I love Hawaiian pizza.
I also love warm pineapple…
and tempeh on sandwiches…
and grilled cheese sandwiches…
and pretty much anything and everything that is sweet and savory.
And it turns out that when you add all of those things up, you get an awfully tasty Hawaiian pizza-inspired vegan grilled cheese sandwich.
I am definitely not complaining about that.
Besides, traditional grilled cheese sandwiches are so ten years ago. Ahh heck, who am I kidding? I just ate one a couple of months ago. I guess grilled cheese sandwiches are one of those things that you just never grow out of. But that does not mean that we cannot make them a bit more sophisticated from time to time, now does it? Well, that is if grilled cheese sandwiches can even be sophisticated. I suppose I have never been one to strive for a “sophisticated” life, so I’m thinking I’m good to go on a lifetime of grilled cheese sandwiches- traditional or not.
Hawaiian Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tempeh
Vegan
Servings: Makes 1
Ingredients
1/8 cup Bragg’s Liquid Aminos or coconut aminos
1/8 cup teriyaki sauce
1/8 cup water
4 slices of tempeh (about 1/5 of an 8 ounce package)
coconut oil spray
2 pieces whole wheat bread
1 to 2 TB coconut oil
1 slice vegan cheese (I like Daiya brand)
1/8 of a small red onion, sliced
1 pineapple ring
Directions
1. Combine Bragg’s, teriyaki sauce, and water in a small bowl. Whisk together. Add tempeh slices and marinate for at least one hour in the fridge.
2. Once the tempeh has been in the marinade for at least an hour, remove it and sautee it over medium heat on the stove top in a pan that has been sprayed with coconut oil cooking spray. Cook for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, flipping once halfway through, or until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the heat and set aside.
3. Heat a small pan or griddle over medium heat. Spread the coconut oil on one side of each slice of bread.
4. Place one slice of bread (coconut oil side down) into the pan. Top this slice of bread with the vegan cheese, cooked tempeh, onions, and pineapple.
5. Top the sandwich with the second slice of bread, keeping the coconut oil side facing up.
6. Turn the heat down to medium low and cover the pan with a lid (this helps the “cheese” melt more easily). Cook for approximately 5 minutes, or until the bottom piece of bread is golden brown. Flip and continue coooking the second side for an additional 3 to 5 minutes.
Cut and serve alongside your favorite fruit or veggie.
There I go again with the non-diagonal grilled cheese cutting. I’m not sure what is wrong with me, but I think I must be losing my mind. Somebody needs to come over and start cutting my sandwiches for me. Mom, are you available?
Oh, and for the FYI, you are going to want to dip this sandwich in barbecue sauce. It takes it from good to soooo good.
It may not be your “traditional” grilled cheese sandwich, but I happen to think that is a great thing! Sweet and savory all the way!
Does anyone have any fun weekend plans?
My boyfriend will be in town for the next five days and I am beyond excited about it! We have plans at the lake with Erin, Joanna, and their husbands tomorrow, a brewery tour sometime this weekend, and the rest of the time should be spent eating at delicious Omaha restaurants and relaxing. It sounds like the perfect weekend to me! Let’s hope this one goes by so, SO slowly!
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I think I may try the Daiya cheese. I have never bought a vegan cheese since I don’t eat much cheese to begin with. However, I have been eating less dairy and am now craving a grilled cheese sandwich lol. Is the vegan cheese similar in taste to regular cheese? I really only like mozzarella and the occasional American.
It definitely does not taste exactly like cheese, but I truly LOVE it in hot dishes/grilled cheese/etc. because it actually melts! I like it cold, but not as much as I like it hot.
OK, we definitely need to do a grilled cheese 3C1K! I also love warm pineapple… and cold pineapple. But I almost never buy the fruit because Jeff doesn’t eat it and it’s a beast to cut. Maybe you could make me a cutting a pineapple tutorial 😉
My secret is… I bought it in a can!! 😉 haha.. cutting pineapples scare me too! Maybe I’ll have to try it out, though. And AWESOME idea! We should do a “grilled cheese bar” for the next 3C1K!
Just pinned – this sounds fantastic!
Thanks so much, Heather! Let me know if you give it a try!
This sandwich sounds amazing!!! Grilled cheese is always a favorite of mine, but this version totally takes it to another level!
There is nothing like a good grilled cheese!! I have been having fun lately mixing up the topping ideas!
Love the Hawaiian twist to a grilled cheese! I make grilled cheeses all the time so am always looking for unique ways to make them more interesting 🙂
It is SO fun to try to come up with new grilled cheese combinations. I feel like the possibilities are endless!
Your blog has me craving some exotic type of grilled cheese regularly. I love Hawaiian flavors and making a veggie packed vegan sandwich revolving around these flavors is perfect! How do you come up with this stuff? It’s so fresh and new xx
Thank you, Katherine! And honestly… I have no idea how I come up with some of the stuff that I do. It just randomly pops instead my head…usually at inconvenient times like when I am trying to fall asleep at night 😉
you are freaking creative!
check check check! I’ve got the ingredients. And i can use the GF tempeh! WOO! love me some Hawaiian grilled cheese
I typically don’t like warm pineapple but this looks delicious! I may just have to try it. 😀 Thanks for sharing!
You need to get on the warm pineapple bandwagon! 😉 Also, I found it funny that I had to moderate your comment since you have a new e-mail address now!
I love tempeh sandwiches. This looks tasty. I’m still on the fence about pineapple warm, but really this looks delicious! Grilled cheese sandwiches with daiya is the best.
Sliced daiya is definitely BEST served on grilled cheese sandwiches. I LOVE it!
OH my goodness this looks unreal.
Thank you, Brittany!! You are always a lover of a good grilled cheese… I like that!
I suppose I could make the 5 hr drive to cut your sandwiches for you. I’m sure you would make it worth my while by fixing me some great meals!!
That sounds like the perfect plan! 😉
I was thinking the whole time reading how delicious this would be with bbq sauce – great minds! Sounds delicious and much better than ordering a Hawaiinew pizza (which I get/make with bbq sauce instead of pizza sauce, try it!)
I think you and I may be a little obsessed with BBQ sauce.. maybe? 😉 I love it though!
Consequently yummy! That seems amazing!
Thanks so much, Claudia! I hope you try it!