Prakash coffee house's famous Grilled Paneer sandwich

Prakash Coffee House is a well-loved spot in Ambala, Haryana (India), where I went for my undergraduate degree. The shop is famous for its simple yet delicious paneer sandwich and Indian-style beaten coffee—served hot in the winter and cold in the summer. I recreated that same sandwich in my kitchen, pairing it with a steaming cup of beaten coffee. This recipe brings back a lot of nostalgia for me, especially the memory of enjoying it when I returned to Ambala after graduation while completing paperwork for my master’s application to the US. Paneer, for those who may not be familiar, is a fresh Indian cheese that is soft, mild, and high in protein, making it a wholesome and satisfying ingredient.

Serves 1–2 persons

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

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Ingredients

• 4 slices of white bread

• Block of Paneer weighing roughly around 80-85 grams

• 1 small onion, diced

• 1 handful cilantro, finely chopped

Sandwich seasoning Mix (store in an airtight jar)

• 1 tsp table salt

• 1 tsp rock salt or Himalayan salt

• ½ tsp black pepper powder

• ¼ tsp chaat masala

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Instructions

1. Soak the block of paneer in a microwave-safe bowl of water, making sure the paneer is fully submerged. Microwave for 2 minutes. Remove the paneer, slice it lengthwise into four equal pieces, and place the slices back into the same bowl of water to keep them soft and moist until you are ready to use them.

2. Prepare the seasoning mix by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl and keep it aside.

3. Dice the onion and finely chop the cilantro, then mix them together.

4. Place a grill pan or skillet on low heat. Trim the crusts off the bread. On two slices, spread the onion-cilantro mix evenly.

5. Sprinkle the masala mix generously over both.

6. Place two slices of paneer on each onion-covered bread slice.

7. Top each slice with a plain slice of bread to complete the sandwiches.

8. Lightly spray oil on the heated grill pan and place sandwiches on it.

9. Grill both sides on low heat until golden and crisp which should take around 5 minutes.

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Notes

• You can double the masala mix to keep handy for future sandwiches.

• Serve with ketchup or green chutney.