Healthy Bread Alternatives for Delicious Veggie Sandwiches

Breads, buns, and wraps are typically staples at picnics and barbecues throughout the spring and summer months. However, more creative options are becoming popular among foodies.

Thankfully, gluten-free party guests no longer need to opt for a fork to enjoy their meals. There is now a plethora of healthy bread alternatives available for your favorite veggie sandwiches. Many of the best low-carb options are so easy to make that they don’t even require any cooking.

Leafy Greens

Fancy restaurants, casual diners, and popular fast food chains all give customers gluten-free options in the form of lettuce wraps, but this simple vessel can be recreated (and customized to your taste) in your own kitchen. There are several options when it comes to choosing the perfect bread-replacing green.

Bibb lettuce is flexible and perfect for wraps, while kale is more hearty and packed with vitamins and nutrients—ideal for finger sandwiches. Hummus is a perfect filling to use as the base for a bread-free sandwich, and shredded carrots and cucumber sticks will provide a satisfying crunch to any recipe.

Homemade Corn Tortillas

Corn tortillas can provide you the carbs you crave without throwing your gluten-free diet out the window. I like to make my own tortillas, so I can create a bigger shell than the store-bought variety. Corn tortillas have a mild flavor, and that means almost any filling complements this healthy bread alternative.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2/3 cup corn flour
• ½ tsp. salt
• 2/3 cup warm water

Combine the flour and salt in a bowl. Add the water—a little bit at a time—and stir until the mixture is fully incorporated. Divide the dough into six equal golf-ball sized pieces. Use a tortilla press or rolling pin to flatten each tortilla to your preferred size and thickness. Then preheat a pan to medium heat, place the tortillas on the pan, and cook for one minute on each side.

Red and Green Peppers

The sturdy skins of red and green peppers make them one of the best (and easiest) healthy bread alternatives for vegetarian sandwiches. Simply wash your peppers, cut them in half, remove the seeds and veins, and trim off any edges to make a flat surface. Shish kabob veggies are a satisfying filling for this already vitamin-rich meal.

Cucumber Boats

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a popular meal for people of all ages. Even those with celiacdisease can enjoy the classic, comforting combination of PB&J by swapping out the bread for bright and crispy cucumber boats.

Portobello Buns

When it comes to finding a bread substitute for veggie burgers, look no further than portobello mushrooms. These bun-shaped fungi can be grilled right alongside your favorite plant-based patty during any backyard barbecue. Pull the portobellos off the grill at least 15 minutes before serving (so they have cooled enough to hold in your hand).

You don’t have to give up your favorite meals just because you have eliminated gluten from your diet. Try these easy, healthy bread alternatives at your next family get-together or neighborhood bash. What are your favorite bread substitutes? Share your original sandwich creations with us on Twitter!

Image sources: Flickr | Wikimedia Commons | Wikimedia Commons

This article was brought to you by Tom’s of Maine. The views and opinions expressed by the author do not reflect the position of Tom’s of Maine.