Avocado Mango Mint Spread

For quite a few folks, when it comes to a sandwich spread, it translates into something buttery with a cheese/mayonnaise/hung curd base. This is perhaps the most important reason why it is one of the first things that goes off the menu when one is on a diet. But imagine a spread that is buttery, packs the same kind of punch and is, hold your breath, vegan to boot !!

That is where the delicious butter fruit or Avocado comes into the picture. With a texture and consistency that resembles butter, it is mildly flavored which makes it a great combination with other veggies and seasoning.

Read on for this low calorie spread made with avocado and some great Indian style flavors -

Preparation Time - 10 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 avocado
• 4-5 shallots (finely chopped)
• 1 tsp mint paste
• 2 tsp grated mango
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes
• freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 tsp honey
• salt to taste

Preparation - Halve the avocado and remove the stone. Scoop out the flesh into a mixing bowl.

Add all other ingredients to the same bowl. Mash together with a fork. Let it sit in the fridge for 1 hour for the flavors to come together.

Take it out and use as a sandwich spread or even a dip with pakoras /samosas.

Keep the rest in the fridge. Stay good for 2-3 days when stored with care.

Note - I prefer to add a few drops of EVOO to my spread. Gives a nice flavor.

Spinach and Sweet corn Sandwich

The yucky spinach (as most kids would label it) in a different avatar !!! This is one of those simple sandwiches that are healthy, filling and yummy, all at the same time. They make for a great 4 o'clock snack and taste equally good in the lunch-box.

Read on for the easy recipe -

Preparation Time - 10-12 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 1/2 cup shredded spinach leaves 
• 1/2 cup sweet corn
• 1/2 of a small onion (finely chopped)
• 1/3 tsp GG paste
• 1/3 tsp chili powder
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp oil
• 4-6 tbsp grated cheddar cheese
• 4 slices of bread
• butter 

Preparation - Blanch the spinach and keep aside to stain excess water. Give it a buzz in a food processor to get a coarse textured paste.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok. Add the chopped onion and fry for 1 minute before adding the GG paste. After 2 mins, add the chili powder, spinach paste, sweet corn and salt. Cook for 3-4 mins. Remove from flame and keep aside.

Layer half of the spinach-sweet corn filling over a bread slice.

Top it with 2-3 tbsp grated cheese and close with another bread slice. Repeat the process with the remaining bread slices and filling.

Heat a sandwich maker/tawa. Brush a little butter on the outer sides of the sandwiches and grill/toast for 2 mins. (Cut into triangles if doing it on a tawa).

Serve hot or cold.

Note - The cheese is optional. One may skip it or even add some crumbled paneer instead.

Avocado Sandwich

I was delighted when I received an email from Indusladies to be a contributor to their Kid's lunchbox event. Being a mother myself, I can vouch that there is nothing more satisfying than to find the lunchbox empty when the kid comes back from school ( and now if you thinking about all those times when you gave away your lunch to some stray dog while returning from school, let me inform you that my kid has not yet reached that stage. Will learn to deal with him when it comes to that).

The first recipe I picked up was this simple avocado sandwich with whole wheat bread. Avocado being a source of good fats and packed with nutrients, helps kids remain full for a longer time and also aids their brain development. Read on for the recipe -

Sending this as a contribution to the Indusladies event 100 Kids Lunch Box Recipes. Check out more details here - http://www.indusladies.com/food/kids-lunch-box-recipes/

Preparation Time - 10 mins

Ingredients -

• 3 slices of whole wheat/multi-grain bread
• 1/2 of an avocado ( cut into slices )
• iceberg lettuce leaves
• a few slices of tomato
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1/4 tsp mustard sauce
• 1/4 tsp vinegar
• 1/2 tsp honey
• 4 tbsp grated cheese
• freshly ground pepper
• salt to taste

Preparation - Cut the bread diagonally into triangles. Lightly toast the slices.

Mix the mayo, mustard sauce, vinegar, honey, pepper and a bit of salt in a bowl to prepare the sandwich spread.

Take one bread triangle. Cover it with the spread and then layer the avocado slices over it. Cover it with a bread slice. Add another layer of the sandwich spread before sprinkling the grated cheese and layering the tomato slices and lettuce. Sprinkle a bit of salt. Close with the final slice. Gently press.

Repeat for the remaining slices.

Serve immediately ( or cover tightly with a foil wrap and put in the kids lunch box ). It stays good even after 4-5 hours.

Chicken Sandwich

I made this easy sandwich with some leftover grilled chicken last week. Quite effortless and filling at the same time. One can quickly slather some chicken with barbecue sauce/tandoori masala/mustard paste and pop it in to the oven/microwave for a couple of minutes. Add some crisp veggies to it and you have a great snack/meal some leftovers. Read on for an easy sandwich recipe:

Preparation Time - 10 mins

Ingredients -

• 2 slices of sandwich bread
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• few pieces of shredded grilled chicken/tandoori chicken/boiled chicken
• a few pieces of sliced red peppers
• a few pieces of sliced yellow peppers
• some thinly sliced onion
• a lettuce leaf
• 1 tsp tomato ketchup
• pepper for seasoning
• salt to taste

Preparation - Put the bread slices on a clean working surface.

Layer on mayonnaise on one side.

Add chicken pieces, peppers and onions . Sprinkle salt ad pepper. Drizzle on ketchup.

Finally add the lettuce.

Close the sandwich.

Cooking - Heat a grill pan, sandwich maker or even a non-stick tawa/frying pan. Toast the sandwich on both sides for a few minutes till light brown.

Cut into two/four pieces with a sharp edge knife. (I keep planning to buy one of those but somehow it never happens. And hence my sandwiches have rough edges all the time.)

Note - For eggy-tarians, one can add some scrambled egg/omlette instead of the chicken. Tastes equally good. ( Mix in some cheese with the eggs )

Mayonnaise and Veggie Sandwich

The 4 o' clock snack time is turning out to be a big headache for me. My little one is always looking for variety and I keep looking for different ways to please him. God, kids are really getting bored of everything these days. I swear we were not like this when we were young. I will have my Mom vouch for that.

Since the heat is increasing these days, I wanted to skip the fried snacks and get something healthy for him. Leafing though my old notes (yeah, I keep making a note of everything), I found this sandwich recipe that I had not prepared for a long time. With loads of veggies, this one is a very healthy option. One can always replace the mayonnaise with some hung curd seasoned with mustard sauce and garlic. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 10 mins

Ingredients-

• 2 slices of sandwich bread
• a few thin slices of cucumber
• a few thin slices of tomato
• a few thin slices of capsicum
• some iceberg lettuce
• a few thin slices of onion (skip this for toddlers...optional for older kids)
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• a sprinkling of pepper (optional)
• a dash of ketchup
• grated cheese (as much as you like)
• salt

Preparation: Place the bread slices on the kitchen counter.

Spread mayonnaise on one half.

Layer on the vegetables. I put cucumber first, then tomato, then capsicum and finally the lettuce.

Sprinkle grated cheese and pepper. Add a dash of salt.

Sprinkle tomato ketchup on the other slice.

Finally place the slices one over the other and close the sandwich. Press lightly.

Cooking : Heat a sandwich maker and place the sandwich in it. (Most have auto-cook function but if not then cook for 2 minute till lightly browned.

Else heat a flat dosa tawa. Place the sandwich over it and cook for 1 minute on both sides.

Place the sandwich on a flat surface and cut into smaller portions (triangles).

Serve immediately with some ketchup.

Note - Pleas excuse the badly clicked pics!! Kiddo was busy pulling the plate away from my hands even as I was trying the click the final pics!!