Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich (Vegan Gluten-Free)

A vibrant, flavour-packed and gut-healthy sandwich that is naturally vegan and gluten-free and high in fibre. Layer up griddled aubergine, courgette and tofu with a delicious homemade kale and almond pesto and serve with fresh tomatoes and salad.

When the summer comes around, nothing beats a good picnic. Importantly, for the best picnic, you have to have a great sandwich! And this one is a new favourite of mine as it combines a few of my favourite things and is jam-packed with colours, textures and flavours all sandwiched together with the softest vegan and gluten-free bread from Schär.

Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich

This Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich is:

  • Bursting with fresh flavours
  • Spread thick with herby basil, kale and almond pesto
  • Layered with griddled vegetables
  • High in protein 
  • High in fibre
  • Boasts great gut-healthy ingredients
  • Naturally vegan and gluten-free

There is not much you cannot love about this Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich and it reminds me of ones you’d be able to buy in posh delis – but this one is a fraction of the price, easy to make and is much healthier and fresher! 

For this recipe, I have used the brand new and improved loaf from Schär which is part of their Wholesome Loaf range. You may remember I worked with their Vitality Loaf in January (on this moreish dessert recipe, Peanut Butter, Banana and Chocolate Bread and Butter Pudding) and I really loved the loaves then, but they are even better now. 

What I love about the Vitality loaf is that it is good for the gut*, it is high in fibre and a source of calcium. The taste is fresher, the texture is soft, really soft, and rivals the mainstream glutenous loaves that I’ve tried.

The Schär Vitality Loaf is made from natural ingredients without any preservatives, wheat or lactose. It’s easy enough today to find vegan bread OR to find gluten-free bread, but it’s not every day that you find both in one loaf. It’s made from quinoa, sorghum, chestnut flour and is baked with sourdough to make the most delicious loaf – perfect for carrying all the fillings for this Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich.

Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich

So, what goes into this epic summer sandwich? The best kale and almond pesto to start with! This is such a simple recipe but packs so much flavour and gut-healthy ingredients:

  • Almonds: dry fry these for a few minutes until smelling toasty to really emphasise the flavours.
  • Lemon juice: for a tang.
  • Olive oil: the better the quality of olive oil, the better the pesto.
  • Garlic: this adds a slight warmth and delicious garlic zing.
  • Fresh basil: fresh herbs are essential when making pesto. I am not too fussy and end up adding some of the stalks of the herbs in too, so no need to throw all the stalks away – just the bigger ones.
  • Kale: this also boasts great gut-healthy properties and adds an extra dose of greens to the pesto. It keeps the texture chunky, which is just how I like it for this Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich.
  • Nutritional yeast: while non-vegan pesto will use parmesan cheese, this one uses nutritional yeast for that cheesy savoury taste which is typical of all good pesto.

Simply blitz and blend all the ingredients for the pesto and then store in the fridge for a few days. It’s great for stirring into pasta, too, and spreading onto pizza.

Now, onto the rest of the fillings to go between our Schär Vitality Loaf. You can use any vegetables you have for this sandwich, but I kept it classic with aubergine and courgette. The same goes for the tofu: if you like tempeh you can use that too as they are both fermented foods and good for the gut!

  • Slice the vegetables and tofu into thin strips or rounds
  • Brush with olive oil
  • Either fry off in a griddle pan (or you could try the BBQ!)
  • Or, cook under the grill
  • Turn over once charred and cook the second side
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich

And now it’s onto the fun part: layering up this Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich. I start with a slice of the gluten-free and vegan Schär Vitality Loaf, spread it thick with Kale Almond Pesto, then goes on the fresh tomato and tofu. Add a few slices of courgette, aubergine and then a layer of salad leaves before sandwiching together with another slice of bread.

However you choose to stack your sandwich, you are in for a treat! I hope you will love this simple, vegan, gluten-free and wholesome recipe for a speedy summery sandwich that is great to grab and go. Pack it into your lunch box or for a picnic or enjoy at home with and extra spoon of pesto.

If you are looking for more ways to use the Schär Vitality Loaf, how about:

Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich (Vegan Gluten-Free)

  • Servings: 2-3
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

A vibrant, flavour-packed and gut-healthy sandwich that is naturally vegan and gluten-free and high in fibre. Layer up griddled aubergine, courgette and tofu with a delicious homemade kale and almond pesto and serve with fresh tomatoes and salad.

Ingredients

    For the Kale Almond Pesto:
  • 50g almonds
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 20g fresh basil
  • 20g kale, de-stemmed
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1-2 tbsp water
  • Salt and pepper
  • For the Vegetables and Tofu:
  • 300g tofu, in thin strips
  • 1 courgette, thinly sliced
  • 1 aubergine, in rounds
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • For the Sandwich:
  • 6 -8 slices Schär Vitality Loaf
  • Fresh salad leaves
  • 1 large tomato, sliced
  • Fresh basil
  • Sesame seeds

Directions

  1. Make the Kale Almond Pesto: add the almonds to a hot frying pan and dry fry for about 5 minutes, tossing occasionally until smelling toasty. Allow to cool for a few minutes. Add the lemon juice, olive oil and garlic to a blender/food processor and blend to break down the garlic. Now add the almonds, basil, kale, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper. Blitz to a chunky mix, adding water as needed for a thinner and smoother pesto. Keep in a sealed jar for 3-5 days.
  2. Prepare the vegetables and tofu and heat a griddle or frying pan. Brush one side of the vegetables and tofu and place down into the hot pan. Fry for a few minutes until charred, brush the top with olive oil and flip over to cook the second side. Work in batches to fry off all the vegetables and tofu. Or, brush with olive oil, place on a lined tray and grill under a high heat for 5-10 minutes or until charred, brush again with oil, flip over and cook the second side. Vegetables and tofu will last 2-3 days in an aright container in the fridge.
  3. Spread half of the bread slices with the pesto and layer with the salad leaves, fresh tomatoes, aubergine, courgette, and tofu. Sandwich together with the other bread and enjoy straight away. Wrap up any extras and store in the fridge to enjoy the next day.
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich
Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich

I look forward to hearing what you think of my Grilled Vegetable, Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich so please let me and Schär know in the comments below. If you make this sandwich for lunch or your next picnic, we’d love to see, so please tag us on social media!

With vitality sandwich love x

* Schär Vitality Loaf contains calcium, which contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes

  1. Chocoviv says:

    Definitely delicious

  2. Lyn says:

    YUUM! Looks and sounds amazing

  3. Definitely a winner my friend Amy! Looks super and can’t wait to try the above! Happy 😊 Wednesday and hope you/family are good? My dog 🐶 Ben says woofs to you all and to your cat Jessie. Splendid photography as always and saved to my Instagram saved collection for sure.

  4. Looks so vibrant like a rainbow 🌈☺️☺️

  5. WordPress saved collection

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