Toasted Paneer Sandwich layered with a Creamy Cilantro Sesame Sauce – A Simple, Healthy & Delicious Protein filled Dinner ready in just 10 minutes!
Hello 2019! A New Year, a New Beginning…!
Starting off this year with one of my favorite recipes which has been a frequent in my kitchen lately – Paneer sandwich with cilantro sesame sauce! It’s a delightful fusion of pan-seared paneer patties & sautéed onions sandwiched between ghee-toasted bread with a spread of a creamy cilantro sesame sauce. The highlight of this dish is that, it’s completely vegetarian, masala-free, light, & healthy.
Paneer being an excellent protein source, is an inevitable ingredient in the diet of vegetarians in India. But it is also equally loved by non-vegetarians for its taste, and the variety of delicious & exotic dishes made out of it. The credit of this recipe goes to my sister-in-law who served us this finger-licking sandwich during our last trip to California, a fun-filled vacation time I had with friends & family! She is a vegetarian and an excellent cook too, her dishes are always an inspiration for me to explore the veggie side of my culinary skills. Her version of this recipe was made with grated paneer & finely chopped onions, tightly packed into a sandwich with loads of the cilantro sauce. Initially when I saw the sauce drenched paneer bits falling of the sliced sandwich halves, I was a bit skeptical thinking it might be a spicy masala overload, something which I am not a fan of in sandwich recipes. But, trusting her creations I went for it, took my first bite, closed my eyes, and OMG! It was beyond delicious, creamy yet light n refreshing, had literally zero masala, and YUM!
After being back from my vacation, I started experimenting with this dish; combining it with different vegetables & sauces, but somehow none of it could beat the wowness the original recipe had. Finally, one day I thought to toast the paneer just like how we sear chicken or any other meat, and hoped it would be ok as after all it’s a protein. Bingo, it worked! Toasting gave it a nice charred n smoky flavour which complemented well with the green sauce. The sandwich turned out to be a hit and from then on, I have been repeating it in my dinner menu often.
This sandwich recipe is purely vegetarian, healthy, light n filling, and best of all… so easy to cook! The sesame seeds in the sauce makes it smooth and creamy, and the green chilies give a spicy kick too. You can skip it if you don’t like the heat, as it is completely optional. And if you have any leftover sauce after preparing your sandwich, do not discard! Coz it makes an awesome dipping sauce to dunk your sandwich into.
Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!
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Toasted Paneer Sandwich layered with a Creamy Cilantro Sesame Sauce – A Simple, Healthy & Delicious Protein filled Dinner ready in just 10 minutes!
- 14 oz. paneer
- Salt and pepper
- Onion rings
- Oil (as required)
- Ghee (for toasting bread)
- 8 bread slices
- One big handful of cilantro leaves
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 garlic
- 1 green chilly (optional, for spicy kick)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp olive oil (plus more if needed)
- Salt and pepper
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Slice the paneer into quarter inch thick square patties. Season with salt and pepper.
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Heat oil in a pan, cook the paneer slices on medium flame until both sides are cooked and slightly browned (as shown in the picture). Keep aside.
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Into the same pan, cook onion rings for up to 2 minutes on both sides until slightly cooked. Do not overdo as it should maintain its shape.
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To prepare the cilantro sesame sauce, grind all the ingredients listed under sauce and check the salt to your preference.
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Turn on your toaster / panini maker to pre-heat, or if using a pan; heat it on a medium flame.
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Apply ghee on the outer sides of two bread slices and apply green sauce on inside. Arrange the paneer slices and onion rings between the slices to prepare your sandwich. Toast or heat the sandwich until golden on both sides.
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Slice the sandwich diagonally in half, serve warm with a side of tomato sauce and the remaining green sauce. Enjoy!