I believe that my passion for creativity comes from my mother. In my case, these pursuits include photography and food, both of which this blog is all about. The latter is certainly inherited from her. She was very innovative in the kitchen at a time when resources were not as abundantly available today as market options were more limited. We didn’t have the big fancy supermarkets that we do in India today, and the kirana shop down the road with its fluctuating stock was where we got our groceries. My mom had an incredible knack for preparing dishes with whatever was on hand, and this toasted aloo (potato) sandwich is another one from her repertoire.
Another aspect of life back then was that there were no cellphones or constant connectivity, which meant that guests often dropped by unannounced, usually around tea time. So there was always a need to know just what to whip up in case company arrived suddenly. The criteria: the snacks had to be easy to prepare and only use basic ingredients that would reliably be on hand. The great thing about this toasted aloo sandwich is that it didn’t just meet those requirements, but also looked quite glamourous. As I’ve mentioned before, I think sandwiches are a part of Indian cuisine thanks to the club culture the British brought, so bringing them out at tea meant that charm came into the home setting too.
My mother would use the traditional hand-held toaster over the gas stove, which I have mentioned in the past. For me, there is quite a lot of nostalgia associated with simple dishes like this one. I like regular white bread, toasted and warm, for this one as it’s a part of my childhood. The dish has a very Indian feel to it overall, similar to a Westernized aloo paratha both in taste and comfort level.
Nostalgia, paired with novelty, is one of the reasons why I sometimes host sandwich parties in my home. I have my friends over to enjoy a delectable spread of bread options, fillings, toppings and so on. They get to choose how they want to have their sandwiches, similar to having a personal pizza made on the spot. They can go with a quick fix, perhaps untoasted, if they arrive hungry. Or they can enjoy a more elaborate sandwich. For instance, they may want to have a really basic one decked up nicely with thinly sliced paneer, beetroot chutney, sweet potato or pea mash or other choices. Everyone has a favourite, and it is always fun to explore more.
On that note, here are some of the sandwiches and toasts that have made previous appearances on this blog, and I hope you’ll explore these recipes at leisure: tofu masala toast, pesto parmesan toastie, masala baked beans on toast, cheesy garlic sourdough toast, Bombay toast and cherry tomato yoghurt toast.
First, though, do try out this particular potato-based favourite of mine!
Toasted Aloo Sandwich
(Serves: 2)
4 slices bread
1¼ cups mashed potatoes
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon green chilli-ginger paste
2 teaspoons coriander chutney
Butter as required
Mash the salt as well as the green chilli-ginger paste into the potatoes. Mix well together.
Lay the slices of bread flat. Apply the coriander chutney on all of them.
Divide the potato mixture equally and spread it over 2 slices of bread. Then, place the other slices over these. Apply butter on the outside of the sandwiches.
Toast until golden. That’s all there is to it – a very simple, but totally tasty sandwich. Enjoy!
