Paneer sandwich is a delicious vegetarian grilled sandwich from India. It's stuffed with a flavorful Indian cottage cheese (paneer) and vegetable filling. The slight kick of spicy green chutney which is used as a spread in this sandwich makes it yummier.
When you want to enjoy a quick and easy meal, there could be nothing better than a sandwich.
Today, I am sharing the recipe for a very popular vegetarian grilled sandwich from India called Paneer sandwich.
This protein-packed vegetarian sandwich can be enjoyed at any time of the day and is loved by everyone.
Jump to:
- What goes in paneer sandwich?
- Ingredients notes and substitute suggestions
- How to make (step-by-step instructions)?
- What to serve with a paneer sandwich?
- Storing tips
- Can you freeze this sandwich?
- How to reheat?
- Recipe tips and tricks
- Frequently asked questions
- Other vegetarian sandwich recipes
- More, easy paneer recipes
- Recipe
What goes in paneer sandwich?
To make paneer masala sandwich, you will need the ingredients shown below:
Ingredients notes and substitute suggestions
- Sandwich bread: Use any bread of your choice. I have used whole wheat bread.
- Paneer: To make this sandwich, crumbled paneer is used. Paneer is Indian cottage cheese. Though fresh paneer is the best for this recipe, you can also use frozen paneer. If using frozen paneer, thaw it first and then crumble. If you can't find Indian cottage cheese, regular cottage cheese can be used too.
- Sweet corn kernels: Fresh, frozen, canned all are fine. Fresh corn will need more time to get cooked.
- Vegetables: I have used onion, tomato, carrot, and green peas. Feel free to add or skip vegetables depending upon your preference. Some other vegetables that I like in this sandwich are bell pepper, French beans, and finely chopped broccoli.
- Green chutney: You can also use any other spread or chutney of your choice. Some of the chutneys that can be used in paneer sandwich are mint chutney, Coriander Tomato Chutney, or raw mango chutney. Store-bought ready-made chutneys can also be used.
How to make (step-by-step instructions)?
Step 1: Heat oil in a cooking pot and add chopped onion. Cook until the onion becomes translucent. Add chopped ginger and garlic. Saute for a few seconds.
Step 2: Add chopped vegetables and corn kernels. Cook until the vegetables are cooked but still crunchy. You may add a few tablespoons of water, cover the pot, and then cook, to fasten the process.
Step 3: Add chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Saute for a few seconds.
Step 4: Add chopped tomatoes and cook for around 2 minutes.
Step 5: Next, add crumbled paneer.
Step 6: Mix everything, cook for a minute, and then turn off th heat.
Step 7: Add finely chopped cilantro and allow the filling to reach room temperature.
Step 8: Take a slice of bread and apply some green chutney on it.
Step 9: Put some paneer filling on top.
Step 10: Apply green chutney on another slice of bread and cover the filling with it.
Step 11: Heat a grill pan. Put the sandwich on it and brush it with some butter or olive oil.
Step 12: Toast from both sides until the sandwich turns crunchy and golden brown.
Your grilled paneer sandwich is ready to be enjoyed!
What to serve with a paneer sandwich?
My favorite way of enjoying a paneer sandwich is with a cup of chai (Indian tea). It's the most popular way of enjoying a sandwich in India, especially, during winter.
You can serve it with a chutney or any dipping sauce of choice.
For lunch, you can serve it with a crunchy salad on the side.
Storing tips
To store, tightly wrap the sandwich in a cling wrap or aluminum foil. You may keep it in the fridge but it's best to consume it within the same day.
Can you freeze this sandwich?
No, paneer sandwich doesn't freeze well. You can freeze the filling though. In the freezer, paneer filling will be fine for around 3 months.
When you plan to use it in a sandwich, either microwave it until reheated evenly or transfer it to a pan, saute for a few minutes (thawing is not necessary), and allow it to reach room temperature before filling inside the sandwich.
How to reheat?
You can reheat it using any of the following methods:
- On the stovetop: Heat a grill pan or skillet. Brush the pan with some butter or oil, and toast the sandwich from both sides until nicely heated.
- In a microwave: Wrap the sandwich in a double-folded thick paper kitchen towel and put it on a microwave-safe dish. Microwave for around a minute, take the sandwich out, turn it over, and microwave again for around 30 seconds or until the filling is also nicely heated.
- In an oven: Wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil. Place it on a baking tray. Put in a preheated oven at 160°C (320°F) for around 15 to 20 minutes or until nicely heated.
Recipe tips and tricks
- I have finely chopped the vegetables but you can also grate them and then use in the filling. It gives a very nice texture.
- Cheese lovers may also add some melting cheese over the filling before grilling the sandwich.
- Instead of using crumbled paneer, you may also use small or bite-size paneer cubes in the filling.
- Usually, green chutney is slightly spicy. So, if you want to make it less spicy, feel free to use any other sandwich spread of choice.
- To balance the heat of chutney, you may add finely chopped pineapple to the filling.
- If you have some leftover paneer bhurji in your fridge, use it to make this sandwich.
- Or, if you have got leftover filling of paneer sandwich, it can be served with any Indian bread like roti or paratha and enjoyed as a meal.
- The leftover filling can also be stuffed in wraps or paneer parathas (Indian stuffed bread).
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use regular cottage cheese also if Indian cottage cheese (paneer) is not available.
If you are a vegan and want to create a vegan version of this recipe, replace paneer with silken tofu. Tofu will need more seasoning than paneer as it is slightly bland in comparison to paneer.
No, paneer doesn't melt on getting cooked. In fact, it becomes rubbery and chewy if cooked for a longer time.
Other vegetarian sandwich recipes
Looking for more easy vegetarian or vegan sandwich recipe ideas? Don't miss checking out the following recipes:
- Spinach corn sandwich
- Beetroot hummus and avocado sandwich
- Avocado sandwich with mung bean sprouts.
- Potato sandwich
More, easy paneer recipes
If you like paneer and looking for more easy paneer recipes, then the following recipes must be tried:
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Recipe
Paneer sandwich
Equipment
- Grill pan
- Cooking pot
Ingredients
- 8 bread slices
- 1 cup crumbled paneer
- ¼ cup green chutney
- ¼ cup green peas
- ¼ cup sweet corn kernels
- ¼ cup finely chopped carrot
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 medium-sized tomato finely chopped
- A handful of fresh cilantro roughly chopped
- 1-2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 small piece of ginger finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes adjust to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon olive oil for cooking vegetables
- ½ teaspoon butter/ olive oil for toasting sandwiches
Instructions
- Heat oil in a cooking pot. Add chopped onion and cook until it becomes translucent.
- Add finely chopped ginger and garlic. Saute for a few seconds.
- Add green peas, sweet corn kernels, and chopped carrots. Cook for a few minutes or until the vegetables are cooked but slightly crunchy. You may add a few tablespoons of water and cover the pot to fasten the cooking process.
- Once the vegetables are cooked, add chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Saute for a few seconds.
- Add chopped tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes only.
- Add crumbled paneer and mix everything. Cook for about a minute.
- Switch off the stove and add roughly chopped cilantro. Mix.
- Take a slice of bread and spread green chutney on it. Spread paneer filling on top.
- Apply green chutney on another slice of bread and cover the paneer filling with it. Keep the chutney side down.
- Heat a grill pan. Brush it with some butter or olive oil and put the sandwich on it.
- Brush the bread slice on top with some butter/ olive oil.
- Grill both sides of sandwich until they turn brown and crisp.
- Serve hot with a chutney or any dipping sauce of choice.
Video
Notes
- Instead of using crumbled paneer you can also add small or bite-size cubes in the filling.
- Feel free to add more vegetables of choice.
- This sandwich can be made without vegetables too if you don't want to add them.
- If you don't have green chutney use any other sandwich spread of choice.
- Vegans may use crumbled tofu instead of paneer.
- More recipe tips and tricks are given in the post above. Please follow them to make this recipe.
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