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I have some non-negotiable requirements when it comes to eating certain foods. Fries must be crispy. Pasta must be aldente. Poached eggs must be gelled. There must be plenty of salt – on everything. Cheese must never come pre-shredded. Sandwiches mustn’t be dull.
Although there are rare exceptions to a few of these requirements – like caving and buying pre-shredded cheese when I photographed five different recipes in a day – there’s nothing I hate more than a boring sandwich with slimy pre-packaged deli meat and cheese.
Chicken salad? Love.
Turkey (freshly sliced) with bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo – classic.
Medium-rare roast beef with sharp cheddar – always!
Cheesy, gooey ham and cheese sliders – uh yeah!
Melty mozzarella with tomato and basil – in love.
There are so many different ways to take a sandwich from boring and monotonous to something exciting and delicious. For instance, today’s Grilled Veggie Sandwiches. These babies are anything but boring, and bursting with flavor from a tri-fecta of veggies, pillow-y focaccia bread, herbed cream cheese and pesto. As Monday’s post also was, these were part of the baby shower I helped throw my BFF Angie. I wanted all of the food to be approachable, yet interesting and with the growing amount of vegetarians around us, I also wanted a couple items that were completely meat-free.
While I do admit there are quite a bit of components to this sandwich, making it a touch more time-consuming to put together than the average sandy, the minimal (and I do mean minimal) extra effort is completely worth it – plus I take quite a bit of help from the grocery store…
Zucchini and squash are sliced lengthwise into about 1/8 to ¼ inch long planks, hit with a good dousing of olive oil, salt and pepper and then grilled until they’re pliable, and slightly charred and ready for sandwich building.
The base of the sandwich is a hearty, but light rosemary focaccia. I like the focaccia for obvious flavor reasons, but I also love that the entire sandwich can be built directly on the whole loaf of bread and sliced later. If you can’t find focaccia, any sturdy bread (like ciabatta) will do.
The bottom piece of the sandwich is slathered with an herbed cream cheese I quickly put together with some reduce-fat cream cheese and Penzey’s sandwich sprinkle. I’m assuming most of you don’t keep sandwich sprinkle in your pantry so you could also throw in a bit of dried dill, basil, garlic powder and salt – or whatever your spice preference is!
Next up, the layering of the vegetables. First – roasted red peppers (store-bought), grilled squash, followed by the grilled zucchini. The top layer of bread is slathered with pesto (again, store-bought), and the whole thing is smooshed together, wrapped in plastic and chilled for 30 minutes to an hour. Once you’re ready to serve, just pop those cute little food picks in the middle of each sandwich (a normal loaf of focaccia should make six, large sandwiches) and use a serrated knife to cut them into individual servings.
Sandwiches have never tasted better!
- 1 medium zucchini
- 1 medium squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 8 ounce jar of roasted red peppers
- 8 ounces light cream cheese, softened
- ½ teaspoon Penzey’s sandwich sprinkle or ¼ teaspoon dried dill, ¼ teaspoon dried basil, 1//8 teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup store-bought pesto
- 1 loaf of Focaccia
- Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Slice zucchini and squash, lengthwise into planks about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Toss in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Grill until slightly charred and pliable, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and spices. Season with salt and pepper.
- To assemble sandwiches. Slice the top of the focaccia. Spread herbed cream cheese on the bottom. Top with roasted red peppers, followed by squash and then zucchini. Slather the top half of the sandwich with pesto.
- Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
- Place six food picks evenly into the sandwich. Cut into six servings.
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
I’m a roasted red pepper fanatic – they are definitely a ‘must’ on my sandwiches. Love the herbed cream cheese on the bottom and pesto on the top. The more spreads the better!
Nicole says
Me too!! Why are they so delicious! And I love that they add hardly any fat or calories. Agree – the more spread the better! Thanks Alyssa!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
Oh man I would do anything for a sammie like this one. The thick hearty bread is definitely a plus.
Nicole says
Thanks so much Meagan!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
Five recipes in one day! You rocked it, girl! I would have downed at least three of these at the baby shower. That pillowy foccacia and herby cream cheese looks like heaven on a toothpick!!
And no, I don’t have sandwich sprinkle in my pantry but now I absolutely have to get some.
Nicole says
It.was.not.fun. Lol Hopefully I never have to do that again! Thanks Sarah!
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Oh, rosemary focaccia bread sandwich sounds delicious! I love the colors of these sandwiches. Plus, I think a fancy sandwich always tastes better than a plain ole’ store bought sliced meat and regular sandwich bread. Nice job!
Nicole says
That’s what I loved too Cindy, the colors, so pretty together! Thanks so much!
Michele says
Theses were so good,!!! Really loved them!! Very summery& pretty!!!
Nicole says
Thanks Mom!!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Ok you inspired me.. we need these sandwiches in our life! Totally loving that pesto too!
Nicole says
Thanks so much Pamela!
Tamara Coleman says
Holy cow these look incredible! Roasted red peppers, pesto, and foccacia YUM-O!
http://www.prettybitchescancooktoo.com
Nicole says
Thanks Tamara!!
Monet says
I agree. I take quite a lot of time when I make my sandwiches….and I have no doubt that I’d love this veggie one with that delicious cream cheese pesto!
Nicole says
Sandwiches can be quite remarkable, if you put a little bit of effor into them can’t they?? Thanks Monet!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
I LOVE this Nicole! I’ve made a similar sandwich with grilled veggies and aioli, but I really like the idea of chilling it first. And pesto is pesto, so, yeah. They look fabulous!
Nicole says
Haha pesto is pesto, yes! Thanks Karen!!! 🙂
Tina | Mademoiselle Gourmande says
I love this recipe! And I agree on your non-negotiable requirements entirely! Bring the salt… 🙂
Nicole says
Oh yes, the more salt the better! Thanks Tina!