Paneer Chutney Sandwich

mayurisjikoni

7 years ago

EVENT: HEALTHY WELLTHY CUISINES

THEME: 57 HWCG #SANDWICHFEST

My family enjoys a good sandwich anytime. Just ask them what shall I make be it for travel, picnics, as quick meals, the answer is always sandwiches. For the kids it began with butter and jam sandwiches and then slowly we progressed to sandwiches with veggies, cheese, etc.

What is a Sandwich? Its basically some food item in between two pieces of bread. The breads can be from the regular square slices, baguettes, croissants, bagels, wraps, pita bread to rolls. Whenever I visit Montreal, I love to use bagels or sourdough bread for sandwiches. However, here in Mombasa its either use what bread is available or bake one. If I bake one, then that really doesn’t count as a quick meal.

As to the filling it can be raw vegetables like carrots, cucumber, lettuce, cabbage, cooked or roasted veggies like eggplant, zucchini, different types of cheese, different types of meat, eggs, fish, left over dry food, like potatoes, meat, etc. Add sauces, mayonnaise, chutneys, dips, for extra taste, add herbs etc. The options are endless.

My family’s all time favorite is toasted sandwiches with a veggie filling or Bombay sandwich. By the way have your tried the ones sold outside Friendship Shop in Santa Cruz West, Mumbai? Simply to die for! Whenever I go to UK, one of the ‘must do’ on my list is a delicious egg and cress sandwich from Marks and Spencer.

The word sandwich may have originated from a story about John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. It is believed that around 1762, he asked his cook to prepare him a meal which could be consumed during his 24 hour gambling session without him using a fork and knife and the cards becoming greasy. The cook served a piece of meat between two slices of bread. Pretty soon others started ordering ‘A Sandwich’. But history says that sandwiches existed way before the Earl of Sandwich or rather his cook made them popular. The Jewish sage Hillel the Elder would wrap meat with bitter herb in a soft matzah, a soft unleavened bread during Passover.

Sandwiches have become popular world over. For the sandwich theme for the Healthy Wellthy group, I decided to make a paneer sandwich with two different condiments, a basil pesto and red chili sauce, both homemade. Adding a little zing to the sandwich was a must. The taste of basil coupled with the hot garlic and red pepper chutney made the sandwich taste a bit herby, a bit hot and a bit garlicky.

PANEER CHUTNEY SANDWICH

Makes 4

4 small buns, white or wholewheat

100g paneer, cut into four slices

1 small cucumber, sliced

1 tomato, sliced

2-3 tbsp basil pesto sauce

2-3 tbsp garlic and red pepper chutney

6-8 black olives, pitted and sliced

1 tbsp olive oil

salt as required

Heat a pan over low heat.
Add oil and let it become hot.
Add the paneer slices and roast them on both sides till they become golden brown in colour.
Keep the paneer on the side till required.
Cut the buns into half.
Lightly toast the buns.
On one half of the bun spread some pesto sauce.
Place the paneer, tomato and cucumber slices.
Add the olive slices.
Sprinkle some salt over it.
Smear the top half of the bun with the chili sauce.
Place it on top of the layered paneer, tomato and cucumber.
Serve immediately.
Repeat steps 7 to 13 with the remaining buns, paneer, tomato, cucumber and olive slices.

Tips:

Use vegetables of your choice. Can replace the cucumber and tomato with roasted zucchini, bell pepper etc.
Use sauces of your choice.
Use bread of your choice.

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