Bell Pepper Sandwich

Are there any ingredient substitution options?

I will say that I would suggest sticking with the ingredients listed in the recipe as much as possible (excluding the green bell pepper as the color of the pepper can be based on your taste preferences) since the ingredients all come together really well in the end.

That said, if you don’t have an ingredient on hand or if you have dietary restrictions, these are the substitutions I would suggest:

• Green Bell Pepper: Some people prefer to not eat green bell peppers raw. I personally LOVE them, but if you’re not a fan, try red, yellow, or orange. If you don’t like raw bell peppers, you can steam the pepper in advance of making it into a sandwich or you can make it into a sandwich and then grill it or bake it. Alternatively, I make these sandwiches in cucumber boats. You could also make a lettuce wrap.
• Cream Cheese: Mayonnaise would work great here. Note that if you use mayonnaise, the recipe will no longer be egg-free. You can also omit the cream cheese.
• Stone-Ground Mustard: Dijon mustard or yellow mustard can be used as a substitute here, although I would highly recommend sticking with the stone-ground mustard as I personally think it’s one of the best parts of the sandwich.
• Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning: I buy mine on Amazon, but you can also find this seasoning at most grocery stores in the spice aisle. If you can’t find it, you can make your own seasoning at home, or you can omit it.
• Deli Turkey: Deli ham or deli chicken is a great substitute here.
• Bacon: Turkey bacon would be the most logical substitution here. I would not omit the bacon, though, as I think the crunch and saltiness really bring the whole sandwich together.
• Provolone Cheese: Any sliced cheese will work in place of Provolone. Omit if you want to make the recipe dairy-free.
• Avocado: Guacamole can be used in place of mashed avocado. Just be sure to note that the sandwich may be a little saltier than the original recipe intended if the guacamole contains added salt.
• Cucumber: You can omit this if you’d like, though I think the cucumber’s texture and freshness are a great addition to the overall flavor of the sandwich.

How can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Use mayonnaise instead of cream cheese or altogether omit the cream cheese, as well as omitting the Provolone cheese.

How many net carbs per serving? Can I lessen the carb content?

Per serving, the sandwich contains 7.1 grams of net carbs. A serving size is 1 sandwich. Net carbs are calculated by taking total carbs, subtracting fiber, and subtracting sugar alcohols.

If you follow a ketogenic diet and want less net carbs per serving, eat an “open-faced” sandwich by eating just one side at a time (store the other side to eat later). This will yield the open-faced sandwich to be just 3.5 grams of net carbs per serving.

The full nutrition information for this recipe, including the calorie content, total carbs, protein, and fat per serving, can be found in the nutrition label located below the recipe instructions.

What diets is this bell pepper sandwich recipe compliant with?

• Keto and Low-Carb: The sandwich contains 7.1 grams of net carbs, making it a great option for a low-carb lunch. If you follow a ketogenic diet and want a meal that contains fewer net carbs, follow the instructions above to lessen the carb content to 3.5 grams per serving by making an “open-faced” sandwich.
• Nut-Free: There are no nuts or nut products in this recipe, making it perfect for those with nut allergies and intolerances.
• Coconut-Free: This sandwich is free from coconut-based ingredients.
• Gluten-Free and Grain-Free: This recipe is both gluten-free and grain-free.
• Dairy-Free: Use mayonnaise or omit cream cheese, as well as omitting the Provolone, to make this a dairy-free sandwich.
• Egg-Free: As written, this is an egg-free sandwich recipe. Note that if you choose to use mayonnaise instead of cream cheese, the recipe will no longer be egg-free.
• Primal: This recipe is compliant with a primal diet.
• Refined Sugar-Free: This recipe does not include any added sugar.