Growing up vegetarian, I’ve always been jealous of meaty sandwiches for their ability to be warm, juicy, and extra hearty. So it’s exciting to put up a vegetarian alternative that stands up in flavor and intensity. And my carnivorous husband (who wasn’t even hungry) eagerly stole a couple of bites. That’s a rave review!

This sandwich uses Field Roast brand Italian garlic and fennel faux sausage. It’s my favorite (and only preferred) brand of faux meat. But the recipe would work just as well with roasted mushrooms, grilled eggplant or zucchini, or even just a few leaves of fresh spinach to keep it light. Be sure to use a hefty bread and toast it very well. A hard and crusty toast stands up well to the juicy tomatoes without getting soggy. If you want to kick things up, add some Calabria chilis! Trader Joe’s makes a good “Bomba sauce” of fermented Calabria chilis that would go great in this sandwich.

Makes 1 hearty sandwich, 5 min prep, 10 min cooking, 2-5 additional min, 15-20 min total

• 2 slices of multi grain bread or something equivalently hearty toasted brown or almost dark
• 2 tbsp basil paste
• 2 campari tomatoes, sliced medium thick
• 1 Field Roast “sausage”, sliced thick on a bias
• 2 tbsp bread crumbs
• 1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated

Start by toasting the bread crumbs dry in a non-stick skillet over medium low heat. Remove them to a small plate and mix in the Parmesan.

Place the sausage slices in the skillet, and flip them over every 30 seconds or so, to keep them from burning. While the sausages are cooking, dredge the tomato slices in the bread crumb mixture. Since the tomato is so juicy, it doesn’t need anything else for binding. Make sure to press the tomato into the crumbs on both sides, to get a generous layer to coat both sides.

Add the breaded tomato slices to the skillet. Leave them alone and cook on each side for about 2 minutes or until the topping is browned and crispy. You should only flip them once. Keep an eye on the sausage, flipping as needed. Remove the pan from heat when everything is cooked on both sides.

Spread the basil paste on both pieces of toast in an even layer. Add the sausage on one side and the tomatoes on the opposite, keeping everything in one layer.

Push them together and chow down! Our first thought is that it’s like a bowl of pasta in a sandwich.