hummus and artichoke veggie sandwiches.

INGREDIENTS:

4 ciabatta rolls

1/2 cup hummus

1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, halved or quartered

1 small cucumber, sliced

1 avocado, sliced

6 ounces crumbled feta

2 cups spinach

RECIPE:

1. Spread 2 tablespoons hummus on the bottom ciabatta bun.

2. Lay 3-4 artichoke halves flat onto the hummus.*

3. Add 4-5 cucumber slices on top of artichoke hearts.

4. Add 3-4 (about 1/4 avocado) avocado slices to the cucumber. Press flat, slightly smashing the avocado.*

5. Sprinkle with feta cheese.

6. Pack 1/2 cup spinach on top of the sandwich, then add the top bun.

7. Spear with a toothpick or wrap in parchment to serve.

NOTES:

You can also roughly chop the artichokes, which helps the sandwich lay flatter.

You can also use a fork to smash the avocado, helping the sandwich to lay flatter.

Two things are true about me:

1. I’m not much of a cold sandwich person, and

2. I do not particularly care for uncooked vegetables.

So this sandwich was a challenge I’d given myself. Can raw veggies be great? And further, can they make a great sandwich?

This recipe is extremely simple by design: It’s meant for busy days and full schedules. It’s a sandwich you can pull together quickly and eat on-the-go without feeling bad about yourself or your diet. Like anybody, I love a warm meatball hoagie or a trillion-layered Italian sub, but neither are lunches I can eat everyday. This sandwich, though? This is a daily.

The hummus is creamy, the artichokes buttery, the cucumbers crunchy, and the avocado smooth. Each layer presents a new texture and flavor that complements the last. The bread ties it together in a way that elevates it from “okay salad” to “interesting lunch”. It almost fools you into believing you aren’t just eating a bunch of veggies.

This sandwich is also meant to be a baseboard for you to jump off of. If you like meat, cheese, or any vegetables not included, add them. I promise they will work here. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Add green goddess dressing (a friend actually named this the Green Goddess Sandwich, but I decided against using that officially, since it didn’t actually have green goddess anything)

• More cheese.. mozzarella, halloumi, or cheddar are good options

• Add bell pepper or roasted red pepper

• Add tomatoes

• Swap the hummus for mayonnaise or chipotle mayonnaise

• Swap the spinach for kale or lettuce

• Add sliced turkey or roast beef

• Add pulled chicken or pork

Or just eat it as-is. I highly recommend a sturdy, crusty bread — if not ciabatta, then a baguette or something similar. I’ve tried this with white bread and focaccia, and while equally as delicious, the bread falls apart quickly under the moist veg. For a lower-carb option, try a lavash flatbread or a wrap.

Enjoy.
Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes

Building the sandwich. Break the spine of the hearts to lay them flat.

Nestle everything in and press flat as you go. This will make the sandwich easier to eat.

I highly recommend serving with parchment wrapping to keep all the slippery parts from slipping out.

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