A healthy, tasty and spicy Indian Paneer Sandwich (with my special filling recipe) for breakfast. Every single bite of this sandwich bursts with flavours you won't forget. The main ingredient here is quickly extracted homemade paneer/cottage cheese and I have added recipe for the same here because without it, the filling won't taste that good. So don't miss out on this one. You can make paneer ahead of time a night before to save some time in the morning. Just keep it refrigerated. Also, the below combination with layers of other ingredients just adds on more flavour and makes the best paneer sandwich you will ever try. The filling is mildly spiced, using loads of spices can make it taste like curry, which won't be that perfect for this sandwich.
Equipment
- frying pan
- mixing bowl
- gravy strainer
- cheese cloth/cotton cloth
Ingredients
For Paneer Filling
- 1 litre full fat milk (makes 1 cup homemade paneer/cottage cheese)
- 2-3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp ghee or vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup onion (finely chopped)
- 2 green chillies (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp crushed black/white pepper
- 2 tbsp tomato paste/puree
- 1 tbsp cashew paste (6-7 cashews soaked and blended)
- a pinch of sugar
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp coconut cream or heavy cream
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves (for garnish)
Other Ingredients
- 8-10 White (soft) bread slices
- Cheese slices (as preferred)
- Green Chutney (see notes for recipe)
- Tomato Ketchup (optional)
- Salted butter for pan roasting sandwiches
- 1/2 thinly sliced onions (extra)
Instructions
Making fresh Paneer/Cottage Cheese
- Heat full fat milk in a deep container at a medium flame till the point it starts to boil, keep stirring to avoid milk sticking at the bottom of your pan
- Mix some water in lemon juice then add all of it and stir slowly to mix, the milk will start to form tiny lumps separating the whey from it. Keep stirring and change flame to low for 3-4 mins then turn off.
- Pour it over a cotton cloth placed upon a gravy strainer on top of a deep container where you can collect the whey. Now keep aside for at least 30 mins to 1 hour, until whey is completely drained leaving a large dry block of paneer/cottage cheese on the cloth. You can then store/refrigerate this homemade paneer in an airtight box for future use.
Paneer Sandwich Filling
- Heat ghee/oil in a pan on low/medium flame, saute onion and green chillies for 1-2 minutes
- Add ginger garlic paste and saute till it looses its raw aroma, now add all dry spices except black pepper and mix well, cook for 1-2 minutes
- Now add tomato paste/puree, pinch of sugar and a tablespoon of water to help mix it all well, stir fry till you see the mixture starts extracting ghee/oil, this takes around 4-5 minutes.
- Add cashew paste and mix well again, cook for 2-3 minutes
- Now add the fresh crumbled paneer, some salt to taste, black pepper and coconut cream, then mix to form a well combined semi dry mixture. Keep on flame for another minute or two, top with chopped fresh coriander leaves then turn off the heat. Filling is ready.
Layering & Toasting Sandwich
- Toast the bread slices on a dry flat pan, only one side without using any butter
- Keep the toasted side of bread slices on top and spread green chutney on one and ketchup on another bread slice.
- Add a thin layer of paneer filling on the side with ketchup, top it with thinly sliced onions and a cheese slice then cover with the another bread slice spread with chutney (keep the non-toasted side on top now).
- Now heat a pan at low flame and spread some salted butter, place the sandwiches on top of the pan, cover and toast lightly, both sides until crisp. Covering helps the heat to distribute evenly in and out and allows the cheese to melt, which enhances overall flavour in each bite you take. Enjoy hot.
Notes
See green chutney recipe here.
Alternatively, I have also used leftover paneer gravy adding frozen crumbled paneer cubes to it, that works too.