We all know that green veggies are good for you, but sometimes that kale or broccoli may not sound all that appetizing, though it does make your body feel spectacular. I saw these Green Goddess Sandwiches on The Bojon Gourmet recently and I instantly lit up because they’re so beautiful, and so GREEN. It was so simple, and eye-catching, I had to give it a shot!
The original sandwich calls for mayo and anchovies in the spread, and big, beautiful slabs of fresh mozzarella cheese which is all great, but I wanted to make a sandwich of the vegan variety – that is with no animal products at all.
I’m technically a “pescatarian” right now, therefore the only meat I will eat is fish. Cheese and eggs are okay too. Therefore, all of those aforementioned ingredients I’m ok with eating, but there’s nothing wrong with being exploratory every now and then, and seeing where plant-based ingredients will take you! Some of the vegan ingredients are likely unusual if you’re not used to them. The ones that I find especially relevant are nutritional yeast, and tahini paste. Let’s take a deeper look, shall we?
Nutritional Yeast
Nutritional yeast is a de-activated yeast that comes in the form of flakes, and can therefore be used as a cheesy flavored topping on popcorn or french fries, or in creamy, cheese-like sauces. Additionally, it’s a great source of protein with 9 grams per two tablespoons, and it also contains all 9 amino acids that the body cannot produce making it complete. You can find it at your nutritional stores, or online, but if you’re lucky, your local grocer will carry it.
Tahini Paste
It sounds like a paste from a tropical island, doesn’t it? If you’ve ever had hummus before, you’ve had tahini paste, as it’s an essential ingredient used in the making of the popular eastern Mediterranean dish. This paste is made of sesame seeds, and as a result, is absolutely delightful!
Green Goddess Sauce
Soaked cashews, a whole HEAD of roasted garlic, lemon juice, peas, fresh parsley, chives, in addition to the absolutely unique fresh tarragon make up the remainder of this Green Goddess Sauce. The tarragon is refreshing, and has a minty-like flavor that will have your sandwich recipients thinking you are indeed a goddess (which, let’s face it – YOU ARE)!
Eat Those Greens
Almost everything is green in this sandwich with the exception of the bread and the onions – even the tomatoes are green! This is a fun way to incorporate greens in your diet – it’s insanely tasty too! While summer persists, there really is no excuse to not make this sandwich. What I enjoy most of all, are the green zebra tomatoes which are not only beautiful, but the flavor is out-of-this-world. They’re even better than any normal red variety in my humble opinion!
Green Goddess Dressing History
What’s with all of this “Green Goddess” hooplah? Believe it or not, it all started when executive chef, Philip Roemer, of the Palace Hotel in San Francisco wanted to pay tribute to the actor George Arliss and his hit play, “Green Goddess”. While the original dressing consists of anchovies, scallions, parsley, tarragon, mayonnaise, tarragon vinegar, and chives, mine is obviously very different, but it still has that green hue, and is utterly delicious. Because it’s so good, you should make a double batch, and make sandwiches for everybody!
Goddess Love,
- For The Spread
- 1/2 Cup Raw Cashews, soaked for 4 hours
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Nutritional Yeast
- 2 Tablespoons Tahini Paste
- 1 Head Roasted Garlic
- 1 Cup Frozen Peas, defrosted
- 6 Fresh Tarragon Leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Chives, roughly chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley, roughly chopped
- For The Sandwich
- 8 Slices of good Sourdough Bread ( I used kalamata sourdough bread)
- 2 Persian or Mini Cucumbers, sliced lengthwise
- 1/2 of a White Onion, sliced into thin rings
- 2 Medium, Ripe Avocados, sliced
- 4 Leaves of Green Leaf Lettuce
- 3 Medium Green Zebra Tomatoes, sliced
- 1 Cup Pea Sprouts or other sprouts (like broccoli, alfalfa, radish, or kale)
- Place all of the ingredients for the spread in the food processor, or blender, and blend until smooth. It’s very important to soak the cashews for at least 4 hours before hand, as they plump with the water, and become more prone to break down easily in the food processor.
- Spread evenly over the 8 slices of bread, and build your sandwich starting with cucumbers, then onion, avocado, lettuce tomatoes, and pea shoots.
- Top with the other slice of bread, cut in half, and serve!
Gloriously green and loving it. Way to go!