With its crispy coating, meaty texture and cheesy filling, cordon bleu is such an irresistible dish. So we figured why not make one healthier, plant-based and dairy-free option? After much experimentation, here is our delicious vegan cordon bleu that is sure to surprise you and become your next favorite meal.
Classic Swiss Cordon Bleu consists of pound meats such as veal, chicken or pork wrapped around cheese and ham, then breaded and pan fried. In our recipe we have a meat-free base with jackfruit and white beans. Then we swapped ham and cheese for carrot ribbons and vegan cheddar slices. Finally we have oven baked the bun rather than frying it to keep the fats down.
After the success of our jackfruit nuggets and burgers, we decided to return to using this versatile tropical fruit as a meat substitute. It has a fleshy texture and a neutral taste, just what we need in a plant-based alternative to beef and chicken. We paired jackfruit with kidney beans to balance the cordon bleu with a protein source and add creaminess.
We mixed jackfruit and beans with nutritional yeast, whole wheat flour, onion, garlic powder, and olive oil. These ingredients help add structure, flavor and richness to the vegan cordon bleu. As for the filling, we found that carrot ribbons make a colorful substitute for ham. Simply shave the carrots with a vegetable peeler, done – so easy! You can also use zucchini or mushrooms as a tasty alternative.
Finally, we breaded the cordon bleu bun with crunchy breadcrumbs and baked it in the oven until golden brown. The result is a delicious meat-free cordon bleu full of flavor and texture. It is so fleshy and oozing with cheese you won’t believe it’s 100% vegan.
Enjoy this vegan cordon bleu while still warm, slice and serve with a side salad. Compared to the classic recipe, ours half the fats And double the fibersall in just 265 calories. Impressively!