Chaat Masala Grilled Cheese

Chaat, meet grilled cheese. This quick and easy dish uses a spice blend to save you a lot of time and still deliver big flavor. The dipping sauces are easy, but it's also fantastic on its own if you just want to whip up something quick.

Author

Christian Leue

Servings

1

Category

Sandwich

Ingredients

• 1 cup cilantro leaves and stems
• 1 cup spearmint leaves and tender stems
• 2 tsp Shabazi N38
• 2 Tbsp yogurt
• Hot peppers to taste, I like serrano or Thai bird
• Fresh lemon or lime juice
• Salt, to taste
• Sweetener, to taste
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/4 cup grated cucumber
• 1 tsp Shabazi N38
• Big pinch of salt
• Optionally, fresh herbs like cilantro and/or mint
• Two slices of bread
• 1 slice sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 slice American cheese*
• 1 tsp Chaat Masala blend
• Butter
• Tomato & White Sultana Chutney
• Mint Chutney
• Easy Raita

Directions

1. Combine the cilantro, mint, Shabazi, yogurt, peppers (if using), and a pinch of salt and squeeze of citrus in a food processor. Pulse to chop finely, scraping down the sides as necessary and adding water as needed to form a thin paste. Taste and adjust with salt, sweetener, etc.
2. Combine all ingredients and let sit for about 15 minutes in the fridge for the flavors to extract from the Shabazi spice. If you're feeling particularly lazy a touch of the green chutney can be used to flavor the raita instead of adding fresh herbs.
3. Butter one side of each piece of bread and place a slice of cheese on each. Heat a pat of butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
4. My perfect texture secret: Microwave the slices of bread, cheese side up, briefly (about 30 seconds or just until the cheese melts a bit). If you don't own a microwave you'll want to reduce the cooking temp a bit when you toast the bread.
5. Sprinkle the chaat masala spice over the cheese, then close the sandwich and add it to the pan once the butter stops bubbling.
6. Cook just until the bread turns golden brown on one side (about 2-3 minutes), then lift with a spatula and melt more butter in the pan. Flip and cook the other side.
7. Serve as-is, or with any/all of the condiments. It's tasty any which way.