The Vegan California Veggie Sandwich is a classic for a reason! With pesto, hummus, avocado, and tons of crunchy vegetables, it's full of hearty and nourishing ingredients and West Coast vibes. Vegan and easily gluten-free!
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Sandwiches are consistently one of the best lunches for really any time of year, no matter the mood you are in.
I love the Whole Foods-inspired Tempeh BLT Sandwich on most days, and the Grilled Veggie Party Sub is perfect for a crowd. Clearly, I could go on and on!
Today's recipe comes in a variety of forms, but this particular version is my favorite. I hope you love it too!
California Veggie Sandwich FAQ
A traditional California veggie is a hearty lunch sandwich made with two slices of crusty whole grain bread, a flavorful spread like pesto, sprouts, red onion, avocado, tomatoes, and cucumbers. This combination of creamy and crunchy elements is very satisfying.
California is a state known for its wide array of fresh produce. This sandwich is fully loaded with fresh vegetables, so this name is a natural fit when combined with the whole-grain sourdough bread that really came to prominence in San Francisco.
Ingredients
- Whole-grain bread - Something "crusty" like sourdough
- Easy Authentic Hummus - Any flavor you prefer
- Avocado - Just a few slices
- Pesto - See this vegan basil pesto recipe for a make-your-own version, or try a vegan sun-dried tomato pesto variation (there is a how-to video for pesto linked below)
- Cucumber - Cut very thinly
- Tomato - Any variety, Heirlooms will taste best once they're in season
- Red onion - Just a few thin slices
- Sprouts - Traditional bean sprouts or pea shoots work well
Ways to Customize This Vegan California Veggie Sandwich
Feel free to use any bread you enjoy, and of course, anything gluten-free will work perfectly well! If you do not have access to all of these ingredients, that is fine. Store-bought pesto and hummus will be a time saver. If you like paninis, this would be a great candidate for that treatment. Better yet, feel free to melt on some vegan cheese!
This is my "ideal" lunch. It's filling, satisfying, and full of a variety of flavors and textures. With nearly 19 grams of protein, it will keep you going for a while and is perfect for a packable picnic, hike, or beach visit! Honestly, it's made even better served alongside some salt and vinegar kettle chips.
Other Hearty Vegan Sandwich Recipes To Try
I hope you love this recipe! Please leave a comment and review if you end up trying it, I love hearing your thoughts!
The Ultimate California Veggie Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 slices of whole grain crusty bread (use GF bread if gluten-free)
- 2 TBS hummus
- ¼ of an avocado a few slices
- 2 TBS basil pesto video below
- 6 slices of cucumber cut thinly
- 3 thick slices of tomato any kind is fine
- 3 rounds of sliced red onion cut thinly
- ⅓ cup bean sprouts or pea shoots
Instructions
- Spread hummus on one piece of bread and pesto on the other.
- Layer cucumber slices on top of the hummus, fitting them across the bread with a slight overlap. Next, add avocado, tomato and red onion pieces.
- To the side of the sandwich with pesto, add sprouts (pressing down so they stick a bit). Sandwich the two sides together and press to flatten slightly. Wrap sandwich in parchment if desired, tying with a piece of twine for a picnic vibe.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Jessica says
This was excellent! Will definitely keep this one on hand 🙂
Emily says
Hi Jessica,
I am really happy you liked this one, thank you!
-Emily
Phoebe says
This vegan California veggie sandwich is what dreams are made of! Thank you for this recipe!!
Emily says
Thank you for trying and commenting!