Pav-bhaji style sandwich The bhaji made in Pav-bhaji is watery and here we keep it thick without water. This is an innovation of mine. I would plan Pav-bhaji on a Sunday evening and keep some bhaji aside without adding water. The next day, I would microwave it and make sandwiches for the lunchbox. Ingredients 2 medium sized boiled potatoes- peeled and crushed, 1 medium sized onion- finely chopped,1 ½ medium sized tomatoes- finely chopped. Salt to taste, ½ tsp pav-bhaji masala, 1/2 tsp-chilli powder, 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves.1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 2 tsp oil. Bread Method Heat oil and crackle cumin seeds. Add onions and fry till it changes colour. Add tomatoes and fry. Add mashed potatoes, salt, chilli powder and pav bhaji masala. Stir well. Using a crusher or the flat bottom of a cup crush and blend all the ingredients. sprinkle coriander leaves. Mix. Simply stuff some bhaji between 2 trimmed slices of bread. Press a little and cut into the desired shape to make sandwiches. Or make a toast, apply some salted butter on the toast and serve with ketchup or green chutney
Potato-Cauliflower Toast In Mumbai, some centres sell it as Activity Sandwich/Toast Sandwich. The hallmark of this sandwich is its spiciness but you can adjust it to suit your taste. Ingredients 2 medium sized boiled potatoes- peeled and crushed, 1 medium sized cauliflower floret - finely chopped or grated, 1½ medium-sized tomatoes- finely chopped. Salt to taste, 1 tsp red chilli powder, chat masala to taste, ½ tsp cumin seeds, 2 tsp oil. Method Heat oil and crackle cumin seeds. Add grated cauliflower, sprinkle little water. Cook for 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, mix and continue to cook till tender. Add mashed potatoes, salt, chilli powder, chaat masala Stir well. Using a potato masher or the flat bottom of a cup mash and blend all the ingredients. Prepare sandwiches. Or make a toast, apply some salted butter on the toast and serve with ketchup or green chutney.
Vegetable Cutlets They are a good way of encouraging children to consume vegetables. They serve good as an evening snack or for the lunch box. Ingredients 200 g Vegetables like French beans, carrots , peas, potatoes, corn etc, (let almost 50% of them be potatoes)( you may include soaked soya nuggets also), ½ tsp ginger paste, ½ tsp garlic paste, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, chilli powder to taste. 2 tbsp breadcrumbs, salt to taste, 2 tsp cornstarch, water. 2 tsp chopped coriander leaves, 1 tbsp oil. 4 tbsp of breadcrumbs. Oil for deep frying. Method 1. Steam vegetables, drain and spread them over a kitchen napkin to get rid of water as much as possible. 2. Mash them. 3. Heat oil in a pan. Add ginger and garlic. Sauté for a minute. 4. Add mashed vegetables, turmeric powder, salt and chilli powder to taste. 5. Mix well, cover and cook for 2-3 minutes. 6. Sprinkle coriander leaves. Allow the vegetables to cool. 7. Add bread crumbs, mix well and form cutlets. 8. In 1 cup of water mix cornstarch. 9. Heat oil for frying. 10. Dip cutlets in cornstarch mixture, roll in bread crumbs and then deep fry. 11. Serve with ketchup or green chutney. Notes Potatoes help to bind. If you are using soya you will need a little more of potatoes to bind. Breadcrumbs help in binding and they also add texture.
Looks yummy! For a healthier version with no compromise in taste, you could grill them on a pan or baste with a little oil and bake in a preheated oven on both sides till golden.
Sandwich using Cutlets Using the above procedure prepare cutlets. They can be consumed as such or turned into a burger or a sandwich! Ingredients Cutlets, trimmed bread slices, butter, sandwich chutney and ketchup. Method 1. Apply Butter and chutney on a slice of bread. 2. Place a cutlet on it. 3. Apply ketchup on another slice and place it over the cutlet. 4. Press a little and cut into the desired shape.
Thanks for the wonderful recipes. All look very tasty. I guess we can use the stuffing in chappati too.
adding Sweet potatoes instead of regular adds more fiber and unique taste. Kids like sweet taste too.
You are right, Veena, thanks. Isn't it wonderful that each of us can tweak the recipe a bit to suit our palette and derive full enjoyment and satisfaction? Bonus point is, when the item turns out different but still tasty! Lo! We have an innovation on hand! You may please add your ideas and a few lunchbox recipes here for everyone's benefit.
Good idea, Vedhavalli. The sky is the limit when we are willing to experiment. Please add some of your lunchbox recipes and ideas here. So that all of us can benefit.