Stuffed Potato French Loaf

Calling all vada pav lovers

If you are from Bombay, India then you love Vada Pav! Period! There is no argument here. Vada Pav is like Mac Donalds for us. We have grown up on it. Every street boasts of a vada pav vendor who makes the world's best vada pav. It is also called a "Poor man's meal" because of its affordability and simplicity.

Street food fusion

Being from Bombay, I love all kinds of Indian street food. Recently, I seem to have caught the fusion bug and am loving experimenting with the recipes. Fusion recipes are always a hit! There's a little bit of nostalgia mixed with a surprise element which always works. These kinds of recipes are extremely popular during the holidays and festive season. People are in a mood to indulge and experiment. I love making recipes like these on days when I am in no mood to cook an elaborate meal. This is a lazy person's (aka ME) dinner recipe!

1. Cook the potatoes first. I cooked them in a microwave for 15 minutes. Peel and grate the potatoes. You can also mash them.
2. Heat oil in a pan. Temper cumin seeds. Add the minced green chillies, ginger, and garlic paste to the pan. Saute for 2 minutes till the raw smell goes away. Add turmeric powder, chilly powder, cumin powder, garam masala, chaat masala, Italian seasoning, and amchur powder.
3. Next, add the green peas and salt.
4. Now add the grated potatoes and half the cilantro. Mix it all together till the veggies get coated well. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Check and add the seasoning as required.
5. It's fine if it's a bit salty and spicy at this point. It will balance out eventually. Transfer the potato mixture to a bowl. The stuffing is now ready.
6. Melt butter in a bowl. Add minced garlic and mix. Also, ensure that the green chutney is at room temperature.

1. You need freshly baked French Loaf for this cheese-stuffed bread recipe.
2. Carefully cut the loaf in half using a serrated knife.
3. Scoop out the center part of the bread on both halves to make a depression.
4. Smear garlic butter all over the insides of the bread. Then smear green chutney over it.
5. Sprinkle garlic masala powder (used to make vada pav) all over.
6. Fill both the halves with potato mixture. Be generous and stuff it well. Sprinkle mixed cheese and the remaining cilantro on one half of the loaf.
7. Sprinkle fried onions on the other half of the loaf.
8. Carefully close the loaf. Smear butter on top.
9. Wrap with nicely with aluminum foil. This will help keep the bread soft because of the steam. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake it for 15-20 minutes. Let it rest outside for 5 minutes before unwrapping it.

Serving suggestions 🍽 

The bread should be warm, not very hot. Cut the potato-stuffed French loaf into slices and serve with spicy green chutney, ketchup, and some dry garlic powder on the side. This comforting and delicious Baked Vada Pav is perfectly crispy on the outside, yet soft on the inside. Try this!

Stuffed Potato French Loaf can be served as an entree during the festive/holiday season. It would make a delicious centerpiece for Diwali, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, or any other occasion. Leftovers can also be had for breakfast or snacks the next day. You can also pack these cheese-stuffed French bread sandwich slices in a lunchbox.

Top recipe tips 💭

Wrapping it in Aluminium foil helps keep the bread softer and slightly crisp due to the trapped steam. If you want the bread to be crispy, do not wrap the bread in foil. It's alright if the vada pav mixture is a bit spicy and/or salty. It will balance out when eaten with the loaf. Also, be generous with the stuffing. More is good.

Dry garlic chutney is significant to Indian vada pav. But if you don't have one, sprinkle some chilly powder mixed with garlic powder all over the bread. You can even drizzle some hot sauce. Use that scooped-out bread to make breadcrumbs or use it in some other recipe. I made Bread Gulab Jamun Matka Kulfi with this leftover bread.