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What to Put on a Fresh Vegetable Sandwich

2009_06_09-veggiesandwich.jpgOur love for this sandwich started in high school, when we'd frequently eat a foot-long veggie from Subway after soccer practice several days a week. When we moved to New York, we discovered a version at the sandwich shop Lenny's that has cabbage and sweet peppers. This is the one we've been making at home lately—no warm, roasted vegetables, portabella mushrooms, or even slabs of mozzarella. Just crisp, shredded greens and our four essential ingredients...

 
 

There are a lot of vegetable sandwich options out there. Most involve roasted vegetables, and those are just fine for another occasion. For this sandwich, though, we're talking a salad on two slices of bread. It's so refreshing and satisfyingly crunchy. If you fear it won't be filling enough, add some cheese (a smear of cream cheese is good, too).

And blame it on Subway, but two things we absolutely, positively have to have are banana peppers and dill pickles. The tangy, sharp taste and the texture are paramount on our sandwiches. Here's the rundown of our basic ingredients:

• Shredded lettuce (We like romaine hearts, sliced into ribbons.)
• Tomatoes
• Bell pepper, thinly sliced
• Dill pickle
• Banana pepper rings
• Spicy mustard

On the sandwich above, we also have a bit of mayonnaise and some sliced carrots. Lenny's adds shredded red cabbage, honey mustard, and alfalfa sprouts—all good things you might want to consider.

Does anyone else eat fresh vegetable sandwiches like this? What's on yours?

Related: Healthy Eating: Alternative Sprouts Sandwich

(Image: Elizabeth Passarella)

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Health, Healthy, Vegetarian, Vegan, Ingredients - Vegetables, Sandwich, meatless, vegetable sandwich, veggie sandwich

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Comments (22)

Looks good and I do too have a soft spot for the Subway salad sub. And just because I think I'd need to use a good whole wheat sub roll. Also I'd throw on sliced olives, spinach, lots of oregano and a slab of avocado for good measure.

posted by beelzabean on June 9th 2009 at 3:38pm
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I like avocado on mine to stick it all together. The one drawback of a crispy veg sandwich like this is its tendency to fall apart. I have to have radishes on mine, and I prefer picked red onion to dill pickles. Thin cucumber slices are good, crunchable lettuce is a must, and a slice of a really nice tomato. Mustard is usually the only condiment, on a really great bread. But if I've got a nice roll, and I'm going to eat it right away, this is great with a mustard vinaigrette.

posted by cmcinnyc on June 9th 2009 at 3:41pm
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Banana pepper rings are key. I made myself a sliced tomato, lettuce and red onion on whole grain with a little mayo, salt and pepper last weekend. My friend dubbed it a "no B BLT and thus, completely pointless" but I thought it was delicious.

posted by jess pith on June 9th 2009 at 3:41pm
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One of my favorite veggie sandwiches consists of tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado (or guacamole) and alfalfa sprouts, on whole grain bread.
Another one is cream cheese and sliced pickles.

posted by mk710 on June 9th 2009 at 3:53pm
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Meat.

HA!

posted by clampers on June 9th 2009 at 3:54pm
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Oh my, lunch tomorrow. Just washed the romaine, got the peppers and my own tomatoes from the garden. Thanks for the idea.

posted by lawoman on June 9th 2009 at 4:01pm
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mmm, veggie delite sub is great. For me, its all about the vingary/sour components. Banana peppers, vinegar, pickles, mustard, Red onions. No lettuce for me - just spinach. Avocado to add a bit of creaminess to all that pucker.

posted by chusmabilly on June 9th 2009 at 4:07pm
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our classic veggie sandwich at home:

tomatoes, guacamole, cucumber slices, sunflower sprouts, pickled red onions, chipotle mayo on toasted wheat.

posted by aneelee on June 9th 2009 at 4:33pm
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I also love a good veggie salad sandwich with the only addition to be some avocado and/or cheese to give the creaminess factor. The cheese should be a soft cheese such as lappi or like the original poster suggested, a cream cheese works just as well.

posted by rosebud on June 9th 2009 at 5:05pm
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I really don't love lettuce on sandwiches that much, so if it's there it will be just a little bit, and definitely not on a hot sandwich. So, not a big fan of just veggies sandwiches.

One of my favorites, though, is cheddar, swiss, tomato, sprouts, and avocado with a bit of mayo or ranch dressing.

posted by Kakugori on June 9th 2009 at 6:00pm
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My favorite thing is CILANTRO. A sandwich place near my house uses cilantro on their sandwiches and it's so good! I would never have thought of it myself.

posted by betsyb on June 9th 2009 at 6:58pm
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Lenny's sandwiches sound good and they are on bread instead of a bun. I love that fact. Bread is almost extinct in sandwich shops.

I'd add some avocado to that sandwich and - hope this isn't gross - some mango chutney.

posted by Dana McCauley on June 9th 2009 at 7:43pm
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I think that sounds good, but there's mainly just fiber. Avocado for good fats, and maybe some hummus or hardboiled egg for protein?

posted by FantasticMrFaux on June 9th 2009 at 8:18pm
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I love salad sandwiches! My favorite is spinach, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, dill pickles, and sharp cheddar on toasted whole wheat bread. I use mayo and a little salt, and sometimes spicy mustard.

posted by ShellyIN on June 10th 2009 at 6:29am
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Oooh, how about good old fashioned tomato and mayo sandwiches on fresh baked bread. Of course, this only works with the super-ripe farm-fresh tomatoes of late summer.

posted by mwilsn2 on June 10th 2009 at 9:50am
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I'm with you on the Subway vegi sandwich. The pickles and banana peppers are key! I love the oil/vin as well.

posted by fresh365 on June 10th 2009 at 1:06pm
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Pesto! Avocado! Hummus!

Maybe some lettuce and tomato.

http://www.abreadaday.com

posted by eprewitt on June 10th 2009 at 3:41pm
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Yum.

Pardon me, I'm going to make myself a much-loved fresh tomato sandwich. mwilsn2 is right, the best are with the really ripe ones, but I'm prepared to make do (I don't think I'd survive a week without one).

posted by Graceless on June 10th 2009 at 5:42pm
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I agree with clampers.

posted by wunami on June 10th 2009 at 11:19pm
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My mouth is salivating at the picture! Perhaps being 6 1/2 months pregnant has something to do with it, or maybe it just that is looks so darn good! First crop homegrown Texas tomatoes are just now making their way into the farmer's markets. Perfect timing for a sandwich such as this!

posted by Robin P on June 11th 2009 at 8:23am
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Tomatoes, lots of basil, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and mozzarella cheese are my favorite.

I also like hummus, tomato, cucumber, sprouts, and lettuce.

posted by goodLife{eats} on June 11th 2009 at 9:58am
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I have a favourite veggie sandwich, from a local lunch joint here in Ottawa called Gooney's:

Sauteed mushrooms, cheddar/swiss/provolone, lettuce, onions, grilled eggplant, hot peppers, mayo, mustard, and horseradish (trust me on the horseradish).

I'm forgetting a vegetable I think...

posted by lemonader on June 11th 2009 at 8:30pm
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