Masala Sandwich is a tasty and crispy toasted sandwiches spiced with cilantro chutney, stuffed with a savory mashed potato filling and topped with mix veggies and then grilled or toasted. These spiced and filling masala toast sandwiches are a popular street food snack from Mumbai.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 30 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Snacks
  • Cuisine: Indian, Indian Street Food

Ingredients

  • 1 cup tightly packed coriander leaves (or ½ cup each of mint leaves and coriander leaves)
  • ½ teaspoon chaat masala powder
  • 1 to 2 green chilies, (I added 3 as we like spicy chutney for sandwiches)
  • salt (as required)
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons water (for grinding, optional)
  • 3 to 4 medium potatoes (or 1.5 cups mashed potatoes)
  • ½ tablespoon oil
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 or 2 green chilies (, finely chopped)
  • 8 to 10 curry leaves (, kept whole or chopped)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 pinch of asafoetida ((hing))
  • ⅓ cup chopped coriander leaves (- you can add ¼ cup too. i prefer to add more)
  • salt (as required)
  • 12 slices bread (- white, brown, whole wheat or multi grain bread)
  • 1 medium onion, (peeled, rinsed and thinly sliced)
  • 1 medium tomato, (rinsed and thinly sliced)
  • 1 small capsicum, (rinsed and thinly sliced (optional))
  • butter (as required)
  • chaat masala (or sandwich masala as required)
  • roasted cumin powder (as required, optional)
  • black salt (or rock salt or regular salt as required)

Method

Making green chutney

  1. Blend all the ingredients mentioned under the list 'for green chutney' in a grinder or small blender. Add very little water. The chutney has to be of thick or slightly thick consistency.
  2. Keep the chutney aside.

Preparing potato masala stuffing

  1. Rinse 3 to 4 medium potatoes very well in water and then steam or cook them in a pressure cooker or steamer. The potatoes should be cooked very well.
  2. When the potatoes are warm, peel and mash them with a vegetable masher.
  3. Heat oil in a shallow pan and add mustard seeds.
  4. When the mustard seeds crackle, add cumin seeds and a pinch of asafoetida (hing). Saute till the cumin seeds splutter and change color. Keep the heat on low so that the spices do not get burnt.
  5. Add finely chopped green chilies, turmeric powder and curry leaves (kept whole or chopped). Stir well.
  6. Add the mashed potatoes. Season with salt as per taste.
  7. Stir and mix the potatoes with the rest of the spices. Saute on a low heat for 2 minutes.
  8. Then add chopped coriander leaves. You can add ¼ cup too. I prefer to add more.
  9. Mix and saute for a minute. Keep this potato masala filling aside. Let it become warm or cool down at room temperature.

Assembling Masala Toast Sandwich

  1. Slice 1 medium onion and 1 medium tomato, thinly. Keep aside.
  2. Spread butter evenly on the bread slices. A generous coating of butter does not allow the bread to become soggy, when you apply the chutney.
  3. Now spread the coriander chutney.
  4. Spread the potato masala filling on the bread slices.
  5. Place the 1 or 2 tomato slices and onion slices. If you like, then you can also add slices of cucumber and capsicum at this step.
  6. Sprinkle a pinch or two of chaat masala powder, black salt (can use rock salt or regular salt too) and roasted cumin powder.
  7. Cover with the slices on which we have spread the butter and chutney.

Making Masala Sandwich

  1. Place in a preheated toaster or grill. You can also toast these sandwiches in a hand held stove top toaster. Preheat the toaster or grill, as per the manufacturer’s instructions and then place the sandwiches
  2. Toast the sandwiches till crisp and golden. Remove in a plate and spread some butter on top of the sandwiches.
  3. Serve Mumbai Masala Sandwiches hot with tomato ketchup and the remainder coriander chutney. You can also sprinkle some fine sev on the sandwiches while serving.
  4. For best taste and texture have them hot or warm.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.