There is no meal more comforting than the humble grilled cheese. When I first went vegan it was one of the things I missed the most. In those days, vegan cheese WAS NOT IT! In some cases it still isn't but there are now major exceptions to the rule. It is the brilliant people who created decent vegan cheese that have inspired this sandwich - the Ultimate Vegan Grilled Cheese. It's smothered in pesto sauce and full of roasted cauliflower and sliced tomato. The ultimate sandwich is now the ultimate meal.
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Ultimate Vegan Grilled Cheese Ingredients
- Cauliflower: All you need is a small head of cauliflower for this recipe. You want it to be pretty uniform in shape so you can get some nice-looking slices when you cut it.
- Bread: When choosing your bread you are looking for pretty wide slices. We're talking bread that's big enough for TWO pieces of cheese! Pick whatever variety of bread is your favorite and will compliment the flavors in this recipe.
- Vegan Butter: Vegan butter is a simple alternative to dairy butter. Non-dairy butter is made up of different vegetable oils and is solid at room temperature. The flavors are nearly identical to normal butter. Allow it to soften slightly before spreading on your bread.
- Vegan Pesto: Lot's of grocery stores now carry some version of pre-made, dairy-free pesto. Yay progress! I purchased the Vegan Kale Pesto from Trader Joe's. If you are unable to find vegan pesto in your local store (I'm sorry!), you can make your own. I like this recipe.
- Vegan Cheese: Not all vegan cheese slices are created the same! Do your research and find one that is well-regarded by the community. My favorite brands are Chao and Follow Your Heart.
- Tomato: Do yourself a favor and choose the roundest, reddest tomato you can find. If you have a garden (or know someone who has a garden), use those. Nothing beats home grown!
Tips For Making the Ultimate Vegan Grilled Cheese
- When cutting your cauliflower, aim to get your 4 slices from the center of the head. This will ensure you get the largest possible slices and they will be more uniform in size. You will have extra cauliflower in the form of the butt ends. Reserve these florets for roasting/eating at a later time.
- Do not forget to preheat your griddle/frying pan. I know it's tempting to turn on the heat and immediately drop your sandwich but you are only hurting your results! If you want a perfectly toasted sandwich with melty cheese, allow the griddle/pan to sit over the heat for 3-4 minutes before frying.
- This sandwich does not save well so be ready to eat it the second it comes off the griddle!
Please remember if you make this recipe to snap a pic and share with @censoredbaker on instagram!
How to Serve the Ultimate Vegan Grilled Cheese
Serving vegan grilled cheese is a delicious and satisfying experience. Here's how to serve it:
- Hot and Crispy: Serve vegan grilled cheese sandwiches hot and crispy, right off the griddle or stovetop. They are at their best when the bread is golden brown and the vegan cheese is melty.
- Cut into Halves or Quarters: Use a sharp knife to cut the sandwich in halves or quarters. This makes it easier to handle and share.
- Serve with Dipping Sauce: Offer a side of your favorite dipping sauce, such as tomato soup, vegan ranch, ketchup, or hot sauce. Dipping the sandwich into a flavorful sauce adds extra depth of taste.
- Garnish: If you want to add an extra element of flavor and presentation, garnish the plate with a sprinkle of fresh herbs like parsley or basil, or a drizzle of olive oil.
- Side Salad: Serve your vegan grilled cheese with a side salad for a balanced meal. A simple garden salad with vinaigrette or a Caesar salad works well.
- Pickles or Pickled Vegetables: Accompany the sandwich with pickles, pickled onions, or any of your favorite pickled vegetables for a zesty contrast.
- Chips or Fries: Serve vegan grilled cheese with a side of potato chips, sweet potato fries, or any type of fries you enjoy. It's a classic combination.
- Fruit: Add a refreshing touch to your meal by serving slices of fresh fruit like apple, pear, or grapes. The sweetness of the fruit complements the savory flavors of the sandwich.
Ultimate Vegan Grilled Cheese
Vegan grilled cheese sandwich smothered in pesto sauce and loaded with roasted cauliflower and fresh tomato.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 2 Sandwiches 1x
- Category: Savory Recipes
- Method: Fry
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
1 small head cauliflower
1 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp sea salt
pinch black pepper
4 large slices of bread (wide)
2 tbsp vegan butter
¼ c vegan pesto*
4 slices vegan cheese*
1 tomato, sliced
Instructions
- Roast Cauliflower: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 C) and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or a silicone baking mat. Slice your head of cauliflower into 4 equal slices, about ½ inch each. You will have leftover cauliflower so make sure the leftovers are the butt ends. You can roast these separately if you wish. Brush both sides of your cauliflower slices with olive oil and lay flat on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Assemble Sandwich: Once cauliflower is finished, spread vegan butter over one side of each slice of bread. Spread pesto on the opposite side. To assemble, lay 2 slices of cheese on pesto side of bread followed by two slices of roasted cauliflower and top with two slices of tomato. Lay other slice of bread on top, butter side facing outward.
- Pan Fry: Preheat a griddle or frying pan on stove over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Lay sandwich on griddle and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Serve immediately.
Notes
*Finding pre-made pesto in the grocery store that is dairy-free can be a bit challenging. I used the Kale Pesto from Trader Joe’s. If you would like to use a vegan pesto but are having trouble finding one, you can substitute your own recipe if you wish.
**Vegan cheese has a reputation for being terrible and while this was totally true in the past, it’s not anymore. While there are a few funky brands out there, the good ones now outnumber the bad. I used Follow Your Heart Pepper Jack slices.
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