Vegan Chopped Cheese
Vegan Chopped Cheese
Ingredients
For the Hemp Mayo Replacement
- 1/2 cup hemp seeds
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 key lime, juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon seasonings, of choice (e.g., garlic powder, onion powder, pinch of salt)
For the Ground Not-Beef Replacement
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup brown or green lentils, cooked
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, roughly chopped
- 2 cups water, for soaking
For the Chopped Cheese Filling
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon seasonings, of choice (e.g., smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper)
- 4 vegan American cheese slices
For Assembly
- 4 hero rolls
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, as needed
- 2 tablespoons ketchup or mustard, optional, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Hemp Mayo Replacement: Combine hemp seeds, melted coconut oil, water, key lime juice, and desired seasonings in a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Prepare the Ground Not-Beef Replacement: Place walnuts, cooked lentils, and chopped mushrooms in a bowl. Cover with 2 cups of water and let soak for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours. This helps soften the walnuts and infuse flavor.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Drain the soaked walnut, lentil, and mushroom mixture thoroughly. Transfer the drained ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles ground meat, being careful not to over-process into a paste. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Prepare Fresh Ingredients: Chop the green bell pepper, yellow onion, and mince the garlic cloves. Have your shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes ready for assembly.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Cook the Chopped Cheese Filling: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bell pepper, onion, and minced garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened and fragrant.
⏱️ 7 min
- 6
Add the processed ground not-beef mixture to the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, breaking up any clumps, until the mixture is heated through and slightly browned.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Season the mixture generously with your chosen seasonings (e.g., smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper). Stir well to combine and cook for another 1-2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Place the vegan American cheese slices directly on top of the hot ground not-beef mixture in the skillet. Allow them to melt slightly for about 30 seconds. Then, using a spatula or two, chop and mix the melted cheese into the ground mixture until it's fully incorporated and coats the 'meat' evenly.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Prepare the Hero Rolls: Slice each hero roll lengthwise, but not all the way through, to create a hinged bun. Carefully scoop out some of the soft interior bread from both halves of each roll to create more space for the filling.
⏱️ 5 min
- 10
Assemble the Vegan Chopped Cheese Sandwich: Spread a generous amount of the prepared hemp mayo replacement onto one side of each hollowed-out hero roll. Spoon a hearty portion of the hot, cheesy ground not-beef mixture onto the other side.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Top the filling with shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Season the lettuce and tomatoes with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Close the sandwich.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
Cut each assembled sandwich in half for easier handling and serving. Serve immediately, with ketchup or mustard on the side if desired.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Vegan Chopped Cheese
For the Hemp Mayo Replacement
- 1/2 cup hemp seeds
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 key lime, juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon seasonings, of choice (e.g., garlic powder, onion powder, pinch of salt)
For the Ground Not-Beef Replacement
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup brown or green lentils, cooked
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, roughly chopped
- 2 cups water, for soaking
For the Chopped Cheese Filling
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon seasonings, of choice (e.g., smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper)
- 4 vegan American cheese slices
For Assembly
- 4 hero rolls
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, as needed
- 2 tablespoons ketchup or mustard, optional, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Hemp Mayo Replacement: Combine hemp seeds, melted coconut oil, water, key lime juice, and desired seasonings in a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Prepare the Ground Not-Beef Replacement: Place walnuts, cooked lentils, and chopped mushrooms in a bowl. Cover with 2 cups of water and let soak for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours. This helps soften the walnuts and infuse flavor.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Drain the soaked walnut, lentil, and mushroom mixture thoroughly. Transfer the drained ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles ground meat, being careful not to over-process into a paste. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Prepare Fresh Ingredients: Chop the green bell pepper, yellow onion, and mince the garlic cloves. Have your shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes ready for assembly.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Cook the Chopped Cheese Filling: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bell pepper, onion, and minced garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened and fragrant.
⏱️ 7 min - 6
Add the processed ground not-beef mixture to the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, breaking up any clumps, until the mixture is heated through and slightly browned.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Season the mixture generously with your chosen seasonings (e.g., smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper). Stir well to combine and cook for another 1-2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Place the vegan American cheese slices directly on top of the hot ground not-beef mixture in the skillet. Allow them to melt slightly for about 30 seconds. Then, using a spatula or two, chop and mix the melted cheese into the ground mixture until it's fully incorporated and coats the 'meat' evenly.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Prepare the Hero Rolls: Slice each hero roll lengthwise, but not all the way through, to create a hinged bun. Carefully scoop out some of the soft interior bread from both halves of each roll to create more space for the filling.
⏱️ 5 min - 10
Assemble the Vegan Chopped Cheese Sandwich: Spread a generous amount of the prepared hemp mayo replacement onto one side of each hollowed-out hero roll. Spoon a hearty portion of the hot, cheesy ground not-beef mixture onto the other side.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Top the filling with shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Season the lettuce and tomatoes with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Close the sandwich.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
Cut each assembled sandwich in half for easier handling and serving. Serve immediately, with ketchup or mustard on the side if desired.
⏱️ 2 min