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    Home » Breakfast Recipes

    Vegan Spinach & Mozzarella Cheese Melts

    Published: May 20, 2021 by Richa 19 Comments

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe

    Move over grilled cheese, my Vegan Spinach Cheese Melts are here to curb even the most serious cravings for a cheesy, melty and comforting lunch sandwich! The addition of tomatoes and sauteed mushrooms take these vegan cheese sandwiches to the next level.

    two homemade vegan mozzarella cheese melts with spinach and mushrooms on a wooden board

    Vegan Spinach & Mozzarella Cheese Melts are here to curb all your comfort food cravings. Trust me, this is the vegan sandwich to end all your comfort food cravings. Creamy, filling, salty, crispy, buttery and so easy to whip up on any given weekday.

    I mean, the combination of melty vegan mozzarella cheese and sauteed spinach alone would be pretty amazing.  But I didn’t stop there. Natural plant-based umami bombs mushrooms and tomatoes are added to take these vegan cheese sandwiches to the next level of deliciousness!

    Just in case you’ve been wondering.  Yes, vegan cheese melts and grilled cheeses are a thing! How so? Homemade vegan mozzarella cream. You could also call it vegan cheese spread! That’s right. No need to buy expensive vegan slices at the store. We make our own spreadable mozzarella from simple ingredients. Mostly blended soaked cashew nuts, some garlic and miso for umami, and a touch of flour for getting that gorgeous thick yet silky texture upon heating the sauce.see recipe notes for gf and no nut options.

    a vegan grilled cheese made with homemade cashew mozzarella , spinach and mushrooms

    What’s the difference between a melt and a grilled cheese anyway, you might ask. Well, grilled cheese is bread, some spread, and cheese. A melt is anything that has another item added to it. If you add things like spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes, it’s a melt. If you add avocados, it’s a melt. You get the idea. If you add anything other than bread, vegan cheese, and some kind of flavor-enhancing spread, a vegan grilled cheese turns into a melt.

    MORE SANDWICHES TO TRY

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    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Vegan Spinach Cheese Melts

    Move over grilled cheese, my Vegan Spinach Cheese Melts are here to curb even the most serious cravings for a cheesy, melty and comforting lunch sandwich! Layers of browned mushroom, garlicky spinach and homemade cashew mozzarella cream take these to the next level.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Breakfast, brunch, dinner, lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: vegan cheese melts
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 176kcal
    Author: Vegan Richa

    Ingredients

    For the spinach:

    • 1 Tbsp vegan butter
    • 4 to 6 oz (4 oz) of frozen spinach or chopped spinach
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ⅛ to ¼ tsp salt

    For the mozzarella cream:

    • ½ cup (64.5 g) raw cashews soaked in hot water for at least 15 minutes
    • 1 cup (250 ml) water
    • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 small garlic clove or use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
    • 3/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1 pinch onion powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon miso paste
    • 2 teaspoons flour , I use all-purpose, see notes for Glutenfree

    For the mushrooms:

    • 1 Tbsp vegan butter
    • 8 oz (226.8 g) mushrooms sliced
    • ⅛ teaspoons salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    For the rest of the ingredients.

    • sliced bread as needed
    • sliced tomatoes

    Instructions

    • Cook your spinach by adding vegan butter to a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until it starts to turn golden on some of the edges. Add in the spinach, pepper flakes, and salt, and cook until the spinach has wilted. If using frozen spinach then cook until the water is evaporated.

    To make the Mozzarella Cream:

    • Drain the Cashews, then add to a blender, add water and the rest of the ingredients and blend until it's smooth. You can blend for a minute then let it sit for a few minutes and then blend again for a minute.
    • Add the blended mixture to a skillet over medium heat, cook, stirring occasionally to thicken for six to seven minutes until it's thickened evenly. Let it cool for a few minutes before adding it to the sandwich to serve.

    To make the mushrooms:

    • Add vegan butter or oil to a skillet over medium heat, add sliced mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook until the mushrooms are golden around the edges, or cook until your preferred state of the mushrooms.

    Assemble:

    • Toast your bread slices in a toaster or on a skillet then assemble with some tomato slices, then top the slices with the cooked mushrooms, then add a good helping of the mozzarella cream and top it with the spinach. Too with another toasted bread and serve
    • Store the spinach and mozzarella separately refrigerated for upto 3 days. Reheat on a skillet and use . Or assemble
      Sandwich and bake for 10 minutes to reheat entirely

    Notes

    Nutrition does not include bread.
    To make this cheese melt gluten-free, use 1 tsp rice flour and 1 ½ tsp cornstarch or potato starch , use Glutenfree bread or Glutenfree tortilla wraps to make quesadilla 
    For Nutfree:Try my Cauliflower alfredo or pumpkin seed alfredo 
    Recipe Variations 
    I also like to serve these vegan cheese melts in other ways. Homemade quick tomato relish is an amazing addition along with the spinach. I make my tomato relish by chopping some fresh tomatoes and stirring them together with some fresh spinach and basil. Season with salt, and a dash of balsamic vinegar - delish!  But that will be a much messier sandwich. In a good way, of course.
    Make it a quesadilla:
    You can also turn this into a quesadilla by layering the tomatoes, mozzarella cream, mushroom, and spinach in a quesadilla and then grill lightly and serve.
    Make it a vegan spinach & mozzarella pizza:
    You can also turn this into a vegan pizza. Drizzle the mozzarella cream on the crust, then add a layer of the mushrooms and the cooked spinach mixture, then drizzle some more of the cream, and then bake until the top starts to get a bit golden.  Serve.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Spinach Cheese Melts
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 176 Calories from Fat 126
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 14g22%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Sodium 687mg30%
    Potassium 465mg13%
    Carbohydrates 10g3%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 2g2%
    Protein 6g12%
    Vitamin A 2964IU59%
    Vitamin C 10mg12%
    Calcium 44mg4%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Ingredients:

    • bread – I recommend slices of sourdough bread
    • spinach sauteed with garlic in vegan butter. You can use fresh or frozen and thawed
    • mushrooms – cremini, mini porta, portobello, shiitake – anything goes
    • soaked cashews as the base for the vegan cheese spread
    • the cheese sauce is flavored with garlic, salt, lemon juice, onion powder and miso paste
    • flour for thickening the cheese sauce. I use AP flour but you can use rice flour and cornstarch for gluten-free
    • tomatoes – I use fresh tomatoes but sun-dried would be nice as well

    ingredients needed for making vegan cheese melts

    Tips & Substitutions:

    • Sun-dried tomatoes or artichokes would be amazing additions.
    • You could use store-bought vegan mozzarella but it might not be as melty as our vegan cashew spread.
    • Any mushroom will do here. Feel free to make this with umami-richer kinds like fresh shiitake mushrooms or portobello mushrooms.
    • To get the vegan cashew mozzarella cream super smooth,  blend for a minute then let it sit for a few minutes. Then blend again for a minute.

    How to Make Vegan Spinach Melt Sandwiches:

    a pan with sauteed spinach next to a saucepan with vegan mozzarella cheese spread

    Cook your spinach by adding vegan butter to a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until starting the garlic start to turn golden. Now add in the spinach, pepper flakes, and salt, and cook until the spinach has wilted. If using frozen spinach then cook until the water is evaporated,

    To make the Vegan Mozzarella Cheese Spread, drain the soaked cashews, then add them to a blender. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. You can blend for a minute then let it sit for a few minutes and then blend again for a minute or 2.

    Add the blended cheese mixture to a skillet over medium heat, cook, stirring occasionally to thicken for six to seven minutes until it’s thickened evenly. Let it cool for a few minutes before adding it to the sandwich to serve.

    sauteed mushrooms in a frying pan


    Add some vegan butter or oil to a skillet over medium heat and add sliced mushrooms, salt and pepper. Cook until the mushrooms are golden around the edges.

    bread sliced being topped with sauteed mushrooms and vegan mozarella cheese

    Assemble:

    Toast your bread slices in a toaster or on a skillet then assemble with some tomato slices. Top the slices with the cooked mushrooms, then add a good helping of the vegan mozzarella cream and top it with the sauteed spinach.
    Place another slice of toasted bread on top and serve.

    overhead shot of vegan cheese melts topped with homemade cashew mozzarella spinach and tomatoes

    Recipe Variations:

    I also like to serve these vegan cheese melts in other ways. Homemade quick tomato relish is an amazing addition along with the spinach. I make my tomato relish by chopping some fresh tomatoes and stirring them together with some fresh spinach and basil. Season with salt, and a dash of balsamic vinegar – delish!  But that will be a much messier sandwich. In a good way, of course.

    Make it a quesadilla:

    You can also turn this into a quesadilla by layering the tomatoes, mozzarella cream, mushroom, and spinach in a quesadilla and then grill lightly and serve.

    Make it a vegan spinach & mozzarella pizza:

    You can also turn this into a vegan pizza. Drizzle the mozzarella cream on the crust, then add a layer of the mushrooms and the cooked spinach mixture, then drizzle some more of the cream, and then bake until the top starts to get a bit golden.  Serve.

    side view of vegan cheese melts topped with spinach and chopped tomatoes

    Which bread is best for making vegan cheese melts?

    I find that all sturdy types of bread are better for getting that perfect crunch we love about cheese melts and grilled cheese. Think sourdough. Any multi-grain or rye bread would work great too. Also gluten-free bread, obviously.

    two vegan cheese melts on a wooden cutting board

     

     

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    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you Love the Recipe, Please consider rating it using stars in comments! It helps readers and helps more people find the recipe online! I love hearing from you all! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      If you Love the Recipe, Please consider rating it using stars in comments! It helps readers and helps more people find the recipe online and I love hearing from you all!

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    1. D

      June 29, 2022 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      Love it. Perfection

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        July 03, 2022 at 5:45 pm

        ❤️❤️

        Reply
    2. Stacee

      February 11, 2022 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      Deliiiiiiiicious!

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        February 13, 2022 at 6:18 pm

        yipppiiiieeeeee!!

        Reply
    3. keli lieberman

      October 23, 2021 at 8:01 pm

      these are so yummy, thank you

      Reply
    4. Carla

      May 27, 2021 at 8:43 am

      Quick question, is the cup of water listed mozzarella spread for the soaking or the blending?

      Reply
      • Richa

        May 27, 2021 at 6:47 pm

        Blending

        Reply
    5. Sal

      May 23, 2021 at 9:52 pm

      5 stars
      This was yummy! I devoured it on some sour dough bread. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Richa

        May 23, 2021 at 10:36 pm

        Awesome!

        Reply
    6. Emily

      May 23, 2021 at 9:31 am

      5 stars
      Made them into quesadillas. So perfect!!!!

      Reply
      • Richa

        May 23, 2021 at 1:50 pm

        Awesome

        Reply
    7. Foster

      May 22, 2021 at 6:52 pm

      I am looking for a vegan cheddar cheese recipe

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        May 24, 2021 at 7:48 pm

        there are some nice options on searching my site here: https://www.veganricha.com/?s=cheddar

        Reply
    8. Sally

      May 21, 2021 at 1:44 am

      5 stars
      Dear Richa, I just wanted to say that through thick and thin (the same stuff we all plough through 😉) you are always generous, productive and super creative . Thank you so much. You are appreciated. 🙏🏽❤️

      Reply
      • Richa

        May 21, 2021 at 2:15 am

        Thank you Sally! ❤️❤️❤️

        Reply
    9. Nik

      May 20, 2021 at 7:14 am

      5 stars
      You are so creative, even with the most simple comfort foods! Thank you for sharing this! Now I will be on the lookout for all the ways I can use your mozzacream!😊

      Reply
      • Richa

        May 23, 2021 at 1:51 pm

        ❤️❤️❤️

        Reply
    10. Rita

      May 20, 2021 at 5:45 am

      The nutritional information shows 3% cholesterol. Vegan food does NOT contain cholesterol.

      Reply
      • Richa G

        May 20, 2021 at 8:46 am

        Yes it doesn’t , I checked and widget was using store bought bread in calculation, which prob has eggs or something. Updated it

        Reply

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