Smoked Tofu & Sauteed Zucchini Sandwich

This smoked tofu & sauteed zucchini sandwich is the new sandwich of the summer and the homemade pesto brings an incredible flavour. The tofu is marinated in olive oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika and garlic powder, then tossed in the air fryer or oven for 15-20 minutes. The homemade pesto is made in a few minutes with lots of fresh basil and kale, and makes the perfect sauce for this sandwich. And finally, it wouldn’t be a summer sandwich without some fresh tomatoes and arugula. Get the recipe below, and enjoy!

Prep time: 5-10 minutes

Cook time: 15-18 minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 150-200g extra-firm tofu
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 zucchini
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tomato
• Handful of fresh arugula
• Quick pickled onions (optional)
• Fresh bread

Homemade Pesto

• Large handful of fresh basil leaves
• 2 kale leaves
• 1-2 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1/2 lemon (or 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice)
• Pinch of salt
• Olive oil

Equipment

• Lined baking sheet
• Blender
• Frying pan (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F (skip if using air fryer or pan frying, see notes).
2. Thinly slice tofu into about 6-8 strips (3-4 per sandwich). To a shallow bowl, mix together 1 tbsp olive oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika and garlic powder. Add the tofu slices to a lined baking sheet, then brush the marinade over. Roast for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway.
3. While that’s roasting, slice your zucchini and mince garlic cloves. Sauté the zucchini with 1 tsp olive oil over low-medium heat for a few minutes before adding garlic cloves. Continue stirring frequently, then remove from heat once softened.
4. Prepare the pesto by adding basil, kale, garlic cloves, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt and olive oil. Add oil in small amounts until you get the desired consistency for the pesto.
5. Slice the tomato.
6. Add pesto to both sides of your bread slices. Load the sandwich with the tofu, tomato, sauteed zucchini, arugula and pickled onions.
7. For a crispy sandwich, fry both sides on medium heat with some plant-based butter or olive oil until crispy. Enjoy!

Notes

*If using an air fryer, I recommend air frying at 400F for about 15-18 minutes, flipping the tofu slices halfway.

*You could also pan fry the tofu in a non-stick pan.

*To make quick pickled onions, thinly slice red onion then add it to a shallow bowl and toss with lemon juice/vinegar and a pinch of salt.