Vegan Eggplant Sandwich

This vegan eggplant sandwich is so delicious that you’ll keep making it over and over again. Layers of smoky and fresh vegetables are packed in panini bread, then toasted till perfection! Ideal for lunchboxes, picnics, and lunches on the go!

Many people struggle with food options when they’re new to veganism. And as we decided to start eating more plant-based meals last year, I honestly had no idea how to make even the simplest things vegan! Things like sandwiches!

With the massive amount of info available online, a few cookbooks, and then I was trained as a vegan chef. I now know how to make epic vegan food that is not just healthy and delicious but is also really satisfying. 

When you decide to go on a plant-based diet or have plant-based days, you start looking at plants in a whole different way. In the past, I felt like eating plants meant just eating a salad. Now, I find plants so filling and satisfying and there are so many different ways to cook with them to create full meals.

VEGAN SANDWICHES

This simple and seriously tasty vegan eggplant sandwich is a good example. Most people want good bread in a sandwich, some kind of meat, cheese or/and sauce and perhaps a few lettuce leaves. 

This vegan sandwich has it all but in a plant way! I mean, eat all the plants!

The smoky aubergine/eggplant resembles the meat, the vegan mayo is the sauce and together with the smoky aubergine gives you the cheese effect, the tomatoes add tartness and softness to the sandwich, and finally, the cucumbers and rocket/arugula leaves add the freshness and the crunch.

The most important thing though? Use fresh good quality bread!

VEGAN EGGPLANT BACON

To make the vegan bacon using eggplants, you will need to make the marinade and brush it over the peeled, sliced and pre-soaked eggplant slices.

To make the marinade, you will need:

Olive oil

Soy sauce or tamari sauce for gluten-free

Agave syrup or maple syrup

Smoked paprika

A pinch of salt

Ground black pepper

Mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl, then brush the marinade over the eggplant slices. Bake on a baking sheet for 20 minutes or so, or shallow fry and pat dry on kitchen towel paper.

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD VEGAN SANDWICH WITH EGGPLANT BACON

Start by slicing the panini or ciabatta bread in half lengthwise.

Spread a layer of vegan mayonnaise, add a layer of smoky eggplant slices, followed by tomato slices, cucumber slices, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and finally, top with rocket/arugula leaves and cover with the other half of the panini or ciabatta bread.

Cover with some foil, then toast the sandwich in a grill. Once you take it out, cut in halves (cut through the foil) if you’re going to have it right away. Or leave it packed in foil to take to work, a picnic or just have it later.

More great eggplant recipes

Here’s a list of my best eggplant recipes:
Middle Eastern stuffed eggplants
Vegan eggplant sandwich
Eggplant and chickpea curry
Baba ganoush
Fesenjan
Stewed eggplant
Mtabbal eggplant dip
Eggplant cinnamon jam

For more tasty vegan recipes, check out my vegan category page.

If you make this vegan sandwich, please don’t forget to rate this recipe and share a picture on social media. Tag #LittleSunnyKitchen in your posts as I would really love to see what you make! Thank you for supporting Little Sunny Kitchen, so I can keep sharing my tasty recipes with you for free.

Vegan Eggplant Sandwich

5 from 8 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: International

Keyword: vegan sandwich

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Diana

Ingredients

For the sandwich:

• 1 eggplant medium size, peeled, sliced and pre-soaked in slightly salted water
• 2 panini or ciabatta buns
• 4 tbsp vegan mayo
• 1 tomato sliced
• 1/2 cucumber sliced
• 1/2 cup rocket or arugula

For the marinade:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari sauce for gluten-free
• 1 tsp agave syrup or maple syrup
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

• To make the eggplant bacon:
• Mix all of the ingredients in a small bowl, then brush the marinade over the eggplant slices. Bake on a baking sheet for 20 minutes or so, or shallow fry and pat dry on kitchen towel paper.

To make the Sandwich:

• Start by slicing the panini or ciabatta bread in half lengthwise.
• Spread a layer of vegan mayonnaise, add a layer of smoky eggplant slices, followed by tomato slices, cucumber slices, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and finally, top with rocket/arugula leaves and cover with the other half of the panini or ciabatta bread.
• Cover with some foil, then toast the sandwich in a grill. Once you take it out, cut in halves (cut through the foil if you're going to have it right away. Or leave it packed in foil to take to work, a picnic or just have it later.

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