Tofu Lettuce Tomato Sandwich, a New Vegan Cookbook & a Giveaway
There are some really good vegan cookbooks being published these days. What a relief. I remember the days when you were lucky to get a dry as dust burger when you were out. Now there’s all to play for. Award winning vegan street food pioneers David & Charlotte Bailey ‘s book: Fresh Vegan Kitchen, is one of the good ones. Their TLT or tofu lettuce tomato sandwich has completely won me over to the wonders of smoked tofu. I have a copy to giveaway for one lucky reader. You’ll find details near the end of the post.
Fresh Vegan Kitchen
Fresh Vegan Kitchen: delicious recipes for the vegan & raw kitchen by the founders of Wholefood Heaven, David & Charlotte Bailey, is out in paperback this month. It contains over 100 interesting and tasty wholefood recipes from around the world, including raw and gluten-free ones. Some of them are familiar favourites and some I’ve never come across before.
The book starts off with a couple of pages on the health benefits of raw food and some vegan cooking tips. The action kicks off quite quickly with a chapter on Breakfasts. I do love breakfast and if I had a life of leisure, it would be my favourite meal of the day. As it happens I’m usually dashing around too much to enjoy it. The very first recipe is this tofu lettuce tomato sandwich, which is more concisely named TLT sandwich in the book. This is followed by recipes for g’raw’nola (raw granola), black rice pudding, eggy bread and more.
Other chapters are as follows: Soups, Small plates & street food, Salads, Curries & mains, Sides & dips, Desserts, Pickles, spreads & treats and Drinks & smoothies. David & Charlotte are keen to ensure that their recipes, whilst delicious, are also healthy. Even the sweet recipes are mostly ‘sugar free’. Borage and blueberry snow cones are made with rice syrup, raw chocolate brownies are made with dates and the silken tofu chocolate mousse with maple syrup. The sugar recipes do look good though: poached pears with vanilla cashew cream, peanut and black sesame sweet dumplings and churros with dark chocolate dipping sauce – sigh!
What I particularly liked about the book
If this tofu lettuce tomato sandwich recipe is anything to go by, we’re all in for a fabulous treat.
The global nature of the recipes really appeals to me. I’m always keen to try vegetarian food from other cultures; they often have a long history of vegan or vegetarian eating and have much to teach us. I’m particularly keen to try making the gyoza dumplings with black vinegar dipping sauce, the ba0 zi steamed buns and Vietnamese summer rolls. As well as food from the Far East, there are plenty of Indian, Mexican and Middle Eastern dishes as well as a few from Europe such as farinata, arancini and caesar salad.
The mix of cooked and raw recipes is a nice one. I’m rather wedded to my cooked food, but I do try and get something raw in each day and this book provides a few more ideas. Raw pad thai is calling to me with its Asian flavours and sweet and sour sauce, as is sunomono, a cool and crisp cucumber salad with seaweed. I was interested to note a recipe for raw borsht. I’d come up with something similar a couple of months ago when trying to use up the beets from my beet kvass. Great minds think alike, obviously!
What I think could be improved on
My main quibble with this book is that it’s in paperback. I can see this being a keeper, which means I shall have a hard time stopping it from falling apart. I do try and look after my books, but it’s hard to keep a well used cookbook in good condition at the best of times and softbacks can be a touch too fragile.
There are a few ingredients that probably aren’t that easy to get hold of, such as probiotic powder to make coconut yogurt and raw nut cheese, but most are easily available.
Publisher Details
Fresh Vegan Kitchen: delicious recipes for the vegan and raw kitchen / David & Charlotte Bailey. Published by Pavilion Books in paperback with an RRP of £12.99. ISBN – 9781911624073
Tofu Lettuce Tomato Sandwich
The secret to this most delicious tofu lettuce tomato sandwich is the smoked tofu. I’d never actually eaten smoked tofu before trying out this recipe. I say recipe, but it’s really an assembly job. Now I’m a convert. Fry it up and you have something that almost, dare I say it, resembles bacon. It’s also easy to buy now and is available in supermarkets as well as health food shops.
As per usual, I didn’t quite follow the recipe as given below. I went a little lighter on the coconut oil and used a teaspoon rather than a tablespoon to fry the smoked tofu in. It produced a delicious crispy result despite the reduced amount. I went a little easier on the mayonnaise too. I also swapped the sauerkraut for some carrot pickles and kohlrabi pickles as that’s what I had to hand. But I reckon a good sauerkraut would be fantastic and I really ought to get back into making it again. The book gives a recipe for this, of course.
So, I sandwiched the crispy smoked tofu in some crusty wholemeal bread along with mayonnaise, mustard, crunchy romaine lettuce, ripe tomatoes, carrot pickles and homegrown parsley. The authors describe this tofu lettuce tomato sandwich as a great brunch for lazy mornings. I made two large ones for lunch, one for CT and one for me and it was one of the best lunches we’d had in a while.
Tofu Lettuce Tomato Sandwich – The Recipe
- 1 tbsp coconut oil or cooking oil of your choice
- 100 g ⅓ block smoked tofu - thinly sliced
- 2 thick slices of bread
- 1 tbsp vegan mayonnaise
- 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
- 2-3 leaves romaine lettuce - washed & shredded
- 2 tbsp sauerkraut
- 1 plum tomato - thinly sliced
- few sprigs flat-leaf parsley
- salt and pepper
- Heat the coconut oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the tofu and fry for a few minutes on each side until crisp.
- Lightly toast the bread and spread the mayonnaise on one pice and the mustard on the other.
- Put the lettuce on top of the mayonnaise, followed by the sauerkraut, tomato parsley and finally the tofu. Season with salt and pepper to taste and close the sandwich with the other slice of bread. Slice in half and enjoy.
Other Vegan Sandwich Recipes You Might Like To Try
- Chickpea mayonnaise salad sandwich (gf) via Rhian’s Recipes
- Falafel & apple salad sandwich via Tinned Tomatoes
- Pulled jackfruit in a bun via Tin and Thyme
- Rainbow sandwich with air fried vegetables via Planet Veggie
- Spiced chickpea & carrot sandwich via Tinned Tomatoes
- Vegan tuna mayo sandwich via Veggie Desserts
- White bean & artichoke vegan sandwich via A Virtual Vegan
Don’t Miss Out
If you make this tofu lettuce tomato sandwich recipe I’d love to hear about it or see a photo. For more nutritious and delicious recipes, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Link-ups
I’m sharing this tofu lettuce tomato sandwich with #CookBlogShare, hosted this week by Monica over at Everyday Healthy Recipes.
Tofu Lettuce Tomato Sandwich. PIN IT.
Fresh Vegan Kitchen Giveaway
Fresh Vegan Kitchen
I was sent a copy of Fresh Vegan Kitchen to review. I was not expected to write a positive review and all opinions are, as always, my own. Thanks to my readers for supporting the brands and organisations that help to keep Tin and Thyme blythe and blogging.
Tracy Nixon
20th July 2018 at 4:35 pmI enjoy Winter Squash Lentil Stew because it is filling and warming during the colder months.
Choclette
20th July 2018 at 5:02 pmYou’re almost making me wish it was winter Tracy.
Laura
7th August 2018 at 6:26 pmLooks so tasty, can’t wait to have a go at these
Choclette
7th August 2018 at 9:02 pmSmoked tofu is quite a revelation – to me at least 🙂
Susan B
20th July 2018 at 4:56 pmCashew nut stir fry is my favourite vegan recipe as it is super quick, nutritious and I can use whatever vegetables I have in the fridge.
Choclette
20th July 2018 at 5:01 pmSounds perfect. I’m all for dishes you can use whatever you have in the kitchen.
Maxine G
20th July 2018 at 5:45 pmCaponata, a delicious aubergine stew from Sicily, made with olives and capers – a really tasty bowl of the Mediterranean!
Choclette
25th July 2018 at 6:01 pmOoh, I don’t think I’ve tried caponata. It sounds delicious.
angiesrecipes
20th July 2018 at 6:31 pmwow I want this sandwich! Those tofu slices look so crisp and great.
Choclette
20th July 2018 at 8:39 pmSmoked tofu is a revelation Angie. All you have to do, pretty much, is slice and fry.
Kim Murray
20th July 2018 at 6:43 pmLike Chickpea curry – easy to make and I always have ingredients to hand and then just throw in extra veggies x
Choclette
20th July 2018 at 8:40 pmChickpeas are brilliant for those sort of curries. Tasty too.
Solange
20th July 2018 at 7:51 pmRoasted aubergine because it’s easy to make and tastes really good.
Choclette
20th July 2018 at 8:40 pmI’m a recent convert to aubergine, but now I love it.
johanna @ green gourmet giraffe
21st July 2018 at 6:10 amThis looks delicious – I love this sort of sandwich esp if the tofu is really crispy. I buy smoked tofu occasionally – I think my favourite way I have used it is with a mustard and honey marinade.
Choclette
21st July 2018 at 11:26 amThe tofu was really crispy. Seems to be much easier to achieve this with smoked rather than ordinary tofu. Your marinade suggestion sounds like I need to try it.
Wise Ways
21st July 2018 at 9:09 amI don’t have one but am reading the replies for ideas
Choclette
21st July 2018 at 11:27 amHahaha, sounds like you need this book. Good luck.
Donna Loxton
21st July 2018 at 9:28 amSweet potato and pea curry because it tastes so nice
Choclette
21st July 2018 at 11:28 amOoh, that sounds delicious. I do love a good curry, but have never tried that combination.
Jane Willis
21st July 2018 at 10:15 amButternut squash and sage risotto – I love the creamy texture, and I add chilli for a touch of kick. It’s going to be better than ever soon because at last we have some successful squashes in the garden approaching readiness.
Choclette
21st July 2018 at 11:29 amOh lovely. Thats one of my favourites too. We didn’t get our garden in order early enough this year to plant squashes, so I’m super envious. Homegrown usually so much better.
Kim Styles
21st July 2018 at 3:49 pmspiced chickpea and tomato stuffed peppers – my friend makes these and they are amazing- lots of herbs and spices involved -its scrummy
Choclette
22nd July 2018 at 1:41 pmOh yes, that does sound good. I make stuffed peppers occasionally, but I’ve not tried them with chickpeas – yet!
Ritchie
21st July 2018 at 8:44 pmMy favourite vegan recipe is Puffy Pillow Pancakes from the Isa Does It cookbook – a delicious start to the day
Choclette
22nd July 2018 at 1:39 pmWhat a fabulous name. I’m dreaming of super puffy pancakes now.
A.E. ADKINS
21st July 2018 at 9:30 pmEither spinach curry or homemade sweet potato ~& red pepper soup. Both are fab
Choclette
22nd July 2018 at 1:38 pmI particularly like the idea of your sweet potato & red pepper soup. I bet the colour is glorious.
Hayley Lynch
22nd July 2018 at 7:52 amVegetable rissoto you can change veg to seasonal taste .Lovely cold and chilled in Summer but hot in Winter
Choclette
25th July 2018 at 6:02 pmYes, risotto is incredibly versatile and you’ve reminded me I haven’t made any in far too long.
ROBERT MCINTOSH
22nd July 2018 at 9:03 amI love playing about with dahl recipes, adjusting the spices and adding different vegetables
Choclette
22nd July 2018 at 1:38 pmDhal is probably my all time favourite. So easy, so delicious and so comforting.
iain maciver
22nd July 2018 at 12:55 pmyes this book would be a perfect start as I don’t really have a recipe to get me started
Rebecca Brown
22nd July 2018 at 1:03 pmI love cashew nut based vegan cheesecakes with blueberry topping – yum!
Choclette
22nd July 2018 at 1:37 pmI have yet to try making a vegan cheesecake, but I absolutely must get around to it. They always look so good.
Richard Eldred Hawes
22nd July 2018 at 1:50 pmSpiced Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup, easy to make and very tasty
Choclette
25th July 2018 at 6:03 pmA bright orange soup is always a winner with me.
Kayleigh Butler
22nd July 2018 at 2:39 pmMy favourite vegan recipe is macaroni cheese as it was my favourite meal when I was a vegetarian, although I’ve tried so many and still searching for the one that blows me away!
Choclette
23rd July 2018 at 9:35 amAh yes, macaroni cheese. It’s perfect comfort food. Good luck with your search.
pete c
22nd July 2018 at 3:02 pmfavourite is always just a simple baked potato with coleslaw and salad
Choclette
25th July 2018 at 6:04 pmBaked potatoes are fantastic. Simple and so delicious.
Ruth Harwood
23rd July 2018 at 9:23 amSpaghetti Carbonara without the ham/bacon! I know, but I add some Curry powder and some herbs as well as what I can chop that would go well and is in my fridge, all tastes divine!!
Choclette
25th July 2018 at 6:05 pmThat does sound interesting Ruth, a curried carbonara.
Dale Dow
23rd July 2018 at 11:46 amI tried a recip from Good Housekeeping once, Split Pea Pesto Stuffed Shells
, it is absolutely declicious!
Choclette
25th July 2018 at 5:58 pmOoh that sounds good. I can’t get enough of pesto at the moment and pea pests sounds ace.
Amanda Baggott
23rd July 2018 at 12:52 pmI love roasted mushrooms and peppers
Choclette
25th July 2018 at 5:56 pmMushrooms are just fabulous. I’ve not tried roasting them with peppers though.
Susan Chafer
23rd July 2018 at 2:01 pmVegetable casserole with Indian spices. I love spicy food.
Choclette
25th July 2018 at 5:56 pmYou’ve come to the right place then Susan. You’ll find many of my savoury recipes are spiced ones.
Emma C
24th July 2018 at 10:13 pmChickpea and spinach curry with broccoli rice – tastes so good!
Choclette
25th July 2018 at 5:53 pmOoh, I like the idea of broccoli rice Emma.
jo liddement
26th July 2018 at 7:08 pmI love making vegetable pilaf which is packed with the veggies that i grow on my allotment.
Choclette
27th July 2018 at 3:30 pmMmmm, nothing better than just picked homegrown veg.
Jay Gordon
26th July 2018 at 9:02 pmSweet potato quesadillas
Danielle Spencer
26th July 2018 at 9:37 pmI made some fab vegan browines, they were gorgeous! I loved it because they were chocolate brownies.
ADEINNE TONNER
27th July 2018 at 1:57 pmMy favourite vegan recipe has to be vegan chocolate cake honestly i’m addicted to eating it as it tastes so good!
Choclette
27th July 2018 at 3:29 pmHahaha, that’s cheating Adenine. Who doesn’t love chocolate cake?
Amy Moore
29th July 2018 at 9:03 pmI love a pumpkin coconut curry on an autumnal night
Choclette
30th July 2018 at 6:51 pmNow that is one of my absolute favourites Amy. Mind you I do have rather a lot of favourites 😉
Gina M
29th July 2018 at 9:45 pmI love a vegetable tagine with couscous. So delicious and filling and always brings back great memories.
Choclette
30th July 2018 at 6:53 pmYes, I too have good memories of a vegetable tagine with couscous. Keep meaning to make my own.
Dean T
3rd August 2018 at 3:53 pmI love a traditional greek recipe called gigante plakis which is a broad bean and olive oil casserole, delish with crusty bread
Choclette
4th August 2018 at 1:34 pmThis has been on my list to try for ages. It sounds delicious.
Keri Jones
5th August 2018 at 4:49 pmI don’t think I’ve ever eaten Vegan but I have vegan friends & family who I would love to cook for xx
Choclette
6th August 2018 at 5:19 pmOh you’re missing a treat. Vegan dishes can be absolutely delicious Keri.
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
6th August 2018 at 5:20 pmThis looks so yummy, I love how crsipy the tofu looks
Choclette
7th August 2018 at 9:06 pmSmoked tofu seems to crisp up much more easily than the classic variety. Tastes good too.
Melissa Lee
7th August 2018 at 5:29 pmI love falafel burgers with a vegan coleslaw side and sweet potato fries
Choclette
7th August 2018 at 9:05 pmThat sounds like my kind of meal Melissa. All of those are firm favourites.
SarahP
8th August 2018 at 5:02 pmMy favourite recipe is Mushroom Surprise Pies, which always have mushrooms, soy sauce and chilli in them but can contain a wide variety of other ingredients (rice, vegetables, quinoa etc) depending on what I have in the cupboard.
Choclette
8th August 2018 at 5:37 pmWhat a fabulous way of naming a recipe you’re never quite sure how it’s going to turn out. Sounds delicious.
francesco caselli
8th August 2018 at 8:52 pmThank you for sharing this delicious recipe! i love it
Lynn Neal
9th August 2018 at 9:20 pmVegetable curry because I can adjust the ingredients to whatever is in season and make a hot and tasty dish!
Margaret Gallagher
11th August 2018 at 6:17 pmMy summer burger – fresh vegetables and herbs from my home grown supply – coated in crispy fried onions – great for BBQS or a teatime quick tea
Choclette
12th August 2018 at 4:36 pmThese sound delicious. Anything homegrown gets extra brownie points from me 😉 Adore crispy fried onions too.
Sue Watson
12th August 2018 at 8:57 pmI love Thai style hot and sour soup with seitan or marinated tofu – or anything with lentils in.
Choclette
13th August 2018 at 8:07 amI don’t think I’ve ever had Thai style soup before. I think that needs to be remedied.
Sue Bielewicz
13th August 2018 at 6:36 pmSpicy black bean soup, thick, rich and tasty. Perfect on an autumn evening
Jo
14th August 2018 at 2:38 pmBaked Falafel with Beetroot hummus. Delicious
Choclette
15th August 2018 at 2:06 pmFalafel is always a winner. Must try it with beetroot hummus some time.
Abi Birch
15th August 2018 at 8:09 amThese look amazing! I’d love to own a vegan cookbook so I can impress my mum when she comes for dinner!
Choclette
15th August 2018 at 2:08 pmImpressing one’s mum is always something to aim for 😉
Jacqueline Meldrum
15th August 2018 at 11:36 amThat looks amazing Choclette. I love a good sandwich and know I would love this one. Thanks for linking to me. Sharing!
Choclette
15th August 2018 at 2:09 pmYes, you are the queen of sandwiches Jac. Yours always looks mouthwatering.
Tina H
15th August 2018 at 6:28 pmI love Chana Dahl because Indian food is my favourite and so much of it happens to be vegan. Win win.
Choclette
16th August 2018 at 3:04 pmYes a lot of Asian food is just brilliant for being naturally vegan and so tasty too.
Carole Nott
15th August 2018 at 8:28 pmThe TLT sandwich looks so good – i usually stick to tried and trusted recipes like veg lasagne
Choclette
16th August 2018 at 3:05 pmI suspect most of us stick to the tried and tested, which is why it’s good to have books like this to get us out of our comfort zone and give us alternative ideas.
Jill Ashton
16th August 2018 at 9:20 amI am progressing from vegetarian to vegan and this book would help a lot!
Choclette
16th August 2018 at 3:03 pmWell done Jill. It’s quite a big step to take.
astrid c
17th August 2018 at 6:29 amcheeseless mac and cheese using butternut squash instead of cheese blooming lush x
Choclette
17th August 2018 at 3:21 pmOoh, that sounds scrumptious. Will have to give it a whirl.
Charmaine Dance
17th August 2018 at 7:14 pmChickpea curry definitely
Rai
18th August 2018 at 10:06 amThick, spicy stew with loads of root veg, pulses and pearl barley – and of course dumplings!
sheri Darby
18th August 2018 at 4:27 pmThe aubergine and potato curry that my son makes, it is delicious
Victoria Prince
18th August 2018 at 4:40 pmMine is a vegetable stir fry 🙂 because I can vary it depending on what I have in the fridge and it’s so easy to throw together!
Mandy Betts
18th August 2018 at 5:23 pmMary Berry’s spaghetti with courgette, chilli and sun dried tomatoes. Absolutely delicious.
Vicki Nicholls
18th August 2018 at 5:42 pmI love Thug Kitchen’s Lemony Lentil Soup recipe – warming, filling but super easy and tasty.
Sheila Reeves @cakereev
19th August 2018 at 7:01 pmHummus Pasta by Bosh – it’s so easy and something really different for pasta
Kirsty Jackson
19th August 2018 at 9:44 pmAs the only vegan in my house, these recipes look amazing for helping my friends and family reduce their meat intake and maybe even convert!!!
maria
19th August 2018 at 10:40 pmmushroom quinoa burgers are the best they taste amazing!
Ruth Wollerton
19th August 2018 at 11:59 pmI love roasted vegetable kebabs with melted mozzarella and caramalised onions
Theresa Thomas
20th August 2018 at 12:05 amI love Chickpea curry . I don’t think I’ve tried caponata. It sounds delicious.
Lucy Chester
20th August 2018 at 10:22 amI use chickpeas a lot in stews and curries and chickpea with mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach is my favourite.
Shannon Mostert
20th August 2018 at 10:37 amMy friend made a vegan lasagne which was absolutely delicious, thoroughly enjoyed it.
paula cheadle
20th August 2018 at 10:42 amI love doing a veg stew, I put chickpeas and lentils (different types) to bulk out the stew to make it more filling
Diane Pithers
20th August 2018 at 11:03 amCurrent fave is chickpea sweet potato, spinach and coconut curry…..real comfort food
Choclette
20th August 2018 at 2:03 pmNow that sounds gorgeous. My sort of food.
Danielle Dudley
20th August 2018 at 11:58 amWhat a give away! Love this and would love to try the recipes
Hayley Todd
20th August 2018 at 6:54 pmMyself and one of my daughters are long-term vegetarians, myself for 30 years and my daughter for 10. My husband and other daughter regularly enjoy vegetarian main courses with us. My daughter and I have recently become vegan, and are newly discovering delicious and nutritious meals. Our current favourite is grilled pumpkin & black bean burgers, served on vegan rolls, and filled with delicious toppings such as roasted tomato, lettuce and dill pickle (kosher as this is vegan). We love it, as it is a quick and easy meal to make at the weekend, and is the perfect relaxed t.v meal for a Saturday movie night.
Deborah Clarke
20th August 2018 at 8:10 pmMine has to be a sweet potato spinach and chick pea curry ! The reason being when my step sons first came to live with me in their early teens . They’d only eat chicken nuggets and take aways as that’s what they had always been fed. My veg curry was the first time they are a full healthy veggie meal . They ain’t looked back…
Choclette
21st August 2018 at 7:56 amThat’s fantastic Deborah. You’re obviously an excellent and persuasive cook.
Adrian Bold
20th August 2018 at 8:17 pmCurried Coconut Quinoa and Greens with Roasted Cauliflower. Delicious and so full of flavor! The coconut milk in the quinoa is divine.
Maureen Millward
20th August 2018 at 8:55 pmI like to eat vegan sandwiches as a snack with humous, brown bread, red onion, tomatoes and cucumbers. It’ a delicious, healthy snack!
Ashley Murray
20th August 2018 at 9:03 pmI love no-meat mince n tatties! I make red lentils with peas, carrots and mushrooms and make either sweet potato mash or white potato and parsnip mash!
kim d
20th August 2018 at 9:23 pmWe love vegetable curries with rice, vegetable chilli with lentils instead of mince and stir fry with tofu. All of these are part of our usual meal plans so we are eating meat free on many occasions which is healthier and cheaper but not lacking in taste.
Lucy Beckett
20th August 2018 at 9:32 pmTofu! All the tofu!!
Fiona jk42
20th August 2018 at 9:33 pmI like to make a vegetable and tofu stir fry with spring onions, chinese leaf and whatever other vegetables are to hand. I often used dried tofu whuch I rehydrate with boiling water and some soy sauce. It has a really chewy texture which you don’t get from many vegan foods.
stephanie
20th August 2018 at 10:32 pmvegetable stir fry
Natalie Crossan
20th August 2018 at 10:43 pmI make vegetable stir fry and just mix up the veggies we use every time and lots and lots of garlic and soy!