This vegetarian Eggplant BLT is one of my favorite sandwiches to make for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. Harissa mayo adds a little extra spicy kick!

I love a good sandwich. Don't you?

Most people think of the traditional meat and cheese combination, but vegetarian sandwiches happen to be my favorite.

Whether it's a creamy cranberry chickpea salad, roasted beets with sliced apples, or classic veggies and hummus, you really can't go wrong any time you stuff a few ingredients between two slices of freshly baked bread.

Vegetarian Eggplant BLT on white plate with cream napkin.

Lately, I've been loving this vegetarian take on a BLT sandwich for lunch or an easy, 30-minute weeknight dinner. It's similar to the classic in that it's composed of something crunchy alongside lettuce, tomato, and creamy mayo.

That something crunchy, in this case, is crispy, panko-crusted eggplant. Not exactly bacon, I know, but the crunchy/creamy combo of this vegetarian eggplant BLT is equally as delicious as the original, so I'm sticking with it.

Crispy eggplant BLT sandwich on white plate with lettuce and harissa in the background.

In addition to the crispy eggplant "bacon," I also took some liberties with the mayonnaise. Mostly since my favorite eggplant recipes come with a little Mediterranean flair.

Moroccan-inspired harissa is a no-brainer.

What is Harissa?

Harissa is a hot chile pepper paste originally from North Africa.

I already love adding a spoonful to spice up bean chili and roasted vegetables, so I'm not at all surprised harissa works perfectly as a sandwich condiment, too.

Crispy eggplant plus spicy harissa mayo really take things up a notch (or three). Who says you need meat and cheese to make a good sandwich, anyway?

Sliced sandwiches on white plate net to lettuce and tomato.

Instructions

The first step for making this sandwich is to prepare the eggplant.

The process is similar to the One-Pan Crispy Eggplant Caprese I shared a few posts back.

First, make the breading. Mix panko breadcrumbs, flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Put your beaten eggs (or flax eggs if you're making this vegan) in another bowl next to the breading. Both bowls should be wide enough to fit the largest slice of eggplant so you can dip the pieces until they're fully coated.
Next, heat grapeseed oil (or another cooking oil) in a large skillet over medium heat.
Dip a piece of eggplant in the egg (or flax egg), and then immediately dip it in the breading mixture until it's fully coated. Transfer it to the skillet and cook a few minutes on each side, or until the eggplant is brown and crispy.
After you cook the eggplant pieces, transfer them to a towel-lined plate to prevent them from getting soggy until you're ready to serve.

Once the crispy eggplant is cooked, it's time to assemble the sandwiches.

First, make the harissa mayo. Stir mayonnaise (regular or vegan) and harissa paste together in a small bowl.
Spread the mayo on one side of each piece of bread.
Add lettuce, cooked eggplant, tomato, and sprouts on half of the bread slices, and then top it off with the other pieces (mayo side down) to finish it off.

So easy!

Step-by-step picture tutorial for how to make a vegetarian eggplant BLT.

Can you make this recipe vegan?

This recipe is already vegetarian, but it's really easy to make it vegan, too. Just use flax eggs for dredging the eggplant and opt for vegan mayonnaise.

(Most bread is naturally vegan, but double-check that to be sure, too.)

How to make flax eggs:

To make a flax egg: whisk 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds with 3 tablespoons water. Wait five minutes, or until the consistency is similar to a beaten egg.

Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

I love a good make-ahead recipe, but this, unfortunately, isn't one of them.

I like to eat the eggplant while it's still hot and crispy from cooking.

If you're looking for a good vegetarian sandwich you can prep in advance, I recommend this one!

Eggplant sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and harissa mayo on white plate.

Looking for more? You might also like these vegetarian eggplant recipes:

📖 Recipe

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Eggplant sandwich on white plate with text that reads, "vegetarian eggpllant blt with harissa mayo."

Did you try this recipe?