Italian Veggie Sandwich

This Italian Veggie Sandwich is loaded with flavor packed veggies and chickpeas! Made with marinated eggplant and zucchini, a citrus chickpea salad, spinach, roasted red onion and fennel, and vegan feta!

Spring has finally sprung and hibernation season is coming to an end! As we roll into warmer weather and sunnier days, having a fridge full of grab-and-go food becomes a must. This Italian Veggie Hoagie is perfect for just that. It can easily be prepped ahead of time. It’s easy to wrap and pack. Most importantly, it’s delicious and filling!

MARINATED EGGPLANT AND ZUCCHINI 

I have been making this marinated eggplant and zucchini for years. It’s Smokey, delicious, and brings the essence of meat to a sandwich. The combination of ketchup, soy sauce, anise, liquid smoke and seasoning is a true flavor bomb.

LEMON CHICKPEA MASH

To make a truly delicious sandwich it’s important to have a complexity of flavors. The marinated eggplant and zucchini cover the savory, smokey element of the dish, but a brighter, citrusy aspect was needed. This chickpea mash brightens the sandwich with a punch of lemon zest and lemon juice. It also contains bits of raw garlic to enhance its flavor. Chickpeas are also a great source of protein! You can also use this chickpea mash on salads or as a snack with crackers. 

ROASTED FENNEL AND RED ONION

As mentioned above, the more elements of flavor you can bring to a sandwich, the better. Adding roasted fennel to the sandwich is a great compliment to the anise in the marinade. And who can argue with the deliciousness of roasted red onion? You are welcome to add olive oil to these when roasting. I personally skip the oil to save on calories and feel like the vinegar and salt keep them moist enough.

SEASON YOUR BREAD!

A step that is underestimated and often skipped is seasoning your bread. Bread is amazing at absorbing flavor! This is something you should always take advantage of. Whether it’s for a simple avocado toast or a huge, complex hoagie, seasoning your bread can really help elevate a dish. I usually go with something that packs a punch, such as lemon juice or vinegar, or both! Then sprinkle on the salt, pepper, and any other dried seasoning you desire. In this case I used red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. I used ciabatta bread for this hoagie. But any bread you desire will do!

VEGAN FETA

Vegan cheese alternatives have come a looooong way. Some brands are incredibly delicious and complex. You can always swap out regular feta if preferred. But I highly recommend checking out the vegan versions. You can also swap out vegan feta for any other vegan cheese. Vegan provolone would be delicious here as well

JAZZ IT UP

This sandwich is already LOADED, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add more! Hummus or vegan mayo would be an excellent addition. Fresh basil would also pair well. I personally am not a meat eater, but if you are, feel free to add that as well! You are still getting loads of veggies!