Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • A rich mushroom stock fortified with vegetable base adds meaty flavor to the yuba.
  • Thick yuba sheets hold up to simmering in the mushroom stock and have a nice chewy bite.
  • Shredded, roasted trumpet mushrooms soak up any extra sauce, preventing the sandwich from getting soggy.
  • Deep, toasty flavors of caramel give the filling dimension and balance.

My love of yuba runs deep. If I ever found myself in aSophie’s Choicesituation, forced to say goodbye to either tofu skin or meat, you’d find me silently screaming after deciding to let my baby beef go. That said, dare I declare that this vegan yuba cheesesteak is even better than its carnivorous counterpart? Oh yes, I dare. Okay, I’ll admit that my opinion of this sandwich is severely skewed due to my undying affection for yuba, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still pretty darn delicious.

If it makes you feel more comfortable, just call it a yuba sandwichinspiredby the iconic cheesesteak. The jury is still out on who makes the bestcheesesteak, but what I’m looking for is tender and juicy thinly sliced steak, a fresh, crusty roll with a fluffy interior, and I’m always “wiz wit”—meaning I want my cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz and onions.

While the mushroom broth is simmering, I also caramelize onions and roast king oyster mushrooms, which will be added to the mix at the end. The trumpet mushrooms are joining the team for their ability to sop up sauce like a sponge, which prevents the yuba filling from getting wet and soggy. I shred the trumpet mushrooms lengthwise to create a coarse and rough texture, maximizing surface area and sauce-sucking potential. I then toss the mushroom shreds with oil, salt, and pepper before roasting until golden and crisp.

To finish up the bean curd “steak,” I sprinkle sugar across a wide sauté pan and allow it to caramelize to a dark brown. Once browned and nearly smoking, I drop in the bean curd strips and stir to toss in the caramel. Next, I season the yuba with paprika, garlic powder, and a few generous turns of black pepper. This is all topped with the mushroom broth and everything gets simmered down until the liquid reduces to a thick glaze. I finally stir in the caramelized onions and roasted trumpet mushrooms to finish off the filling.

You could stop here and finish the sandwich with a few slices of vegan cheese, but I need Cheez Whiz in order to call it a cheesesteak. Kenji’svegan cheese saucealmost nails it, but it’s too spicy and Southwestern-inspired for an East Coast sandwich. To push his sauce closer to Philly, I omit the chipotles, jalapeños, and hot sauce. Instead, I add a teaspoon of tomato paste and a heap of nutritional yeast. I love the musky taste of nutritional yeast; it’s cheesy with a hint of wet basem*nt—in the best possible way.

Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Recipe (1)

All that’s left is to assemble the sandwich. I prefer untoasted buns, and I generously smear them with the cheese sauce before loading them up with yuba “steak,” followed by more cheese, of course. For the most authentic experience, I like to wrap my sandwich up in foil, shove it in the bottom of my backpack, walk around town, and eat it hours later once the yuba, cheese sauce, and bread have all gotten to know one another. But eat yours immediately, if you must.

March 2018

Ingredients

For the Mushroom Stock:

  • 7 cups (20 ounces; 560g) button mushrooms, washed and quartered

  • 1 medium (10 ounces; 280g) onion, quartered

  • 8 cloves (2 ounces; 60g) garlic, roughly smashed

  • 4 small (9.5 ounces; 270g) carrots, cut into large chunks

  • 4 ribs (12 ounces; 340g) celery, cut into large chunks

  • 5 tablespoons (2.5 ounces; 70g) vegetable oil, divided

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 tablespoon (0.5 ounce; 15g)tomato paste

  • 3 tablespoons (1.5 ounces; 45g) vegetable base, such as Better Than Bouillon

For the Cheesesteak Filling:

  • 1.5 packages (15 ounces; 420g) beancurd sheets (yuba)

  • 6 tablespoons (1.5 ounces; 45g) vegetable oil, divided

  • 2 medium (20 ounces; 560g) onion, thinly sliced

  • 3 cups (8 ounces; 220g) royal trumpet mushroom, shredded lengthwise

  • Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

  • 1/4 cup (1.75 ounces; 50g)sugar

  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 2 tablespoons (1 ounce; 30g)spicy brown mustard

  • Vegan nacho cheese sauce(see note)

  • 6 hoagie buns

Directions

  1. For the mushroom stock: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). In a large bowl, toss together the mushroom, onion, garlic, carrot, celery, 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil and kosher salt. Spread onto two foil-lined sheet trays. Roast until deeply browned, about 45 minutes, tossing vegetables every 15 minutes.

  2. In a 4-quart sauce pot over medium heat, add remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and tomato paste. Cook tomato paste until caramelized and deep mahogany, about 5 minutes. Add 6 cups (48 ounces; 1.3L) water, roasted vegetables, and vegetable base. Simmer for 45 minutes. Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain mushroom stock, pressing firmly on solids.

    Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Recipe (2)

  3. For the cheesesteak filling: Remove yuba from package and cut into 1-inch strips. (Optional: Place cut yuba in a large bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place the nozzle of a smoking gun under the plastic wrap. Light smoking gun until the bowl fills with smoke. Let the yuba sit in the smoke for 30 minutes, adding more smoke as needed.)

    Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Recipe (3)

  4. While stock is simmering, over medium-low heat in a medium saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons of oil and add onions. Cook gently until caramelized, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a splash of water as needed.

  5. Toss the shredded trumpet mushroom with the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread onto a foil-lined sheet tray and roast at 450°F (232°C) until golden brown and crisp, about 20 minutes.

    Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Recipe (4)

  6. In a large saute pan over high heat, add the sugar and caramelize until deep golden brown. Add the yuba strips, stirring to distribute caramel. Add the paprika, garlic powder, mushroom stock, and black pepper. Simmer until most of the liquid has reduced and the yuba is glazed. Remove from heat and stir in the mustard, caramelized onions, and roasted trumpet mushrooms.

    Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Recipe (5)

  7. To assemble the sandwiches: If desired, warm or toast the hoagie buns. Split open the buns and spread with 1/4 cup of Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce. Divide the yuba filling among the six buns and top with extra cheese. Serve immediately.

    Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Recipe (6)

Special Equipment

Half sheet pan, fine-mesh strainer, smoking gun (optional)

Notes

Kenji's recipe for Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce has a lot of heat and a southwestern taste. For something with flavors closer to a true cheesesteak omit the jalapeño, chipotle, and hot sauce. Instead, add 1 teaspoon tomato paste to the onions and blend in 1/2 cup nutritional yeast flakes at the end. If you do not own a smoking gun, you can use a wok to smoke the yuba, or you can add 1/4 teaspoon (1ml) good-quality liquid smoke, such as Wright's or Colgin to the yuba mixture at the end of Step 6.

  • Dairy-free Mains
  • Vegan Mains
  • Vegetarian Mains
  • Roasted Vegetables
  • Mushrooms
Vegan Philly Cheesesteak Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan Philly cheesesteak made of? ›

Vegan Philly cheesesteak sandwich packed with thinly sliced tofu steak, caramelised veggies & a homemade vegan cheese sauce!

Is meatless Philly vegan? ›

100% plant-based steak. And with a simple cheese. switch you can make it a 'vegan' Meatless Philly. #SubwaySeries.

What is the secret to a Philly cheesesteak? ›

For an authentic taste of Philly cheesesteak goodness, you're better off trying to recreate the classic recipe at home. In addition to rolls, cheese, onions, and steak, there is one secret ingredient that's sprinkled on both the meat and the bread that can really take the taste over the top: garlic.

What cheese can I substitute for Philly cheesesteak? ›

You can substitute any good melty cheese that you'd like (American or Velveeta are great, too) or use Cheez Wiz for a truly authentic sandwich!

What's the difference between a cheesesteak and a Philly cheesesteak? ›

However, the main difference between the two is that a Philly cheesesteak is a specific type of cheesesteak that originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is made with thinly sliced ribeye steak, grilled onions, and melted cheese, typically served on a hoagie roll.

Why is impossible meat not vegan? ›

While Impossible's proprietary plant-based heme is 100 percent free from animal-derived ingredients, it was tested on animals – at least once – in order to gain full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to be “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS.

What is Subway vegan patty made of? ›

blend of Organic Whole Grains (brown rice and rolled. oats), Organic Vegetables (corn, carrots, onions and. green peppers) and seasoned with Organic Spices.

What fake meat is vegan? ›

Seitan/wheat protein

Seitan is the protein contained in wheat. Easy to season and prepare, and with a consistency similar to meat, seitan is a popular meat substitute that has been a staple ingredient in Asian cuisine for millennia.

What gives Philly cheesesteak its flavor? ›

Mix salt, pepper, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, marjoram, and basil together in a small bowl. Place steak in a large bowl; sprinkle seasoning mixture over top and stir to coat.

Do you put mayo on Philly cheesesteak? ›

Crafted with premium steak, grilled onions, American cheese, mushrooms, bell peppers, provolone cheese, light mayo on our fresh-baked bread.

What kind of sauce do you put on Philly cheesesteak? ›

If you are looking for an authentic Philadelphia experience, you should try using Whiz Cheese Sauce. This sauce is made by mixing shredded cheese with mayonnaise, mustard and other ingredients. You can also use Cheez Whiz as an alternative if you do not like the taste of mayonnaise.

What is the best melty cheese for Philly cheesesteak? ›

It's generally topped with provolone cheese and/or Cheez Whiz.

Do authentic Philly cheesesteaks use cheese whiz? ›

Here's the lowdown on this region's favorite sandwich. A cheesesteak begins with a long, crusty roll and continues with thinly sliced sautéed rib-eye, melted cheese and, as often as not, griddled onions. Generally, the cheese of choice is Cheez Whiz®, but American and mild or sharp provolone are common substitutions.

What is considered a real Philly cheesesteak? ›

The roll is not toasted. Sandwiches served in Philadelphia and elsewhere that include steak, cheese, onions, and other toppings like hot or sweet peppers and mushrooms are considered cheesesteaks (there are plenty of variations as well, like the pizza cheesesteak with tomato sauce and mozzarella).

What is vegan cheese slices made of? ›

Ingredients. potato starch, Corn starch, Less than 2 percent of: Konjac Flour, Fruit and vegetable juice (for color), Yeast extract, Annatto (for color), Salt, Tricalcium phosphate, Xanthan gum, Lactic acid, Natural flavors.

What is vegan American cheese made of? ›

Filtered Water, Coconut Oil, Modified Potato and Corn Starches, Potato Starch, Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Olive Extract, Paprika Extract and Beta Carotene for Color.

Is Philadelphia cream cheese plant-based vegan? ›

First launched in states in the southeast, Philadephia's Plant-Based Cream Cheese flavors are now available in stores across the country. Made primarily of coconut oil and fava bean protein, they are not only vegan but dairy and gluten-free.

Where does vegan steak come from? ›

Currently, vegan meat is most commonly produced using extrusion, which involves heating a dough of vegetable proteins, oil, and water at high pressure and forming a continuous protein bar that can be further processed into specific products.

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