9. Vegan Bulgogi Steak Sandwich

When Allyson Kramer of Manifest Vegan learned there was a Bulgogi Steak Sandwich (from Koja in Philly) on the list, she jumped at the chance to veganize it. As a child she used to eat bulgogi steak sometimes twice a week. Now a vegan, she’s been hankering to try a veggie-friendly version. Served on a hoagie roll (Allyson even provided a recipe for gluten-free hoagie if that’s to your liking), marinated tofu is topped with caramelized peppers and onions, chili garlic sauce, and melted vegan mozz.

Recipe: Tofu Bulgogi Steak Sandwich

(Photo: Allyson Kramer)

8. Vegan Crispy Drunken Chicken Sandwich

This sandwich from Baguette Box in Seattle was so popular with the veganists that not one but two stepped up to the plate to create a vegan version. Trudy Slabosz of Veggie Num Num made one with tender chunks of marinated tofu that are battered, fried, and glazed in an oh-so-tangy sauce served on a baguette with caramelized onions. Plus, April Moore of Epicurean Vegan prepared an alternative version of this sandwich with a surprise ingredient, portobello mushrooms, stepping in for the chicken. Whichever way you go, have lots of napkins on stand-by.

Recipes: Vegan Crispy Drunken Chicken Sandwich

(Photo: Trudy Slabosz and April Moore)

7. Vegan Cheesy Mac and Rib

Yes, the Grilled Cheese Truck in LA had the audacity to stuff mac ‘n’ cheese and BBQ pork into a grilled cheese sandwich. Talk about a challenge for the vegans. Morgan Anger at Little House of Veggies was up for it, topping a (fake) buttered sourdough baguette with (fake) cheesy macaroni, sweet BBQ seitan, and caramelized onions for one (real) savory sandwich.

Recipe: Vegan Cheesy Mac and Rib

(Photo: Morgan Anger)

6. Vegan Pibil Torta

Did you hear the cheers of vegans around the world as they celebrated the arrival of a vegan version of this particularly bothersome sandwich? The original pibil torta from Xoco in Chicago is made with suckling pig meat, and although some of the vegans hoped this was some sort of dysphemism for something other than the obvious, it wasn’t. Noelle Kelly of An Opera Singer in the Kitchen saved the day (and a few baby pigs) with her Vegan Pibil Torta featuring marinated wild mushrooms, a black bean paste and caramelized onions served on a crusty Mexican bolillo bread.

Recipe: Vegan Pibil Torta

Next: Top 5 Veganized Sandwiches

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