Roasted Sweet Potatoes Are What Your Vegetarian Sandwiches Have Been Missing

The vegan and vegetarian food market is rapidly growing, which has given meat and dairy-free foodies access to many of the same dishes that their carnivorous counterparts enjoy. From juicy plant-based cheeseburgers to hearty stews and faux fish, if you can dream it, modern-day vegans and vegetarians can achieve it. When it comes to sandwiches fit for meatless eaters, ingredient combinations for stacking and stuffing in between two crusty slices of bread are virtually endless, so don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Although spuds aren't a common sandwich provision, the rich taste of sweet potatoes might just change that.

While their primary flavor is true to its name, sweet potatoes are more complex than you might think. Between their warm and candied taste lies earthy and nutty undertones that dance in harmony with its dulcet top notes. When roasted, sweet potatoes develop a caramelized char that deepens its already cozy flavor profile, for a warmer and more grounding taste. Introducing this fusion of fall-inspired flavors into your vegetarian sandwich is an interesting way to diversify its taste tapestry, regardless of the season. When paired with savory ingredients, roasted sweet potatoes amplify those hearty, umami-forward notes like a culinary yin and yang. Plus, the tenderness of roasted sweet potatoes lends sandwiches a certain luxuriousness.

Although you can roast sweet potatoes in an oven, your air fryer works twice as fast, making it an excellent option for tater sandwiches on the fly. Make sure to purchase fresh, high-quality tubers and avoid making some of the common sweet potato-cooking mistakes and you'll have a mouth-watering sandwich worth returning to time and time again.

Assembling a sandwich is notoriously easy, and introducing roasted sweet potatoes doesn't have to complicate the process. First, decide how you want to integrate them into your sandwich. Mashed or whipped roasted sweet potatoes make an excellent creamy sandwich spread, long, thin slices are perfect for casual sandwiches, and crispy sweet potato fries are texturally satisfying. You might even consider making a vegetarian roasted sweet potato pâté for a bahn mi or cutting them into disc-like shapes to make a sweet potato burger patty.

Once you decide how you want to form and integrate roasted sweet potatoes into your sandwich, select your pairings. There are dozens of unique sweet potato fixings, so your options are anything but limited. Seitan is an excellent meat replacement that, when prepared correctly, can mimic fried chicken. Combine fried seitan with whipped roasted sweet potatoes, hot honey, and peppery arugula for a garden-fresh, crunchy, creamy, sweet, and spicy sandwich. Grill marinated halloumi and stack it atop a roasted sweet potato patty with spinach and chile jam for a full-flavored and satiating sandwich. For something low maintenance, combine thin slices of roasted sweet potatoes with creamy hummus, fresh spinach, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze to achieve an easy, light, and flavorful sandwich.

Experiment with tofu, chickpea mashes, portaballa mushrooms, and surprising condiments like maple syrup or honey-tinted sriracha. Sweet potatoes pair well with a wide variety of sandwich ingredients, so let your tastebuds guide you to the roasted sweet potato-infused sandwich of your dreams.