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Best Easy Vegetarian Philly Cheese Steak Recipe

Vegetarian Philly Cheese Steak Recipe: How to Make a Delicious Meatless Version of the Classic Sandwich This vegetarian version of the classic sandwich is made with meaty and flavorful mushrooms, peppers, onions, and a delicious cheese blend.
Vegetarian Philly Cheese Steak Recipe: How to Make a Delicious Meatless Version of the Classic Sandwich
This vegetarian version of the classic sandwich is made with meaty and flavorful mushrooms, peppers, onions, and a delicious cheese blend.
Simone - Munchyesta.com
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Serving Size 4 sandwiches

Ingredients

For the Steak

  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil separated - or avocado oil or vegan butter
  • ⅓ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 Onion sliced - or shallots, or white onions
  • 2 pounds (0.9kg) Mushrooms chopped (I used Portobello, but King oyster and Baby Bella also work)
  • 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1 tsp Steak Seasoning

Optional extras

  • 1 Green Bell Pepper sliced
  • 4-6 slices Vegetarian Provolone Cheese or your preferred vegan cheese slices

For the vegan Cheese Sauce, optional but delicious!

  • ½ cup Raw Cashews soaked overnight
  • ¼ cup Nutritional Yeast
  • ¼ cup Water
  • 1 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
  • ½ tsp Garlic Powder
  • ½ tsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 2 tsp Salt or soy sauce (tamari sauce for gluten free version)
  • ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper

For the Sandwiches

  • 4 Hoagie Rolls sliced in half - or sub roll or other soft fluffy buns or long rolls of bread
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil

Instructions

Preparing the vegetarian Philly Cheese Steak

  • Heat vegetable oil in a skillet or frying pan and add the sliced mushrooms and sliced onions (if you’re using bell peppers add them now as well). Let them cook at high temperature for 3-5 minutes while stirring occasionally. 
  • Season with salt, smoked paprika and steak seasoning and stir to coat everything evenly. Continue sautéing for a few more minutes until the mushrooms and onions are golden, soft and light Caramelized.
  • If you’re opting for vegan cheese, pile the cheese over the sautéed mushrooms and let the heat from the pan melt the cheese. Turn down the heat and leave while you prepare the bread. 

Making the Cheese Sauce

  • Soak the raw cashews in 2 cups of water overnight (optionally, you can soak them in hot water for 3 minutes if you are in a rush).
  • Once the cashews have finished soaking you are ready to make the sauce: add drained cashews, garlic, nutritional yeast, and the rest of the cheese ingredients to a high powered blender. Blend until smooth (you may need to scrape down the sides a few times)
    Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. That's it! Your cheese sauce is ready to serve!

Assembling the Sandwiches

  • To assemble your vegan Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, start by toasting a soft hoagie roll. Then, layer on your prepared fried mushrooms, sautéed peppers (if using) and onions, and a generous amount of the cheese sauce.
  • If desired, you can also add additional toppings such as sliced tomatoes, lettuce, or avocado. Serve hot and enjoy your delicious and satisfying vegetarian Philly cheese steak sandwich.

Notes

How to store leftover Philly cheese steak
To store leftover Philly cheese steak, I recommend allowing the vegan meat/mushrooms to cool down to room temperature and then placing them in an airtight container. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
This recipe is freezer friendly