This rich comforting Vegan Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Red Pepper is loaded with sweet and savory flavors.
If you have been following me for awhile you may have noticed that I am a little obsessed with caramelized onions. One of my favorite ways to use them is in Caramelized Red Onion Dip, but I also love them in pasta and sandwiches.
So today I decided to make Vegan Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Red Pepper. There is something about caramelized onions that take everything to a whole new level.
They add a sweet, rich taste to whatever you put them in. If you are looking to take your vegan grilled cheese up a notch, caramelized onions are the way to go.
This rich comforting Vegan Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Red Pepper is loaded with sweet and savory flavors. Click To Tweet
Many times I have been asked what my favorite vegan cheese is. First of all, it depends upon which type: vegan cream cheese, vegan cheddar, etc.
For vegan cheddar, mozzarella, and Monterey Jack, I love both Follow Your Heart and Daiya.
Daiya melts better, but I prefer the taste of Follow Your Heart better. I first used Follow Your Heart in this recipe when I posted it years ago, but when I updated the post with new photos I used Daiya slices.
It’s just more photogenic!
For Jalapeño Havarti (which I only know of one brand that makes it), I love Daiya. It makes a fabulous Vegan Jalapeño Havarti Cream Cheese Date Ball.
For vegan cream cheese, I think Tofutti beats all the brands that I have tasted, and I have tasted many!
What are your favorite brands of vegan cheese?
Other Recipes You might Like
- Spinach and Broccoli Vegan Quiche
- BBQ Lentil Sandwich with Sriracha Coleslaw
- Maple Dijon Baked Tofu
- Vegan Refried Bean Burrito with Jalapeño Cilantro Hummus
- ALT (Avocado, Lettuce, and Tomato) Wrap
Tips For Making Vegan Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Red Pepper
- When making caramelized onion, slow and steady wins the race. For caramelized onions you need some patience. It takes a good 20 minutes to get nicely browned onions – longer if you’re using more onions.
- If they take start to stick add a little water, like a quarter of a cup or so.
- Balsamic vinegar adds a wonderful flavor. I always add a couple of splashes near or at the end of the cooking time.
- Add the red pepper and cook until softened.
- Cook the vegan grilled cheese in vegan mayo for a rich sandwich. Spread the vegan mayo on the outside of one of the slices, place in the pan, then spread on the other slice facing you. That way you don’t get mayo all over your cutting board.
Vegan Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Red Pepper
Take your vegan grilled cheese to the next level by adding caramelized onion and red pepper!
*This post was originally published November 27, 2015. I updated the photos and added text.
*Don’t forget to come back and leave your feedback and star rating.
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*Update since writing this: Thanks to a reader, the bread below is my new favorite bread. It is soft and fluffy like white bread.
It is Northern Bakehouse millet chia bread. I highly recommend it.
Vegan Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Red Pepper
Ingredients
- 4 slices gluten free bread
- 1/2 a medium onion sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt
- Splash of balsamic vinegar optional
- 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
- 4 slices vegan cheddar or 1/2 cup grated
- 4 teaspoons vegan mayo or Earth Balance
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in pan at medium heat and add sliced onion. Add salt.
- Stir the onions every five minutes or so. Cook for about 20 minutes.
- Add a small amount of balsamic vinegar to deglaze the pan.
- Add red pepper and cook until softened.
- Layer vegan cheddar, caramelized onion, and red pepper on a slice of bread. Top with other slice of bread.
- Spread 1 teaspoon vegan mayo on the outside of one of the slices of bread. Place face down in a hot pan. While the grilled cheese is cooking over medium heat, spread the other teaspoon of vegan mayo on the other piece of bread (the side facing you). Cook until golden brown on both sides. Repeat with the other sandwich.
Nutrition
*Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.
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