This is the BEST damn tomato sandwich ever made! It’s a simple 10 minute simple sandwich that is perfect for lunch any day of the week. It’s a vegan and vegetarian friendly sandwich.

Do you remember eating the classic tomato sandwich while growing up? Don’t you miss eating those?

As an adult, I will occasionally make the sandwich for lunch!

But, this time, I thought I would take it up a notch and add a twist to the classic sandwich!

Front view of a double decker tomato sandwich with layers of tomato, cucumber, pesto spread and broccoli sprouts
Isn’t this the BEST tomato sandwich you have seen!

Tips for making this sandwich

  • Don’t make this sandwich in advance. It will get soggy.
  • You can use vegan cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese for a vegan-friendly version
  • Use Roma tomatoes and slice them lengthwise. They are easier to pile on the sandwich
  • Make it a double-decker because it’s more fun to eat it that way.
  • I used whole wheat bread because it’s slightly better than white bread. Or, try something completely off-the-beaten-path, if you are gluten-sensitive. Gluten free pretzels are the perfect substitute!
  • I like to take the ingredients to work and assemble them at lunchtime. This way, I can have the perfect tomato sandwich at lunch and not a soggy mess of a sandwich.
  • Don’t forget the broccoli sprouts because they add a hefty amount of nutrition. Want to try something bold? Try adzuki bean sprouts which are easy to sprout and eat. They, too, have a hefty amount of nutrition.
Front view of a double decker tomato sandwich with layers of tomato, cucumber, pesto spread and broccoli sprouts
This stacked tomato sandwich is a quick and easy lunch recipe.

👩‍🍳 Substitution tip: You can use vegan cream cheese like Kite Hill because it is really good.

Forget the mayo, use pesto instead!

The traditional tomato recipe uses mayo as a spread. Furthermore, the purist have gone so far to insist that only Duke’s Mayo should be used and no other! Yes, that means no Hellman’s either! ????

Well, forget the mayo and definitely forget the purists!

You know mayo is not a healthy product, right? It’s made using the bad oils like Soybean oil, sunflower oil or grape seed oil. Mayo is also made with eggs, which many vegetarians don’t eat.

Instead, I made my own version of a green goddess spread. I love, LOVE, LOOOOVE Basil Pesto, especially if it is homemade! It takes this super easy tomato sandwich to a whole new level of yum!!

If basil pesto is too blah for you, you can use this scallion pesto recipe, this bell pepper pesto recipe or even this arugula pesto recipe in this sandwich!

Front view of a double decker tomato sandwich with layers of tomato, cucumber, pesto spread and broccoli sprouts. A bowl of sliced bread is visible in the background
Cucumber is the best companion to tomatoes.

🍅 Handy Tip: Whenever possible, use homemade pesto because you can use good oils like extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.

It’s the cream cheese that’s the bees knees!

Ok, so why is cream cheese important in this recipe? Basil pesto, by itself, is not as easy to spread. Plus, all that oil will seep into the bread and make it fall apart before you have had a chance to taste it!

Adding cream cheese will soak up the extra oil in the pesto and also make it the pesto mix more spreadable!

If you are not a fan of plain tomatoes, try putting in these baked tomatoes with cheese instead. It will make the sandwich taste really good.

🍅 Handy Tip: Cream cheese helps absorb the extra oils in the pesto which makes it more spreadable on a sandwich.

How to make a tomato sandwich

1. Make the pesto spread

Collage of 5 images showing the preparation steps on needed for making it.
Preparing to make this sandwich is so easy.
  • In a food processor, add the basil pesto (make it from scratch or use store-bought pesto).
  • Add 1 Tbsp of cream cheese to the food processor and blend until it’s smooth.
  • Chop the tomatoes. Use Roma tomatoes and cut them lengthwise.
  • Peel the cucumber and slice it. Thin or thick slices will work.
  • Cut the bread slices into half. I prefer diagonally.

2. Assemble the best damn tomato sandwich!

collage of 12 images showing the steps on how it
Making a double decker tomato sandwich is the easiest thing!
  1. Take one of the cut bread slice and spread the pesto mixture on it.
  2. Add 2-3 tomato slices.
  3. Add 2-3 cucumber slices.
  4. Spread the pesto mixture on a 2nd slice of bread.
  5. Close the sandwich with this 2nd slice.
  6. Spread the pesto mixture on top of that slice of bread.
  7. Top with 2-3 tomatoes.
  8. Top with 2-3 cucumbers.
  9. Add broccoli sprouts on top of the cucumber.
  10. Spread the pesto mixture on a 3rd slice of bread
  11. Close the sandwich with the 3rd slice and you are done!

Repeat the steps for a second sandwich. This recipe will make 2 sandwiches.

Answering Common Questions

Can toasted bread be used?

If you are not a fan of plain bread, you can still enjoy this delicious tomato sandwich! Toast the slices first. Then, assemble the sandwich as the recipe states. Bite into it and you will fall in love with the crunchy flavors.
Top view of the sandwich as toasted and not plain.

Can gluten-free bread be used in this recipe?

You can also use the gluten-free breads, low carb breads that you find in the freezer section. Follow the instructions to thaw them and then toast it.

What’s the best tomato for a sandwich?

For a tomato sandwich, use Roma tomatoes or beef steak tomatoes because you can slice them. If you find colorful tomatoes like blue tomatoes, kumato and Cherokee purple, use them.

What to make with leftover cucumber

You can make an easy spicy cucumber salad or Tzatziki sauce.

Front view of a double decker tomato sandwich with layers of tomato, cucumber, pesto spread and broccoli sprouts
Assemble this sandwich and bite into it immediately.

What to serve with it?

Serve this sandwiches with sweet potato wedges or butternut squash fries. Add a kale salad with it to make it a more wholesome meal.

A tall glass of cold beet lemonade will help the sandwich go down better.
Buttered radishes, pickled veggies and tomato relish are a fun side to this sandwich.

Try these tomato recipes

Sharing is caring

Don’t be shy, chime in below in the comments. Let me hear your opinion on this tomato sandwich recipe. If you enjoyed this, please give it 5 stars and share it on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.

Closeup view of a double decker tomato sandwich with layers of tomato, cucumber, pesto spread and broccoli sprouts

The BEST Damn Tomato Sandwich!

Rini
6 ingredients and 10 minutes are all you need to make this BEST damn tomato sandwich for lunch!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Lunch
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 2 people
Calories 402 kcal

Equipment

  • food processor or blender
  • Bread Knife

Ingredients
  

  • 3 slices bread cut diagonally
  • ½ cup basil pesto homemade or store bought
  • 1 Tbsp cream cheese vegan or regular cream cheese
  • 2 Roma tomatoes
  • ½ cucumber
  • 1 cup broccoli sprouts or use the amount you want

Instructions
 

Before assembling the sandwich

  • In a food processor, add the basil pesto and cream cheese
    ½ cup basil pesto, 1 Tbsp cream cheese
  • Blend until it’s a smooth consistency and set it aside
  • Slice the tomatoes (lengthwise). peel and chop the cucumber
    2 Roma tomatoes, ½ cucumber
  • Cut the bread into half (diagonally, please!)
    3 slices bread

Time to assemble the best damn tomato sandwich!

  • Take 1st bread slice and spread the pesto mixture on it.
  • Add 2-3 tomato slices on top and 2-3 cucumber slices.
  • Spread the pesto mixture on a 2nd slice of bread
  • Top 2nd slice of bread (pesto side down) on the cucumber
  • Spread the pesto mixture on top of that 2nd slice of bread
  • Top with 2-3 tomatoes and 2-3 cucumbers
  • Add broccoli sprouts on top of the cucumber
    1 cup broccoli sprouts
  • Spread the pesto mixture on a 3rd slice of bread
  • Close the sandwich with the 3rd slice and you are done!

Repeat the steps for a second sandwich. This recipe will make 2 sandwiches.

    Video

    Notes

    • Nutritional information is approximate
    • Don’t make this sandwich in advance. It will get soggy.
    • You can use vegan cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese for a vegan-friendly version
    • Use Roma tomatoes and slice them lengthwise. They are easier to pile on the sandwich
    • Make it a double-decker sandwich because it’s more fun to eat it that way.
    • I used whole wheat bread because it’s a little better than the white bread. It’s also a little more denser so it doesn’t get soggy too quickly.
    • I like to take the ingredients to work and assemble them at lunch time. This way, I can have the perfect tomato sandwich at lunch and not a soggy mess of a sandwich.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 402kcal
    Keyword fresh tomato recipes, How to make vegetarian sandwiches, tomato sandwich
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Pin Image

    Front view of a double decker tomato sandwich with layers of tomato, cucumber, pesto spread and broccoli sprouts
    Easy tomato sandwich recipe ready in just 10 minutes.

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