Traditional pesto is not vegan as it often contains parmesan cheese. If using a store bought pesto, make sure to read the ingredients to make sure it is vegan. If you are in the US, Trader Joe’s has a great branded vegan pesto. You can also make it very easily yourself. I have a red version using sun-dried tomatoes and a delicious tahini pesto as well.

What is the best brand of tofu to use for crispy tofu?

The brands I use for all my tofu dishes include Nasoya, House Foods and Soy Boy. Use the extra firm variety. If you want extra texture in the center of your tofu, freeze and thaw your tofu before using and press out the excess water.

Can you bake the tofu?

Yes. You’ll just want to change the temp and time that you bake it for. Place your coated tofu on a parchment lined baking sheet and place in the oven at 425F and bake for 25 minutes or until the coating is golden and crispy.

How can you meal prep this for lunch?

You can make the tofu and pesto in advance and store them separately. To assemble, just spread your bread with the pesto and layer on the veggies and tofu to make your sandwich. Optional, but if you are traveling for work and have access to a toaster oven, you can place your sandwich in there to toast up as a replacement to the panini press.

Vegan Pesto Sandwich with Crispy Herb Tofu

Name: Vegan Pesto Sandwich with Crispy Herb Tofu
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tbsp nutritional yeast; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp thyme; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp avocado oil; 1 block (450g) extra firm tofu, drained and pat dry with a kitchen towel then cut into 4 length sized slabs; 1 large ripe tomato, I used an heirloom and cut into slices; 1-2 cups baby spinach; 2 slices of hearty whole grain bread per sandwich (can make up to 4 sandwiches); 1-2 tbsp of dairy-free red pesto or store bought pesto per sandwich; Salt

Description

This hearty Vegan Pesto Sandwich is slathered with homemade red pesto and stuffed with air-fried crispy herb tofu. Easy to make and perfect for lunch.

Ingredients

Scale

Crispy Tofu

1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp thyme
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp avocado oil
1 block (450g) extra firm tofu, drained and pat dry with a kitchen towel then cut into 4 length sized slabs

To Assemble Sandwich

1 large ripe tomato, I used an heirloom and cut into slices
1–2 cups baby spinach
2 slices of hearty whole grain bread per sandwich (can make up to 4 sandwiches)
1–2 tbsp of dairy-free red pesto or store bought pesto per sandwich
Salt

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Instructions

To a shallow dish add your nutritional yeast, cornstarch, garlic, thyme and give a good mix to combine. Pour in the oil and soy sauce and mix again into a wet batter.
Pat your tofu dry with a clean kitchen towel and cut the block into 4 slabs lengthwise. Take each tofu slab and coat evenly in the batter. Place the tofu in an air fryer basket and then cook at 400F for 15 minutes.
Spread pesto on both slices of bread and then layer one slice with the spinach, the crispy tofu, and a slice or two of tomatoes. Sprinkle the tomatoes with a pinch of salt and then close the sandwich with the other slice of bread spread with pesto.
If toasting your sandwich, place the sandwich in a panini press to warm through on both sides. Cook until golden on both sides, about 5-6 minutes (See notes for cooking without a panini press).

Notes

To make the sandwich without a panini press, you’ll need a skillet and a heavy bottom pot. Place your sandwich in the skillet and place the heavy bottom pot on top of it, gently pressing down on it as it cooks for 1-2 minutes or until crispy. Then with a spatula, flip the sandwich over and repeat the process with the heavy bottom pot to crisp up the other side.

You can make your panini with any bread you like, but going for an artisanal bread makes a big difference and will hold up to being pressed.

If you really want to get your bread crispy, brush the outside of the sandwich with a garlic infused olive oil before placing in the panini press.

You can choose different veggies for your sandwich like thinly sliced zucchini or roasted bell pepper. You can also add vegan cheese if you want a gooey center.