In this interconnected world separated by only wires and electrical impulses, it’s hard to imagine that any great invention could still fly under the radar, largely undetected by the masses. Yet, the chopped cheese sandwich exists exactly in this grey space. Wildly popular in its native New York bodegas, the rest of the world remains ignorant of such simple pleasures. I’m certainly not the first, nor last, to tout such an ingenious combination of bread, meat, and cheese, which is another point of controversy in itself. Also known as the shortened title of “chop cheese,” this fully loaded hoagie is just as heavy in cultural significance.

No one can pinpoint the exact origin of the chopped cheese sandwich, though it’s indisputably born and raised in the outer boroughs of NYC. Records date it back to about the 70s, but it’s quite possible such a creation existed before anyone thought to write such an experience down for historic preservation. Only after Anthony Bourdain made a fateful visit in late 2014 with his camera crew did the rest of the nation start taking notice.

Overnight, “upscale” versions appeared on New American menus, commanding steep price tags well above actual market value. It was a slap in the face to all who cherished the concept, twisting it into a symbol of gentrification without any credit going to its true origins. To this end, I will never claim to make the best, most authentic, or most original rendering- But I can promise a darned tasty meal.

Born of scrappy persistence, the point of a chopped cheese sandwich is to take the bits and bobs, odds and ends, and maximize their flavor potential. That’s exactly why I save Sugimoto shiitake stems. A bit tougher than their supple caps, they need more finessing to enhance their textural impact, but still posses volumes of bold, rich flavor. Who could dream of throwing away such savory diamonds in the rough? They just need a bit more polishing to reach perfection.

In fact, I would never start with whole, fresh shiitake for such a dish. Did you know that these incredible mushrooms have two kinds of aroma? The first comes before eating, as the smell wafts from the cooked dish before you dig in. The second arrives with every subsequent bite, bumping up the flavor from start to finish. Only a long, slow soak can unlock the full potential for both of these stages, combining to create a fusion of umami intensity, far beyond range of your average meatless protein. Sugimoto is the only brand I’ve tried that truly captures this complete experience.

Back to the meat of the matter. Give me your rough, your affordable, your leftover proteins! Traditionally made from chopped hamburgers, this is where the sandwich gets its name. Anything goes here, whether you prefer something veggie-heavy, bean-based, or super beefy. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be fully formed patties. Finely minced homemade seitan, as seen here, was my favorite version yet, and I can’t wait to try it with everything in my arsenal, from rehydrated soy curls to tempeh. The magic is in the combination of juicy protein, melted yellow cheese, and crisp fresh vegetables piled high on a soft hoagie roll.

It would be easy enough to use prepared vegan queso or sliced cheese here, but I went the DIY route to make sure you’ll get that perfect, gloriously gooey bite every single time. Just whisk, heat, and pour. No nuts, no nonsense, and you can make it in minutes with basic pantry staples.

Speaking of awesome sauces, let’s not glance over the second layer of shiitake wallop. Hidden like landmine right beneath the sliced tomatoes and shredded, a pinch of dried Sugimoto shiitake powder explodes with another round of bold flavor in the mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise. Such an unassuming spread is usually an afterthought, but leveraged properly, completes the flavor profile with a final round of richness.

It’s not fussy, definitely not fancy, and absolutely guaranteed to be messy, specifically designed to hit all the pleasure sensors in the brain with one giant wallop of umami. That’s the essence of what makes a chopped cheese sandwich so great.

Yield: Makes 4 Sandwiches

Chopped Cheese Sandwich

This fully loaded chopped cheese sandwich is piled high witha super umami filling, gooey cheese sauce, and crisp vegetables all on a soft hoagie bun. It's so intensely rich and savory, you won't even realize it's vegan.

Ingredients

Chopped Meat Filling:

• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 Medium Yellow Onion, Diced
• 1 Clove Garlic
• 8-Ounces Meatless Burgers, Seitan, or Your Favorite Vegan Protein, Minced
• 1 Cup Rehydrated Sugimoto Shiitake Mushroom Stems, Minced
• 1/3 Cup Beet Juice
• 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
• 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt

Liquid Cheese:

• 2 Tablespoons Vegan Butter or Refined Coconut Oil
• 3 Tablespoons Chickpea Flour
• 1 Cup Plain, Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
• 1 Tablespoon White Miso Paste
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Paprika
• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Turmeric
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt

To Assemble:

• 3 Tablespoons Ketchup
• 2 Tablespoons Vegan Mayonnaise
• 1/2 Teaspoon Dried Sugimoto Shiitake Powder*
• 4 Hoagie Rolls
• 2 Cups Shredded Lettuce
• 2 Roma Tomatoes, Sliced

Instructions

1. Starting with the meatless filling, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes, until translucent and aromatic. Add the minced protein of your choice along with the shiitake stems and pieces. Sear until golden brown all over and slightly crispy around the edges.
2. Deglaze the pan with the beet juice, scraping up all the browned bits at the bottom with your spatula. Incorporate the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper, stirring thoroughly to combine. Cook until any excess liquid has evaporated. Turn off the heat, cover, and keep warm.
3. Meanwhile, for the cheese sauce, melt the vegan butter or coconut oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in the chickpea flour, quickly stirring to combine, mashing out any lumps that might form. Toast for about 1 minute to remove the raw flavor before slowly pouring in the non-dairy milk, whisking constantly. Continue beating the mixture until completely smooth.
4. Add the nutritional yeast, miso paste, lemon juice, onion powder, paprika, turmeric, and salt. Whisk to incorporate and continue cooking until the mixture thickens and bubbles burst on top; about 7 - 9 minutes. Remove from the heat. This sauce will thicken as it cools, so you may need to add more non-dairy milk before reheating if you make it in advance.
5. When you're ready to assemble, mix together the ketchup, mayonnaise, and shiitake powder* in a small bowl. Slice the rolls lengthwise, 3/4 of the way through, with a sharp serrated knife. Toast if desired or use as is.
6. Spread a thin layer of the ketchup/mayo mixture on the bottom and top with tomatoes and lettuce. Mound the hot meatless filling up on top, and finish with a heavy pour of the cheese sauce. Enjoy immediately, with plenty of napkins nearby.

Notes

*For the best, most flavorful results, mix the ketchup, mayonnaise, and shiitake powder in advance and let sit for at least 24 hours before using.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 580Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 1304mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 5gSugar: 20gProtein: 32g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.

This post was made possible as a collaboration with SUGIMOTO Co. My opinions can not be bought and all content is original. This page may contain affiliate links; thank you for supporting my blog!

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