Potato and Cheese stuffed French Loaf is a delicious recipe with bread. This easy vegetarian French Bread sandwich makes a great holiday centerpiece!
Make this Potato Cheese stuffed bread recipe in 30 minutes! This baked Indian fusion recipe will remind you of Vada Pav because it has all the flavors of it minus the effort!
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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.
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What is vada pav
It's a spiced potato dumpling dipped in chickpea flour and then deep-fried. It's then served between pav/water rolls with some spicy garlic chutney and green chutney.
It clearly is a crowd favorite snack. We often have vada pav parties here in the US. I miss enjoying this street food in India but at least we get to relive those memories by making it here.
Today's recipe is an ode to this favorite street food of mine. I have tried to keep all the flavors authentic but have just changed the way it's presented.
Instead of frying individual vadas, I have used the same mixture as a stuffing for the French loaf. The flavors turned out beyond perfect!
I had seen many stuffed French loaf recipes that had meat in them. I thought it would be a great idea to have a vegetarian/vegan option as well out there.
If you love vada pav, then do give this Potato Cheese stuffed French Bread Sandwich recipe a try!
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.
Savory fusion recipes
Sweet fusion recipes
Why make this
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!
- vegetarian stuffed bread recipe
- makes a great centerpiece at the dining table during the holidays
- is a baked dish that can feed many
- can easily be made vegan
- innovative Indian fusion entree recipe
- saves time instead of making individual vada pav
Ingredients needed
Russet Potatoes and green peas - they are a popular combo! Use any other variety of potatoes that will mash well.
French loaf - I get my French Loaf from Publix grocery store. Use fresh bread to make this stuffed French sandwich. Pick a good sturdy crusty loaf of French Bread so it holds up well.
Spices - turmeric, garam masala, cumin powder, amchur powder, chaat masala, and Italian seasoning make this stuffed French loaf very flavorful.
Cheese - I have used 3 different varieties of cheese here - mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Pecorino cheese. Feel free to use whatever cheese you have at hand.
Herbs and other basic ingredients - cilantro, ginger paste, garlic paste, garlic cloves, green chilies, or serrano peppers are needed in this recipe.
Fried onions, green chutney, and dry garlic chutney powder give this French Loaf Vada Pav the authentic vada pav flavor.
Here's how to make it
- Cook the potatoes first. I cooked them in a microwave for 15 minutes. Peel and grate the potatoes. You can also mash them.
- 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.
- Next add the green peas and salt.
- 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.
- It's fine if its 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.
- Melt butter in a bowl. Add minced garlic and mix together. Also ensure that the green chutney is at room temperature.
in a 
. Temper 
. Add the minced 
green chillies, ginger and garlic paste to the pan. Saute for 2 minutes till the raw smell goes away. 
. 
- You need freshly baked French Loaf for this cheese stuffed bread recipe.
- Carefully cut the loaf in half using a serrated knife.
- Scoop out the center part of the bread on both halves to make a depression.
- Smear garlic butter all over the insides of the bread. Then smear green chutney over it.
- Sprinkle garlic masala powder (used to make vada pav) all over.
- 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.
- Sprinkle fried onions on the other half of the loaf.
- Carefully close the loaf. Smear butter on top.
- Wrap with nicely with an aluminium foil. This will help keep the bread soft because of the steam.
- Preheat the oven at 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 in 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. Do 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.
Tips, recommendations, and suggestions
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.
This recipe is best prepared right before serving. The potato mixture can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge. It stays well for 4-5 days.
You can also freeze this mixture. When ready to serve, reheat the mixture, cut and stuff the bread. Top it with cheese and then bake it. Cut and serve immediately while the bread is still warm and crusty.
Instead of potatoes, you can also prepare this vegetarian stuffed bread with mixed veggies, mushrooms, TVP, grains, etc. In fact, you can also stuff this French loaf with yesterday's dinner!
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 really generous with the stuffing. More is good.
Dry garlic powder is significant to Indian vada pav. But if you don't have, 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.
The recipe can easily be adapted to vegan. Check the French loaf before buying. It should not contain dairy. Use vegan butter and cheese.
Leftover potato stuffed bread slices can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days. Reheat and eat as needed.
Instead of French Loaf, you can also you sourdough bread or any other uncut loaf of bread to make this stuffed sandwich.
Use the stuffing in many ways
This stuffing can be used in many different ways. You can make actual Vada Pav with it, or stuff it in flatbreads to make your own Aloo Paratha.
Or think creatively and stuff them in puff pastry sheets and make Puff Pastry Samosa, enjoy it as a sandwich stuffing, or even add them to your savory waffles!
I have also used it to make Masala Dosa. The options are endless. Get creative!
Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram @cookilicious with the hashtag #cookiliciousveg. I love hearing your feedback!
You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes and what I’m getting up to.
Stuffed Potato French Loaf
Equipment
Ingredients
For the stuffing
- 6 potatoes
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 7-8 green chillies
- 2 tbsp ginger paste
- 2 tbsp garlic paste
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tsp chilly powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasonings
- 1 tsp chaat masala
- 1 tsp amchur powder
- 1/2 cup green peas
- salt
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro reserve half for later
For the flavored butter
- 1/3 cup salted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
To stuff the loaf
- 1 French loaf bread
- 1/4 cup green chutney optional as required
- 2 tbsp dry garlic masala powder
- 1/2 cup mixed cheese pecoroni, mozarella and parmesan
- 1/4 cup fried onions
- Butter to apply over the bread
- Aluminium foil
Instructions
For the stuffing
- Cook the potatoes first. I cooked them in a microwave for 15 minutes. Peel and grate the potatoes. You can also mash them.
- 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.
- Next add the green peas and salt. 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. It's fine if its 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.
For the flavored butter
- Melt butter in a bowl. Add minced garlic and mix together. Also ensure that the green chutney is at room temperature.
To stuff the loaf
- Carefully cut the French loaf in half using a serrated knife. Scoop out the center part of the bread on both halves to make a depression.
- Smear garlic butter all over the insides of the bread. Then smear green chutney over it. Sprinkle garlic masala powder (used to make vada pav) all over.
- 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. Sprinkle fried onions on the other half of the loaf.
- Carefully close the loaf. Smear butter on top. Wrap with nicely with an aluminium foil. Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F. Bake it for 15-20 minutes. Let it rest outside for 5 minutes before unwrapping it.
- Slice and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!
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Wow...this sounds amazing!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Woow thats a wonderful idea....loved the pictures as well!
I made this and it was delicious...a small piece got left over and we ate it two days later...tasted even better. The only thing is the baking/heating through and through took longer as I chose to use the toaster oven...it would have done better in the large oven. Utterly, butterly delicious and so quick if you make extra potato for dosa and have it ready!
Thanks Geeta 🙂 Glad all of you liked it!
Prasad wanted me to make this recipe right away when he saw it. I just had to get the ingredients. Boy it turned out so delicious!! Thank you for sharing this and many more of your recipes with us. ???
I'm loving this bread! Looks so scrumptious with that flavorful potato stuffed in a delicious loaf! I'm also featuring you this week on Inspire Me Monday - congrats! 🙂
WHAT!?!? This is amazing!
Omg that looks really awesome! And yes, as a fellow Mumbaikar, I sooo agree with you on Vada Pav 😀
XOXO
-Shamira
Oh my gosh, this looks so delicious. Who would've thought to stuff French bread like this. I'm so going to try this. Thank you so much for linking up to Thriving on Thursdays last week. I'm featuring this at tomorrow's party.
Anne @ Domesblissity
What a unique sandwich! I am really intrigued by this and am pinning to try later. I've never had vada pav, but I'm game to try! Thanks so much for linking up with us at You Link It, We Make It! We hope you'll stop by and link up with us again! - Kim @ knockitoffkim.com
This is serious "fusion" cooking at it's best! I know I'll probably never have a chance to purchase from a street vendor but now I can have a little taste of it!! It looks amazing and the photos are so fun!!
Thanks so much for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!!
Mollie
Potato salad in an edible dish!! What a fabulous idea for picnic food! Thanks for sharing the What's for Dinner linky!
omg this would be a hit at my picnic
Leslie
http://alifewellconsumed.com
Thanks so much for sharing your awesome Stuffed Potato French Loaf with us at Full Plate Thursday this week. This is a great idea and recipe. Hope you are having a great weekend and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
This stuffed bread looks amazing! Thanks for linkin' up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you're talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We could have a link exchange agreement between us!
This dish looks amazing. I'm so impressed. Thanks so much for sharing at Your Inspired Design Link Party.
This looks so delicious! Wow! I can't wait to try it!
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe at the #RecipeSharingParty! I hope to see you next week. Pinned and Yummed. Please visit #OverTheMoon on Sunday or #WonderfulWednesday for more sharing fun! Don't forget to Comment your link #'s so I can be sure to visit and you get a chance to be featured! Stumbled as a bonus today!
This sounds unbelievingly delicious! Thank you so much for sharing it at The Really Crafty Link Party this week. Pinned1
Hi again, just to let you know that this post is one of this week's features! Congratulations!
awesome! Thank you so much..love your parties! 🙂
This looks incredible! The pictures are so colorful and bright . . . I can almost smell the delicious aromas through each photograph. The ingredient list is so delicious. I have never used masala powder, but I love masala. Do you think my local grocery store would carry it? Cheers!
Thank you so much for your kind words.. you can make the garlic masala powder at home by mixing garlic powder and chilly powder. You can also check any Indian grocery store for the same.
Alright, you just got me drooling. Thanks for the instruction tho.
I like how you capture the photos as well.
yum yum
OH MY YUM>>>>>this looks amazing.
Wow...this sounds SO amazing!! YUM!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
What a brilliant idea! Seems fairly simple to make too so I need to give this a try soon!
This looks incredible!! I've never seen a recipe like this, but will have to give it a try!
What a delicious looking recipe! I love all things bread! Thank you for sharing, I can't wait to try it!
This is perfection! I love a good French Loaf!
Greta | http://www.gretahollar.com
That looks delicious! I'll have to try making it at home 🙂
Nellwyn | http://www.thecardinalpress.com
This looks absolutely delicious! What a scrumptious idea...I can't wait to try this. xo, Catherine
This looks so amazing! Like wow! I hadn't heard of it before but it sounds yummy
I've never seen a recipe like this, but it sounds delicious and fun to try!
This looks absolutely amazing! Holy yum.
xoxo, Jenny
this looks amazing I can't even deal.
http://sheismelrose.net
@sheismelrose
Ooooh I've never seen anything like this before! Looks perfect for a picnic! Now all we need is some sunshine...
Now this looks like a filling comfort meal! Could totally go for this.
OMG. I spend a lot of time day dreaming about recipes etc so I have seen it all. Oh so I thought, This stuffed load, oh my gosh, I need need need to make it. Very excited (as you can tell) to try it.
This recipe looks so tasty! I love sandwich! I have to try this soon
I seriously can't stop drooling. This looks absolutely mouth-watering! I love all of the flavors you've put into this dish. And, I must confess that I have never had vada pav before either, so I will have to give that a try too! 🙂
OMG!!!!! wow!!!! That looks amazing!!!