Vegetarian Sandwiches by Paulette Mitchell
Sandwiches are easy to dismiss as a fallback lunch: bread, cheese, a few leaves and not much else. Paulette Mitchell’s Vegetarian Sandwiches: Fresh Fillings for Slices, Pockets, Wraps, and Rolls takes a more imaginative view. This 2000 cookbook treats the sandwich as a complete meal that can be portable, satisfying, colourful and worth making for guests.
What does the book actually offer?
Mitchell’s original book description promises 75 recipes. The examples alone make the range clear: Mexican Black-Bean Pitas, Pear Crostini and Eggplant Parmesan Poor Boys are very different answers to the question of what to put between slices of bread. The collection also includes accompaniments such as a tomato-carrot soup and potato salad with lemon vinaigrette.
Tofu, tempeh, vegetables, grains and cheese all offer routes to a filling. This is a vegetarian book, not necessarily a dairy-free or egg-free one, so vegan cooks should expect to check or adapt individual recipes.
How to build a better vegetarian sandwich
Think in layers rather than simply adding more vegetables. Start with a sturdy bread, pita or wrap. Next add a substantial ingredient: seasoned beans, baked tofu, grilled aubergine, a bean spread or cheese. Then add something with crunch, such as cucumber, slaw or lettuce. Finally, a sharp dressing, pickled vegetable or squeeze of lemon wakes everything up.
Texture matters just as much as flavour. Roasted vegetables taste excellent but can make bread soggy when packed while hot. Let them cool appropriately, drain wet toppings and pack juicy tomato slices separately if lunch will be eaten hours later.
Food safety for packed lunches
Sandwiches filled with perishable ingredients need temperature control. The USDA guidance on bag lunches recommends an insulated bag and cold sources for perishable lunches. Food should generally not be left at room temperature for more than two hours, or more than one hour in very hot conditions. A sandwich is convenient, but its filling still deserves the same food-safety care as other meals.
Is the original still worth seeking out?
Yes, particularly if you enjoy lunchbox cooking or informal entertaining. The paperback is easy to identify by ISBN 9780811825016, and pre-owned copies are offered by booksellers. A listing does not establish that a new printing is available, so check the condition and price.
Book: Vegetarian Sandwiches: Fresh Fillings for Slices, Pockets, Wraps, and Rolls by Paulette Mitchell
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