Vegetarian Pita Bread Sandwiches

Name: Vegetarian Pita Bread Sandwiches
Prep time: 14 min
Cook time: PTM
Total time: 14 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Healthy, Sandwiches
Ingredients: white or whole wheat pita breads; cup bean sprouts; carrot, peeled and julienned; orange bell pepper, seeded and diced; small broccoli florets, chopped; cauliflower florets, chopped; cup cherry tomatoes, halved; green onions, diced; red onion, thinly shaved; cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced; zucchini, diced; cup chopped fresh herbs like basil, mint, parsley, dill; cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated; cup creamy Italian dressing (see link to recipe in post)

Ingredients

2 white or whole wheat pita breads
For the salad:
1 cup bean sprouts
1 carrot, peeled and julienned
1 orange bell pepper, seeded and diced
4 small broccoli florets, chopped
3 cauliflower florets, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
3 green onions, diced
¼ red onion, thinly shaved
6 cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 zucchini, diced
¼ cup chopped fresh herbs like basil, mint, parsley, dill
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup creamy Italian dressing (see link to recipe in post)

Takes 14 Minutes, serves 4.

Instructions

Prepare dressing: See link to dressing recipe, ingredients and instructions in post.
Prepare vegetables: Rinse and clean all vegetables under cool water. Pat dry with paper towel. Prepare the vegetables as required to create bite-sized pieces. Transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle with chopped herbs then toss gently to combine.
Assemble vegetable mix: Sprinkle veggies and herbs with almost all of the cheese, reserving a small quantity back for garnish. Add about ½ cup of dressing or more or less to taste. Toss gently to combine.
Assemble sandwiches: Cut pita bread in half, gently pulling pockets open. Add a generous portion of the vegetable mixture then sprinkle with additional cheese and more dressing.
Serve immediately with potato chips on the side.

When the request is for something healthy, these VEGETARIAN PITA BREAD SANDWICHES sure do deliver!

Growing up in Windsor back in the day, I had the pleasure of working with Victor Bouzide, the respected food innovator and restaurateur. At the time, he had a hip and happening resto on Ouellette Avenue called J. Michael Bottoms. Known for its sky-lit space peppered with Victorian antiques and hanging plants, Bottoms was also regarded for its lively libations and live jazz performed by well-known musicians. Of course, it will always be remembered for its superior food offerings, one of which was the British Sterling sandwich. This VEGETARIAN PITA BREAD SANDWICH pays tribute to that hugely popular sandwich which guests ordered again and again – so good and so healthy too!

Here are some tips on making these delicious VEGETARIAN PITA BREAD SANDWICHES at home:

Assorted vegetables included in the sandwich such as peppers, green onions, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, cremini mushrooms, cauliflower, red onion, broccoli and bean sprouts.

FRESH VEGETABLES

The above photo shows the various fresh vegetables we gathered to craft this story. We love the combination of bean sprouts, cauliflower, sweet bell pepper, broccoli, cremini mushrooms, red onions, green onions, cherry tomatoes and zucchini. Here’s the pro tip for this recipe: when you make this vegetarian sandwich idea at home, use any of your favourite fresh, raw vegetables. Other veggies that work include celery, asparagus, snow peas, red pepper, sweet potato, beets, cucumbers, snap peas, sliced black olives, spinach and radishes. For best results, try to use organic veggies whenever possible; you will taste the difference.

Assorted fresh raw vegetables cut, chopped and sliced into bite-sized pieces.

HOW TO PREPARE THE VEGETABLES

Yes, there will be chopping, slicing and dicing. Follow our lead and use a vegetable mandoline or food processor to prepare your veggies. The goal on this is bite-sized pieces. As always, give all your vegetables a rinse under cool running water, then trim away the ends, seed and core as required. Seriously, the toughest part of this recipe is prepping the ingredients, but hey, always good to keep our knife skills en pointe.

LARGE SALAD BOWL

Once the vegetables are chopped, diced, julienned, sliced or shaved, simply transfer them to a large salad bowl. Remember, the look of the finished sandwiches is just as important as the combination of flavours and textures, so try to craft a rainbow of colours from reds and greens to yellows, whites, oranges and purples. That striking colour combination is important: the eyes always eat first.

SALAD SPRINKLES

And now, we interrupt this program for a bit of shameless self-promotion. Sorry, but when I’m chuffed about something so good, I just gotta share. Here’s the latest addition to WATC’s line of exceptional products, SALAD SPRINKLES. You heard it here first; a tablespoon of the stuff in this pouch is all you need to take the dressing for this recipe from simple to amazing. The great thing about this blend of dried herbs and seasoning is our continued commitment to provide all-natural, gluten-free products packed with flavour. This blend of oregano, dried basil, sumac, mint, rosemary and dried vegetables is perfect for any salad. Go HERE to order online or HERE to find a RETAIL PARTNER near you.

Creamy Mediterranean salad dressing presented in a pitcher.

CREAMY ITALIAN DRESSING

Don’t get me started on the amazingness of this salad dressing recipe. We went for broke to develop a dressing that’s easy to make and, you know us, mighty tasty too. This Italian dressing AKA MEDITERRANEAN SALAD DRESSING, is made with a good quality extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic and a tablespoon of our SALAD SPRINKLES. We then put a twist on that very basic vinaigrette by adding feta, Parmesan cheese and mayonnaise. Then it’s just a quick zip, add some salt and black pepper to taste, a titch of fresh lemon juice, and you have a creamy dressing like no other. This dressing is way more exciting than a swipe of hummus or a yogurt sauce. Once the dressing is ready, refrigerate it in an airtight container until used. Consume within a week, but seriously, it never lasts that long.

PITA BREAD

Hey, Nik! Can we make these sandwiches with white bread, brioche, French baguette, whole wheat tortillas or focaccia? Answer: NO! These are VEGETARIAN PITA BREAD SANDWICHES, after all. We specifically used pita bread because a) that’s how the sandwich was originally crafted at J. Michael Bottoms, and b) pita bread is low in calories. You won’t feel overly stuffed after eating one. Whether you use white pita bread or whole wheat pita bread as we did here, just make sure not to remove it from the packaging too soon. Wait to divide it in half until right before you assemble the sandwich. This will keep the pita bread soft and tender, preventing it from ripping or falling apart when you go to open each half.

FRESH HERBS

One of the tweaks we made to this idea for a vegetarian pita sandwich was to add fresh herbs in with the assorted vegetables. Feel free to use an assortment of fresh herbs like parsley, basil, mint, chives, dill, tarragon and cilantro. After chopping the fresh herbs, sprinkle them over the veggies, then gently toss everything together to combine.

VEGETARIAN SANDWICH COMPONENTS

Here is the photo of the five principal components needed to make VEGETARIAN PITA BREAD SANDWICHES. You’ll need the assorted vegetables, creamy Italian dressing, fresh herbs, pita bread and grated cheddar cheese. If cheddar isn’t a favourite, feel free to swap it with grated mozzarella, crumbled feta cheese, Havarti, Monterey Jack or grated Parmesan cheese.

The assorted veggies and fresh herbs tossed in a large bowl.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE

Assembling this pita sandwich is super easy. Add a generous sprinkle of cheese into the bowl with the vegetables and herbs, add some dressing, then gently toss. Then, cut the pita breads in half, gently pry them open to form a pocket, and fill them with the salad mixture. Final step is to sprinkle the tops of each stuffed pita pocket with more cheese and a drizzle of additional dressing.

ENJOY!

Sometimes we finish posts with suggestions on side dishes or a side salad that goes well with a main dish. In this case, our pairing is especially easy. Present these veggie pitas with a side of a favourite type of potato chip or crunchy corn chips. This simple meal idea needs little more. One thing we also do is have extra dressing on the side in case guests want a little more as they enjoy.

OTHER SANDWICH IDEAS

Before letting you go to make this recipe, a few additional suggestions for sandwiches that never disappoint. First on the list is our hugely popular, never-fail, OLD-SCHOOL SLOPPY JOES and this simple GRILLED PANINI. Our BACON GRILLED CHEESE is also a sure-fire hit, as is this classic CROQUE MONSIEUR, baked under a blanket of creamy MORNAY SAUCE. A favourite breakfast sandwich is this SMOKED SALMON CROISSANT, or for later in the day, a CLASSIC TURKEY AVOCADO CLUB SANDWICH. Sandwiches are always a solid idea whenever you’re entertaining guests.

PIN IT!

This classic sandwich idea is so wonderful, we suggest you PIN the recipe to a favourite sandwich, lunch, and vegetarian board on PINTEREST or BOOKMARK this tab for easy access. SHARE it with friends so they can make them too. We’d also appreciate seeing pics of all the delicious dishes you’re making these days. Use #weekendatthecottage when you post those pics on Facebook and Instagram. Thanks!

VEGETARIAN PITA BREAD SANDWICHES are a delicious and healthy treat!

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