Masala Sandwich

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Masala Sandwich is a yummy street snack of crispy toasted sandwiches spiced with coriander chutney, stuffed with a delicious savory mashed potato stuffing and topped with a few crunchy veggies and then grilled or toasted. These masala toast sandwiches are a popular street food snack from Mumbai.

masala sandwich served on a white plate with text layover.

These Bombay masala sandwiches are my family’s favorite sandwich. Since we all are fond of the typical Mumbai street food, I make them often at home.

The potato masala or stuffing is made with boiled and mashed potatoes, which is then tempered with spices. Easy to make, especially if you have leftover boiled or mashed potatoes.

The sandwiches are spiced up with a spicy green chutney and chaat masala or sandwich masala. Overall it is a flavorful filling and carb-loaded sandwich. If you like potatoes then I am sure you will like these sandwiches.

I was born and brought up in Mumbai. So no wonder, I am used to eating all the Mumbai road-side food like Vada Pav, Batata Vada, Bhel Puri, Pani Puri and the list is endless.

I took all these Mumbai fast food delicacies for granted till I visited and stayed in other parts of India. Then I missed the Mumbai snacks and street food. Difficult to get the same kind of stuff in other parts of India.

Sandwiches are very popular in Mumbai. You will find a sandwich stall near every almost college, near railway stations, in markets etc. I am used to eating sandwiches outside since my school days and then later during my college days. My mom also used to make sandwiches at home. But I always preferred the spicy sandwiches made by the Bombay roadside vendors.

One of my favorite places to eat the Bombay masala cheese toast sandwich and Bombay Veg Sandwich was the Swastik sandwich stall in Santacruz (West) – Mumbai and the sandwich stall near my college. I also remember buying their swastik sandwich masala when back in Mumbai.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Masala Sandwich

For preparing green chutney

1. Take 1 cup tightly packed coriander leaves, ½ teaspoon chaat masala powder, 1 to 2 green chilies (chopped) in a chutney grinder jar.

I usually add 2 to 3 green chilies as we prefer a bit spicy chutney in the sandwiches. You can also add half-half of coriander leaves and mint leaves. Just add a pinch or two of salt, as chaat masala already has salt in it.

chutney ingredients for Mumbai masala toast sandwich

2. Grind or blend the chutney ingredients till smooth. No need to add water. But if you cannot blend or grind, then add 1 or 2 teaspoons of water.

I did not add water as there was enough moisture after rinsing the coriander leaves to help them grind to a smooth chutney.

chutney in the jar

3. Collect the coriander chutney in a bowl. Check the taste and add more salt if required. Cover and keep the chutney aside if you are making sandwiches immediately or else refrigerate.

If not using immediately, sprinkle a few drops of lemon or lime juice, so that the chutney color does not darken.

green chutney in a bowl

Making potato masala stuffing

1. Rinse 3 to 4 medium potatoes very well with water and then steam or cook them in a pressure cooker or steamer. The potatoes should be cooked very well and fork tender.

You can cook the potatoes choose any method that suits you. Boil or steam them in an Instant Pot, stovetop pressure cooker or a pan adding water as required.

boiled potatoes in a steamer

2. When the potatoes are warm, peel and mash them with a vegetable masher in a bowl.

mashed potatoes in a bowl

3. Heat ½ tablespoon oil in a shallow pan and add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds. Keep the heat to low while frying mustard seeds.

mustard seeds in a pan

4. When the mustard seeds crackle, add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and a pinch of asafoetida (hing). Fry for a few seconds or till the cumin seeds splutter and change color. Keep the heat on low so that the spices do not get burnt.

cumin seeds added

5. Add 1 or 2 green chilies (finely chopped).

green chillies added

6. Then add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder.

turmeric powder added

7. Stir and mix well.

stir and mix

8. Add 8 to 10 curry leaves (kept whole or chopped). Stir again.

curry leaves added

9. Add the mashed potatoes.

mashed potatoes added

10. Season with salt according to taste.

salt added to mashed potatoes

11. Stir and mix the potatoes with the rest of the spices. Saute on a low heat for 2 minutes.

mixing potatoes with the spice mixture

12. Then add ⅓ cup chopped coriander leaves. You can add ¼ cup too. I prefer to add more.

coriander leaves added

13. Mix and saute for a minute. Keep this potato masala filling aside. Let it become warm or cool down at room temperature.

prepared potato masala filling

Assembling Masala Toast Sandwich

1. Slice 1 medium onion and 1 medium tomato, thinly. Keep aside.

sliced onions and tomatoes in a plate

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.

You can choose Brown bread, Wheat bread, multi grain or White bread. If you want you can even slice off the edges of the bread.

butter applied on bread

3. Now spread the coriander chutney. The coriander chutney can be made a day before and refrigerated.

coriander chutney applied on bread

4. Spread the potato masala filling on the bread slices.

potato masala filling added

5. Place 1 or 2 or 3 tomato slices.

tomato slices added

6. Then place 1 or 2 or 3 onion slices. You can also add some cucumber or capsicum slices if you like.

onion slices added

7. Sprinkle a pinch or two of chaat masala powder, black salt (can use edible rock salt or regular salt too) and roasted cumin powder.

At this point you can also add some cheddar cheese or processed cheese to make cheese masala toast sandwich.

chaat masala sprinkled

8. Cover with the remaining slices on which we have spread the butter and chutney.

cover the bread with remaining bread slice

9. Place in a preheated toaster or grill. You can also toast these sandwiches in a handheld stovetop toaster. Preheat the toaster or grill, as per the manufacturer’s instructions and then place the masala sandwiches.

sandwiches kept in a toaster or grill

10. Toast the sandwiches till crisp and golden. Remove in a plate and spread some butter on top of the sandwiches. Spreading butter is an optional step.

applying butter on Mumbai masala toast sandwich

11. Serve Mumbai masala toast sandwiches hot or warm with tomato ketchup and the remainder coriander chutney. You can also sprinkle some fine sev on the sandwiches while serving.

They make for a filling and satisfying brunch, lunch or evening snack. It is best to have these masala sandwiches while still hot or warm. On cooling the texture of the toasted bread can become chewy.

If you plan to make these toast sandwiches for breakfast then make the chutney a night before and refrigerate. Make ahead the potato filling and refrigerate but don’t add coriander leaves in the potato masala stuffing.

You can add the coriander leaves to the potato stuffing the next day. Then assemble and toast or grill these sandwiches. Also chop the veggies when you are going to assemble these masala sandwiches.

masala sandwich served in a white plate

More Sandwich varieties

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bombay masala toast sandwich

Masala Sandwich

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.
4.73 from 11 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Cuisine Indian, Indian Street Food
Course Snacks
Diet Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 6
Units

Ingredients

For green chutney

  • 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

For potato masala stuffing

  • 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)
  • cup chopped coriander leaves – you can add ¼ cup too. i prefer to add more
  • salt as required

Other ingredients

  • 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

Instructions
 

Making green chutney

  • 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.
  • Keep the chutney aside.

Preparing potato masala stuffing

  • 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.
  • When the potatoes are warm, peel and mash them with a vegetable masher.
  • Heat oil in a shallow pan and add mustard seeds.
  • 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.
  • Add finely chopped green chilies, turmeric powder and curry leaves (kept whole or chopped). Stir well.
  • Add the mashed potatoes. Season with salt as per taste.
  • Stir and mix the potatoes with the rest of the spices. Saute on a low heat for 2 minutes.
  • Then add chopped coriander leaves. You can add ¼ cup too. I prefer to add more.
  • 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

  • Slice 1 medium onion and 1 medium tomato, thinly. Keep aside.
  • 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. 
  • Now spread the coriander chutney.
  • Spread the potato masala filling on the bread slices.
  • 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.
  • Sprinkle a pinch or two of chaat masala powder, black salt (can use rock salt or regular salt too) and roasted cumin powder.
  • Cover with the slices on which we have spread the butter and chutney.

Making Masala Sandwich

  • 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
  • Toast the sandwiches till crisp and golden. Remove in a plate and spread some butter on top of the sandwiches.
  • Serve Masala Sandwiches hot with tomato ketchup and the remainder coriander chutney. You can also sprinkle some fine sev on the sandwiches while serving.
  • For best taste and texture have them hot or warm.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Masala Sandwich
Amount Per Serving
Calories 260 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 11mg4%
Sodium 1367mg59%
Potassium 401mg11%
Carbohydrates 41g14%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 686IU14%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 19mg95%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 52mg63%
Vitamin D 1µg7%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin K 16µg15%
Calcium 101mg10%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 222µg56%
Iron 3mg17%
Magnesium 44mg11%
Phosphorus 129mg13%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Masala Sandwich post is from the archives (April 2010) and has been republished and updated on 11 September 2021.

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Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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67 Comments

  1. Loved this! Have made it many times. Love your blog!! Always refer to it for a lot of other recipes as well. How do you cut the coriander leaves so finely? Do you have a special tool?5 stars

    1. Thanks a lot Shruti for the feedback and the rating. For chopping coriander, I use the regular knife (the smaller ones) which are generally used in Indian kitchens.

  2. Hi…. Have tried many of ur recipes… All of turned really well… This recipe looks great… Going to try it for todays evening snack… I hope my family would like it4 stars

    1. thanks a lot pooja. i hope your family likes these masala toast sandwiches.

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