Thanksgiving Cranberry Dream Sandwich
The best of fall and winter holiday meals and gatherings jammed between two sides of a whole food plant based bun
Equipment
- 1 Spice / Coffee Grinder or other blender/mixer/processor
- 1 Pot
- 1 Seasoned Steel or Cast Iron Pan optional
Ingredients
STUFFING SPICED BUNS
- ¼ cup flax seeds milled
- 3/4 cup oats ground, flour
- 1 tsp parsley flakes dried
- 1 tsp garlic powder granulated
- ⅛ tsp rosemary dried
- ¹/16 tsp sage ground
- 1.5 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tbsp cup carbonated if possible (or ¼+ tsp of baking soda)
BUN TOPPINGS (optional)
- ½ tsp sesame seeds mixed black & white
- ¼ tsp dehydrated onions or other toppings you like
MASHED POTATO MAYO
- 1 cup mashed potatoes cold, pre-cooked
- ½ tbsp tahini
- 3 tbsp oats ground, flour
- ½ tsp garlic powder granulated
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp nutritional yeast
- ⅛ tsp mustard powder ground
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 2 tbsp water as needed
- ⅛ tsp dill dried optional, for mashed potato salad mayo
- 2 tbsp green onion optional
CRANBERRY JAM
- ½ cup cranberries frozen or fresh
- ½ cup of berries blueberries or something to add sweetness
- 1 tbsp lemon juice optional
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ¼ tsp of cinnamon
- ¹/16 tsp nutmeg
- ¹/16 tsp allspice
LENTIL DELI TURKEY
- ¼ cup lentils whole unsplit, or ½ cup split
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder granulated
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast
- ½ tsp poultry seasoning ( or ¼ tsp sage and thyme)
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 cups water
MUSHROOM GRAVY
- ½ cup button mushrooms sliced
- ¼ cup onions sliced or diced
- 6 tbsp oats ground
- 1 tsp tahini
- 1 tsp garlic powder granulated
- 1 pinch ground black pepper optional
- 2 tbsp apple cider vineger
- 4 tbsp water or more as needed
Instructions
- First blend and mix your all your dry bun topping ingredients except for the parsley, then mix all bun ingredients together. In a seasoned pot or pan on medium heat drop the wet batter on cookware to make two buns (I made only a single bun in a pot as shown in figure 1A). Add any toppings you like and cover the pot with a lid, leaving a small opening if there isn't a steam-hole. Flip after 5 minutes, then cook for 5 more minutes. Let cool then slice in half.NOTE: if you want a fluffier bun and aren't worried about sodium then you can use baking soda in the dry mix, about ¼-½ tsp to get a fluffier bun.
- For the Mashed Potato Mayo blend your oats into a flour or smooth paste and mix and mash everything together. Add water as needed if you want it thinner or thicker. If you want more tang add more vinegar and if you want it creamier add more tahini.NOTE: you can cook/steam/boil your potatoes before starting to still keep this as a one-pot meal if you like.
- For the Cranberry Jam simply add everything to the pot on medium-high heat and cook and mash until it becomes thick and like a jam. It should be fairly tart but still have some nice sweetness to it, if not add more vinegars and cook some more. I used blueberries with the cranberries, but strawberries or other berries will also work to add sweetness without loosing the cranberry flavor or look.
- For the lentil turkey powder or blend your lentils and mix everything together in the pot before cooking on medium heat until it becomes thick gloopy where it will stick to a spoon if held upside down. Put it in a glass or ceramic container and put it in the back and bottom of the fridge or freezer, near or on the vents, so it firms up quickly.
- Slice your lentil turkey either with a mandolin if you have it (a cut proof glove is a must) or use a knife or even a spatula to cut strips or chunks off the block. You can then sautee the strips to make them chewier and firmer if you like.
- For the mushroom gravy, first, add your sliced mushrooms to your pot or pan on medium-high heat and then flip them once and then add the onions and cook until they become translucent and start to caramelize. Deglaze/add your vinegar, then add everything else and mix and cook, lower the heat to medium or medium-low and cook until it becomes the right consistency. Add more water as needed, or if it's too wet add more oat flour or tahini.
- To assemble the sandwich you can toast the bun if you like, either in the pan next to (or on top of some of) the gravy or in a toaster or just leave them as it.First spread your mashed potato mayo on one side and cranberry jam on the other side of the bun. Next, pile on your lentil turkey, then ladle on the gravy, and finally close it off with the top of the bun. Happy Holidays!
Video
Notes
- You can sub tahini for other seed or nut butters if you like or have a sesame allergy. You will need to add about 1.25 to 1.5 times more of other seed or nut butters, since tahini has very good thickening properties compared to most others seeds and nuts.
