Hot Brown Sandwich

I've seen so many wonderful sandwich posts lately, I decided to forget I'm poor and buy myself a loaf of $5 gluten free bread. I found this tofu at the asian market. (I think the label should read "thin sliced tofu" because the ingredients are only soybeans, water, salt, and pepper - not spicy!) When I found it, it reminded me of deli roast beef. I wasn't craving a roast beef sandwich, but it was something different to try. I hoped when I opened the package I would get long thin strips, so the plan was to make a panini. Yes, I was willing to pull out the George Foreman. But the slices were only about an inch square. I knew I wanted onion with it, so I grabbed a red onion, chopped it up, and sauteed it in the skillet. Then I threw in the tofu and some spices. When the onions were softened, I decided that mixture would just make a big mess in the Foreman, so I switched gears and opted for an open face sandwich.


I didn't want a roux type gravy, so I rinsed and drained a can of chickpeas and put them in the mini prep, added 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup nutritional yeast, 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon Bragg's -- sort of quickie Punk Rock Chickpea Gravy. I whizzed that all together, then added it to the skillet to get hot.


Meanwhile, I toasted an expensive slice of bread, and got a couple of slices of fresh tomato. When the bread was toasted, I put some of my fave broccoli slaw on it and a little fat free vinaigrette. Then I added the tomato, and topped it off with the tofu.

I enjoyed the sandwich. I toasted the bread pretty dark, so I could pick it up instead of using a fork. I would love to describe the texture and flavor, but it's really difficult. (I'm not into faux meat, although I love tofu and tempeh; can't have seitan.) The tofu is so thin I hardly noticed it. It had a chewy "meaty" texture, I guess. I think I mostly tasted the chickpeas and mustard.

Now, what to do with the leftovers.......