Bombay Grilled Sandwich is a vegetable sandwich with a generous spread of spicy green chutney. One mouthful will send an explosion of flavors in your mouth. It’s like eating chaat in the form of a sandwich. This sandwich is filling enough for a meal.

What is Bombay Sandwich made of?

Bombay Sandwich is a street food from Mumbai(known as Bombay over two decades ago). This sandwich is made by slathering the bread slices with green chutney and butter, and topped with onion, tomatoes, cucumber and potatoes. Sometimes, beetroot finds its way in. It is made with and without grilling.

Why is it called Bombay Sandwich?

Bombay Sandwich finds its origin in one of India’s biggest metro cities Bombay. The city is now called Mumbai but the sandwich retains it’s old name as a token of reminiscing the nostalgic Bombay days.

My encounter with Bombay Grilled Sandwich

I lived in Bombay(Mumbai) for the first 7 years of my life. My formative years in Mumbai always remind me of beaches, Tinkle comics, trains, and chaat. On one such local train journeys, I remember a sandwich seller carrying a tray full of mouth-watering sandwiches. On one side of the tray, there were fresh sandwiches and on the other side, there were grilled sandwiches. Mom bought both sandwiches and that was how my love affair with Bombay sandwiches began.

I can’t pick a favorite and love both varieties equally. It became a regular weekend breakfast in our household. Post-marriage, I introduced my husband to it and he was hooked. I always play around with the recipe and add my own variations. It never fails to impress me every single time. We like to make Bombay grilled sandwiches for breakfast as it’s more filling with the addition of cheese. We always look forwards to the weekend mornings of making these delectable sandwiches. It’s become sort of a tradition at this point.

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These Bombay Grilled Sandwiches

Are healthy and tasty
can be modified by adding veggies of your choice
are very filling
satiate your chaat cravings

Ingredients for Bombay Grilled Sandwich

Green chutney

I always prepare green chutney at home. You can use any store-bought variety.

Bread

Use any type of bread. Sandwich bread works the best as it’s not too sweet. I like to use whole wheat bread to make it healthier.

Onion

Red onion works best for these sandwiches.

Tomato

Use Roma tomatoes or a variety that does not ooze out too much juice.

Butter

Salted butter tastes best with toasted bread. Use any variety of butter.

Chaat masala

Any store-bought chaat masala should work.

Mozzarella cheese

I like to use Mozzarella cheese for its texture. Honestly, any variety of cheese would work. I’ve tried the Mexican blend, cheddar, and pepper jack, all yielding amazing sandwiches.

Step-by-Step Method to make Bombay Grilled Sandwich

Using Sandwich maker

Heat your panini grill or sandwich maker(if using one).

Take two slices of bread.

On one slice of bread, spread green chutney.

Arrange onion and tomato slices on it.

Sprinkle a dash of salt and ¼ teaspoon of chaat masala over the onion and tomato slices.

I don’t add potatoes because I like either cheese or potatoes not both. If you want to want to add potatoes, boil them and slice them once they cool down. Add them on top of the onion and tomato slices.

Add the grated cheese on top of it. Be as generous with cheese as you want to.

On the other slice spread butter.

Place the bread slice with butter on top of the bread slice with the vegetables and cheese.

Place the sandwich on the sandwich maker and add some butter to both the exposed part of the bread slices. Close the lid of the sandwich maker.

Cook for 7-8 minutes or until the bread browns nicely and the cheese has melted completely.

Cut the sandwich into two halves and serve it with tomato ketchup and some chips.

Your delicious Bombay sandwich is ready for you to dig in.

On Stove-top

Take two slices of bread. On one slice spread butter and keep it aside.

On the other slice of bread, spread green chutney.

Arrange onion and tomato slices on it. Sprinkle a dash of salt and ¼ teaspoon of chaat masala over the onion and tomato slices.

Add the grated cheese on top of it. Be as generous with cheese as you want to.

Place the bread slice with butter on top of the bread slice with the vegetables and cheese.

Heat a girdle/tawa and add some butter to it.

Place the sandwich on the tawa and cook it for 3-4 minutes on medium-low flame.

Spread some butter on the exposed part of the bread slice.

Carefully flip the sandwich and cook it again for 3 minutes until the sandwiches have browned nicely on both sides.

Cut the sandwich into two halves and serve it with tomato ketchup and some chips.

Top Tips to make Bombay Grilled Sandwich

You can spread Butter on both the slices and spread green chutney on top. This will help you store it for a couple of hours.
You can add boiled potatoes and beetroot. I add them when I want a super filling meal.
You can also add cucumbers. I don’t like grilling cucumber and I don’t usually add them.
To make it Vegan, replace the butter and cheese with vegan varieties.
Adding salt to the vegetables is optional.
Do not skip the chaat masalas. It elevates the taste to another level.
You can skip the butter when you toast it to save some calories.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Can I make Bombay Grilled Sandwich without cooking it?

Yes, there are two varieties of Bombay Sandwich and my recipe is for the grilled sandwich. To make it without grilling, add cucumbers and potatoes. Also skip the cheese. Rest of the recipe remains the same.

Can I pack Bombay Grilled Sandwich for lunchbox?

Yes, you can. Just make sure you add butter generously on both the slice to prevent the sandwich from getting soggy.

Can I make Bombay Grilled Sandwich on stovetop?

Yes, you can. Scroll up above and you’ll see that I’ve shared both the sandwich maker and the stove top method. Both varieties will taste equally good.