Gluten Free | Soy Free
Just because you’re a plant based vegan doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite dish and this vegan lentil fresco melt recipe proves it! Missing that late night fresco melt you used to get at your favorite diner? Now you don’t have to! If you’re looking for the perfect substitute for that savory mess of a sandwich that you’ve come to the right place. This vegan lentil pattie fresco melt is everything you’ve dreaming of and makes for the perfect comfort meal at any time of the day.
These are definitely *highly addictive*! The homemade fresco sauce brings a flavor that just doesn’t quit. You’re going to want to slather this all over your sandwich!
To be clear, this lentil fresco melt is a big step up from the familiar diner melt you’re used to since it is 100% plant based! I use sunflower oil in place of olive oil for this recipe for a heart healthy option! The lentil patties are made mostly of lentils and breadcrumbs. I make these gluten free by using gluten free breadcrumbs and gluten free vegan bread and boom you have both a vegan and gluten free option everyone can enjoy! For the binding ingredient, I use flaxseed egg. This is basically ground flaxseed and water, see notes, which is very effective! These patties hold well and are pretty easy to make if I do say so myself.
You can easily make a batch for an afternoon lunch or triple the recipe to freeze the patties to enjoy at your convenience! When I first made these, I found myself going back for seconds and then rushing back into the kitchen to make another batch to have on hand when I’m in a rush.
The pattie is made using only 8 ingredients and is packed with a smoky garlic flavor which comes from liquid smoke, tamari, and garlic powder.
For the sauce you’ll need vegan mayonaise, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, sweet relish, agave, smoked paprika, onion salt, and garlic powder. This is the magic sauce of the recipe.
Smash the lentil pattie, frisco sauce, and onions together between bread on a hot pan to make a crisp lentil frisco melt with a hot ooey, gooey center! Once the bread has crisped to a golden brown, you’re ready to enjoy!
Recipe Overview & Features
- Comfort food
- Versatile
- Gluten free
- Soy free
What you need
For the Lentil Patties
- Ground flaxseed
- Water
- Liquid smoke
- Cooked lentils
- Breadcrumbs (gluten free optional)
- Sunflower oil
- Tamari
- Garlic powder
For the Frisco Sauce
- Vegan mayonnaise
- Ketchup
- Sweet pickle relish
- Agave
- Apple cider vinegar
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
The Melt
- Sandwich bread (gluten free optional)
- Onion
- Vegan butter
Lentil Pattie Fresco Melt
Description
This vegan lentil pattie frisco melt is everything you've dreaming of and makes for the perfect comfort meal at any time of the day.
Ingredients
Lentil Patties
Frisco Sauce
The Melt
Instructions
Lentil Patties
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Preheat oven 375F.
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Whisk together the water and ground flaxseed in a small bowl to create your flaxseed egg. Set aside for 5-10 minutes to thicken.
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Smash the cooked lentils in a large bowl. You can use a potato smasher to do this. Smash until the majority are smashed. Consistency should be chunky.
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Add flaxseed egg and all other lentil pattie ingredients to the bowl with the smashed lentils. Stir everything together until combined.
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Form patties. Mixture will make 4 medium sized patties. Divide mix, roll into ball and flatten into patties. Spray a baking pan with non stick spray. Place the patties on the baking sheet. Spray the tops of the patties with more non stick spray.Â
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Bake for 10 minutes. Flip patties. Bake for 10 more minutes. Total baking time is 20 minutes.
Frisco Sauce
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While the patties bake, make the sauce. Whisk all the ingredients together. Taste, add salt/pepper if needed.
Chop the onion for topping.
Make the Lentil Frisco Melt
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Using the vegan butter, butter one side of the sandwich bread.
Make the sandwich. On the non-buttered side spread frisco sauce, add the onion, then the patty. Add more frisco sauce ontop of the patty then put the other piece of the bread ontop, buttered side facing out. *Buttered sides of the bread should be on the outside for searing in the pan.*
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Heat medium pan on medium high. Place sandwich in the pan and press down in the pan for 1-2 minutes until bread becomes golden brown. Repeat for the other side.Â
Remove from pan, serve and enjoy!
