Vegan Pesto Panini Sandwich

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I love sandwiches! They are so tasty and satisfying! And this Pesto Sandwich recipe is so delicious, I would eat one of these sandwiches any day.

Even if you’re not a big fan of tofu, you’ll love this vegan sandwich. All you need is a handful of simple ingredients: bread, tofu, tomatoes, baby spinach, vegan mayonnaise, and the ingredients for vegan Italian pesto. It’s creamy, filling, tasty, simple to make, and it will be ready in just under an hour! A great savory lunch option! Take it with you to work or school, and everyone will envy you.

Vegan Pesto Panini Sandwich

Recipe by Micaela Fiorellini
5.0 from 3 votes
Course: Lunch, DinnerCuisine: SandwichDifficulty: Medium
Servings

2

sandwiches
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Total time

50

minutes
Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

  • For Marinated Tofu
  • 8 slices tofu

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon paprika powder

  • For Vegan Pesto
  • 1⁄4 cup olive oil

  • 1⁄2 clove garlic

  • 50 grams fresh basil

  • 30 grams pine nuts

  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

  • 1-3 ice cubes

  • pinch of salt

  • For Sandwich Assembly
  • 4 slices vegan wholemeal bread

  • 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise

  • 2 tablespoons vegan pesto

  • 8 slices marinated tofu

  • 4-6 slices tomato

  • 2 handfuls baby spinach

Directions

  • Making Marinated Tofu
  • Drain and pat your tofu dry with a kitchen towel, try to remove all the water. Cut the tofu into slices lengthwise. Each sandwich needs 4.
  • Mix soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, and paprika in a shallow dish.
  • Marinate the slices of tofu in the soy sauce for 10–15 minutes.
  • Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat and cook the tofu slices until golden brown on both sides.
  • Making Vegan Pesto
  • In a bowl, add half the oil, garlic, salt, nutritional yeast, and pine nuts. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. You can also use a food processor.
  • Gradually add the basil leaves and remaining olive oil and continue blending.
  • Add 1 ice cube at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Taste and season with more salt or nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
  • Assembling Sandwiches
  • Take two slices of bread. Spread the vegetable mayonnaise on one, then add 2 slices of cooked tofu, a handful of spinach, 2-3 tomato slices and 2 more slices of tofu.
  • Spread the basil pesto on the other slice of bread and then close the sandwich. Repeat with the other two slices of bread.
  • Heat a panini press or a non-stick skillet. Brush the two surfaces of the sandwiches with a little olive oil.
  • Place the sandwiches in the panini press and cook until crispy and golden on both sides, about 5–6 minutes. If you use a skillet, add your sandwiches and place a dish or a tray on top of them, gently pressing down on it until golden and crispy on a side. Then flip them and repeat the process to crisp up the other side.
  • Cut them in half and serve them immediately.

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