It’s always fun to try new things and broaden your culinary horizon! If you know me, you know that I’m as close to a carnivore as you can get. However, I scored an amazing deal at my local store on some vegan Italian Sausages and Bratwursts. After checking the ingredients list for anything unsavory, I decided to give them a chance. How could I turn it down?! So, I let my wallet and curiosity get the better of me and jumped right on in. I’ve had bad experiences with these “faux meats” in the past, but I’ve been hearing great things about the advancements in this culinary category as far as ingredient integrity, flavor and texture. I was hopefully optimistic and worse case scenario, I have a fun story to tell. Boy wow, was I pleasantly surprised! However, with the high calorie count, saturated fat levels and sodium I think I’ll stick with sausages made from things with hooves, but I’m highly impressed with how far these products have come over the years. The sautéed onions and bell peppers coupled with the drizzle of copycat Bloomin’ Onion Sauce gave these a major flavor punch!
4 Vegan Italian Sausages
1 large Onion; sliced
1 large Bell Pepper; sliced
Salt and Pepper to taste
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4 Flatbread Buns
1 cup Vegenaise
2 Tablespoons Ketchup
2 Tablespoons Horseradish Sauce
¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
¼ teaspoon Chili Powder
Pinch of Garlic Powder
Pinch of Onion Powder
¼ teaspoon Dried Oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste
- In a small bowl, combine the Blooming’ Onion Sauce ingredients. Mix thoroughly, then cover and chill until the sausages are done.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the onions and bell peppers, sautéing until tender. Scoop into a bowl and set aside.
- Return the skillet to the burner and add another drizzle of oil. Once hot, add the “sausages” and sear on all sides and the internal temperature reaches 165°F as per manufacturers instructions.
- Place the hot sausages on flat bread and top with the sautéed vegetables and Bloomin’ Onion Sauce.
- Enjoy!
Looking for a side dish? Try one of these recipes!
Ash's In The Kitchen 