Types of vegetarian sandwiches include sandwiches based on cheese, eggs, and vegetables. Some vegetarian sandwiches use beans or tofu as egg or cheese replacements. Others may use vegetarian deli meat, which is usually made from soy beans or wheat gluten and designed to imitate the texture and taste of slices of deli meat such as ham or turkey. The sandwiches can be served on slices of bread or rolls or wrapped in tortillas.
Vegetarian sandwiches may have cheese as their primary ingredient. A popular sandwich with people who follow a vegetarian diet and with people who eat meat is grilled cheese. The cheese used can be mozzarella, cheddar, or any cheese that melts well. Some people also add vegetables such as sliced tomato or onions to their grilled cheese sandwiches.
Egg salad is another common vegetarian sandwich. Usually, egg salad is made of hard-boiled eggs that are crumbled or chopped and mixed with mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. People who are vegetarians but do not eat eggs can make egg salad–style vegetarian sandwiches using smashed chickpeas or crumbled, firm tofu.
Vegetables can also play a starring role in vegetarian sandwiches. Some people prefer to pile raw vegetables, such as lettuce, sliced cucumber, and tomatoes, on a roll or between two slices of bread, while others may eat roasted vegetable sandwiches. Cheese is an optional addition to vegetable-based sandwiches.
Falafels, fritters made from chickpeas and spices, can make for another type of vegetarian sandwich. Usually, the fritters are stuffed into pita bread with chopped vegetables and a sauce made from tahini, or sesame seed paste. Another sandwich where chickpeas play a main role is a hummus club or hummus on pita bread. The hummus, a spread made from chickpeas and tahini, is used in place of mayonnaise.
Some vegetarian sandwiches mimic meat-based sandwiches. Cheese steak sandwiches may use seitan or tempeh in place of steak, for example. Vegetarians can also enjoy a version of the BLT made with either soy bacon or tempeh marinated in a smoky sauce.
Vegetarian deli meat can also be used in a sandwich. Thin slices of vegetarian meat made from soy or seitan can be piled between slices of rye or pumpernickel bread and topped with sauerkraut to make a vegetarian version of the Reuben, for example. A vegetarian turkey club can be made by stacking veggie slices with veggie bacon, tomato, and lettuce on slices of white bread.