• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Grateful Grazer

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipe Index
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Grateful Grazer

    Published: Jul 15, 2020 · Modified: Mar 11, 2022 by Stephanie McKercher, RDN · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches with Blueberry Balsamic Reduction

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Vegetarian sandwich on ciabatta rolls with red and white text that reads, "Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches with Blueberry Balsamic Reduction."

    Looking for a new summertime sandwich recipe? Try easy Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches with a sweet and tangy Blueberry Balsamic Reduction.

    Tomato Mozzarella Sandwich with blueberry sauce and fresh blueberries in the background.

    For me, the best summer meals make use of seasonal produce without requiring a lot of cooking. It's too hot for the oven, and most of the time, I'd rather be outside than working in the kitchen, anyway.

    Salads are a good option—I like to keep Edamame Crunch Salad prepped in the fridge. Sometimes, though, I'm in the mood for bread and in that case, a hearty sandwich is the only way to go.

    Sandwiches are especially convenient for summer since they're quick, packable (prep for hiking, camping or road trips), and typically require little to no cooking. I think meat and cheese sandwiches usually come to mind first, but there are so many good vegetarian options, too.

    These Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches are a little bit Caprese-inspired, but with a little extra sweet and tart kick from blueberries and balsamic vinegar. It's a summery combination that highlights all of the best seasonal ingredients. My favorite.

    Overhead image of sliced sandwiches on a wood serving board.

    How to Make Blueberry Balsamic Reduction

    Masking a balsamic reduction sounds a little bit fancy but it's actually really easy. You're basically just simmering balsamic vinegar until it cooks down and reduces in volume. This turns the vinegar into a thicker sauce that works great as a sandwich condiment.

    To change things up a little bit, this time I added fresh blueberries to the balsamic reduction.

    To make it, add a 50/50 mix of balsamic vinegar (I like aged) and fresh blueberries to a small pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and simmer. Once the volume reduces by about half, turn off the heat, taste, and add a little salt until the flavor is just right.

    Blueberry balsamic reduction in an orange pot on the stove.

    How to Make Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches

    Once the Blueberry Balsamic is prepped, you can turn off the stove. All of the cooking is done. (Yay!)

    To assemble the sandwiches, put the halved sandwich rolls (I used Ciabatta) on a flat surface and begin layering up the ingredients. Add arugula and sliced fresh mozzarella, and then drizzle the Blueberry Balsamic Reduction on top.

    Open faced sandwich with baby arugula
    Open faced sandwiches with mozzarella and blueberry sauce.

    Next, top with sliced tomato and red onion, and finish it off with a few fresh basil leaves.

    Open sandwiches with tomato, onion, and basil

    Put the remaining halves of the rolls on top, slice in half if you want, and you're done! There's a reason sandwiches are a lunchtime staple. So easy, so good.

    Close up image of Tomato Mozzarella Sandwich.

    Can you make tomato mozzarella sandwiches ahead of time?

    I like these sandwiches best when they're just made because the bread tastes fresh and the warm Blueberry Balsamic slightly softens the fresh mozzarella cheese in a way that's just delicious.

    But don't get me wrong, these Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches are tasty leftover, too. Between testing and photographing, I think I've had six in the past week, so you can trust me. I'm experienced with this!

    You can store leftover sandwiches in an airtight container and refrigerate for about three days.

    Tip: I like to reheat leftover sandwiches in a 350ºF oven for about five minutes to warm the bread and soften the cheese a little bit.

    Horizontal image of two halved sandwiches with blueberry balsamic sauce in a glass jar.

    Potential Ingredient Substitutions:

    • If you don't have fresh blueberries, try substituting frozen berries instead. You can also reduce balsamic vinegar on its own to omit the blueberry flavor.
    • Try sliced tofu (raw or crispy) instead of mozzarella for a vegan and dairy-free option
    • Use gluten-free bread if needed. You could also use a tortilla to turn this into a wrap. (Lettuce/Collard wraps are refreshing for summer, too!)
    • Instead of baby arugula, feel free to swap in fresh spinach or any other lettuce you have on hand
    Straight on image of ciabatta sandwich on wood board.

    These Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches are everything I'm craving for lunch, or even a quick and easy dinner, especially when it's really hot out. Hope you're able to try them!

    Halved Tomato Mozzarella Sandwich with arugula and blueberry balsamic sauce.
    Tomato Mozzarella Sandwich with blueberry sauce and fresh blueberries in the background.

    Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches with Blueberry Balsamic Reduction

    Fresh mozzarella and juicy heirloom tomatoes are drizzled with a sweet and tangy Blueberry Balsamic sauce with this easy vegetarian sandwich recipe.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
    Course: dinner, lunch
    Cuisine: vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Author: Stephanie McKercher, RDN

    Equipment

    • saucepan
    • stove

    Ingredients

    Blueberry Balsamic Reduction:

    • ½ cup blueberries
    • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches:

    • 4 sandwich rolls (such as ciabatta rolls), halved and warmed if desired
    • 1 cup baby arugula
    • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
    • 1 large heirloom tomato, sliced
    • ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
    • 8-12 fresh basil leaves

    Instructions

    Prepare the Blueberry Balsamic Reduction:

    • Add blueberries and balsamic vinegar to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes, or until the volume is reduced by half. Remove from heat, add salt to taste, and set aside.

    Assemble the Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches:

    • Place open sandwich rolls on a flat surface. Divide the arugula, mozzarella, and Blueberry Balsamic Reduction between the sandwich rolls. Top with tomato, red onion, and basil.

    Notes

    Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days.
    Tried this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention @GratefulGrazer or tag #gratefulgrazer.

    Looking for more vegetarian sandwich recipes?

    Try these:

    • Award-Winning Garlic Tarragon Roasted Beet Sandwiches
    • Vegan Cranberry Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
    • Favorite Sweet Potato Hummus Sandwich
    • Crispy Eggplant BLTs with Harissa Mayo

    Save These Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches on Pinterest

    Vegetarian sandwich on ciabatta rolls with red and white text that reads, "Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches with Blueberry Balsamic Reduction."

    Did you try this recipe?

    Rate and leave a comment below, or tag me (@GratefulGrazer) if you share on Instagram. I'd love to hear how it went!

    Try These Recipes Next:

    • Creamy Spiced Carrot and Lentil Soup
    • Easy Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
    • One-Pot Tofu Pumpkin Curry with Coconut Milk
    • Caprese Pizza with Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella
    204 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      I accept the Privacy Policy

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Caitlin Havener says

      July 28, 2020 at 12:56 am

      5 stars
      These sandwiches sounds great for this weekend picnic. They look very refreshing and tasty! And this blueberry balsamic is so interesting. I am thinking that it could be prepared with other kind of berries too, what do you think?

      ❤ Caitlin
      cleancookingcaitlin.com

      Reply
      • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

        July 30, 2020 at 7:08 am

        Thanks, Caitlin! Yes, you could totally use other types of berries. Blackberry balsamic sounds especially delicious to me! 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! My name is Stephanie. I'm a registered dietitian, recipe developer, and cookbook author. Here on Grateful Grazer, you'll find easy, plant-forward recipes, vegetarian nutrition information, and approachable guides to meal planning and prep.

    Learn more →

    Popular Right Now:

    • 31 Best Healthy and Easy Vegetarian Lunches for Work
    • Berry Coconut Water Smoothie
    • One-Pot Yellow Split Pea Soup
    • Vegetarian Freezer Meals
    • Easy Edamame Crunch Salad
    • Vegetarian Grocery List and Shopping Tips
    • Vanilla Matcha Latte
    • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Chickpeas and Lemon Tahini

    Vegetarian Meal Prep:

    • Mediterranean Lentil Salad with Feta and Mint
    • Forbidden Black Rice and Beans with Mango
    • Overnight Mango Banana Chia Pudding with Coconut Milk
    • How to Press Tofu

    Footer

    Grateful Grazer

    • About
    • Blog
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe

    Work with Me

    • Media Partnerships
    • Media Highlights
    • Contact

    Resources

    • FREE: 100+ Meal Prep Ideas
    • FREE: Grocery List
    • Meal Prep Ebook
    • Cookbook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • TikTok

    Health information is for educational purposes only. Nutrition facts are estimates only.

    Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Terms and Conditions

    Copyright © 2022 The Grateful Grazer, LLC