Vegan Spicy Apple Avocado Grilled Cheese

Vegan Spicy Apple Avocado Grilled Cheese

Sourdough, sriracha, fuji apple, avocado, and vegan mozzarella make for a refreshing summer grilled cheese. This vegan apple avocado grilled cheese is nearly effortless to make, and the the melt of Follow Your Heart vegan mozzarella is perfect. You may be surprised how well these flavors compliment each other!


I could create an entire blog consisting of grilled cheese recipes alone.

My long-time, all time favorite sandwich, the grilled cheese is sacred. There are so many options for customization, from bread type to cheese type to an infinite array of topping combinations. As a vegan, grilled cheese is the last food I am willing to give up.

So of course, when I was out recently after a run club at one of the many delightful Fort Collins venues, I was intrigued when a friend of mine told me there were apples on her grilled cheese. Of course, I had to make one at home immediately, but vegan with the addition of an irresistible avocado and some spice.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, as the saying goes, but I find apples to be among my least-consumed fruits. The revamp that an already tasty fuji apple underwent in this recipe may change my reality.

Whenever possible, I like to combine sweet, savory, and spicy flavors together to achieve the greatest possible taste depth. I was pleased to discover the unique flavors of sourdough, sriracha, avocado, apple, and prevailing vegan mozzarella, Follow Your Heart, blended together in perfect harmony.

This one is undoubtedly a win for the vegans, but perhaps even more so for the people almost entirely plant based who are held back by addiction to cheese. Vegan cheese is just “cheese” now to me — the key is finding the best brands, and replacing that same creamy, savory flavor found in dairy cheese recipes with a creative and equally satisfying plant based alternative. I promise, in short time you won’t feel like anything is missing, and you’ll thrive without the lactose!

For another, entirely differently flavored grilled cheese, check out my spicy veggie grilled cheese (can you tell I love spice?).

If you try this simple, refreshing summer-inspired grilled cheese, I would love to know what you think in a comment and rating below!

Close up image of vegan apple avocado grilled cheese to show melt
Look at that melt!
Sandwich halves of apple avocado grilled cheese shown stacked on a plate

Vegan Spicy Apple Avocado Grilled Cheese

Sauté Queen
Sourdough, sriracha, fuji apple, avocado, and vegan mozzarella make for a refreshing summer grilled cheese. This is nearly effortless to make, and the the melt of Follow Your Heart vegan mozzarella is perfect. You may be surprised how well these flavors compliment each other!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 small sandwiches
Calories 422 kcal

Equipment

  • Small or medium nonstick pan
  • Heavy bottom dish or glass Tupperware
  • Cheese slicer (or potato peeler/wide slot of a box grater)

Ingredients
  

  • 8 slices sourdough bread sliced from an artisan, baguette style loaf (optional but ideal)
  • 8 slices Follow Your Heart mozzarella sliced from block
  • 1 medium or large avocado cut in half and sliced lengthwise into thin strips
  • 1 fuji apple sliced into thin, ¼" wedges
  • Sriracha or other hot sauce drizzled to taste
  • Vegan butter to thinly coat bottom of pan I use Earth Balance

Instructions
 

  • Slice sourdough bread in ⅓" to ½" thick pieces from the middle (thickest part) of the artisan loaf at about a 30 degree angle to achieve longer bread slices.
  • Using a cheese slicer, wide box grater slot, or peeler, slice vegan mozzarella from the block. You may need more than 8 slices — slice enough from the block to form one standard-thickness cheese slice to place on each sandwich. You can really use as little or as much cheese here as you would like.
  • Place cheese on top of half of the bread slices. Slice avocado and apple, and arrange across the long side of the cheese slice in an alternating ingredient pattern at a 30 degree angle (ingredients will fit better if angled on the slice instead of perpendicular).
    Looking at each bread slice from the side, the ingredients should resemble a domino pattern, mostly overlapped.
  • Drizzle sriracha to your taste on each slice that is layered with ingredients.
  • Preheat a small or medium nonstick pan on medium. Once hot, add about a half tablespoon of vegan butter if you are cooking two sandwiches at one time, or a full tablespoon if you are cooking all four at once. (You can also add oil instead, if you prefer).
  • Close each sandwich with the empty bread slice, and place as many as you can fit in the pan once butter has melted. Press the sandwiches down with a heavy bottomed pan or glass Tupperware, and allow to cook undisturbed about 4 minutes.
  • Once sandwiches are golden brown on the bottom slice, flip to the other side and press down again until second side is cooked. A good rule of thumb to determine when the first side is cooked is to test if the whole sandwich assembly sticks together when you nudge it in the pan with a spatula. If the sandwich doesn't seem sealed together and wants to separate easily, it is likely not ready.
  • Remove sandwiches from heat once fully cooked, slice in half, and enjoy!
Keyword apple, avocado, dairy free, easy, grilled cheese, mozzarella, quick, refreshing, sourdough, spicy, summer, vegan, vegetarian

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