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! Easily make it vegan by swapping the butter and cheese dairy-free options.
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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.
Pav Bhaji 🎥
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. 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!
Why make this
- 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 🧾
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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 the 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. If you are vegan, use dairy-free cheese.
Herbs and other basic ingredients - cilantro, ginger paste, garlic paste, garlic cloves, green chilies, or serrano peppers are needed in this recipe. You will also need vegan or regular butter.
Fried onions, green chutney, and dry garlic chutney powder give this French Loaf Vada Pav the authentic Vada Pav flavor.
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 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.
- Melt butter in a bowl. Add minced garlic and mix. 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. Add 
. 
- 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 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.
Recipe FAQs 📖
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. Leftover potato-stuffed bread slices can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days. Reheat and eat as needed.
This stuffing can be used in many different ways. You can make an 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 or Masala Dosa stuffing, or even add them to your savory waffles!
Instead of potatoes, you can also prepare this vegetarian stuffed bread with mixed veggies, mushrooms, TVP, grains, etc. You can also stuff this French loaf with yesterday's dinner!
Instead of French Loaf, you can also you sourdough bread or any other uncut loaf of bread to make this stuffed sandwich. You can also use water rolls.
The recipe can easily be adapted to veganism. Check the French loaf before buying. It should not contain dairy. Use vegan butter and cheese.
⭐️ Subscribe to the Cookilicious Newsletter and receive new recipes straight to your inbox! You'll receive my FREE Vegan Beginner's guide as a gift. Ready to elevate your cooking game? Purchase my Cookbook - The Essential Vegan Indian Cookbook today!
Recipe 📖
Stuffed Potato French Loaf
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
For the stuffing
- 6 potatoes
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 7-8 green chillies
- 2 tablespoon ginger paste
- 2 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 teaspoon chilly powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala
- 1 teaspoon amchur powder
- ½ cup green peas
- salt
- ⅓ cup chopped cilantro reserve half for later
For the flavored butter
- ⅓ cup salted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
To stuff the loaf
- 1 French loaf bread
- ¼ cup green chutney optional as required
- 2 tablespoon dry garlic masala powder
- ½ cup mixed cheese pecoroni, mozarella and parmesan
- ¼ 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.
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Anne @ Domesblissity says
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
Kim says
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
Frugal Hausfrau says
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
Helen Fern says
Potato salad in an edible dish!! What a fabulous idea for picnic food! Thanks for sharing the What's for Dinner linky!
Leslie Rossi | alifewellconsumed says
omg this would be a hit at my picnic
Leslie
http://alifewellconsumed.com
Miz Helen says
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
Karly says
This stuffed bread looks amazing! Thanks for linkin' up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Moira says
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!
Carol@blueskykitchen says
This dish looks amazing. I'm so impressed. Thanks so much for sharing at Your Inspired Design Link Party.
Sondra says
This looks so delicious! Wow! I can't wait to try it!
Marilyn says
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!
Teresa says
This sounds unbelievingly delicious! Thank you so much for sharing it at The Really Crafty Link Party this week. Pinned1
Teresa says
Hi again, just to let you know that this post is one of this week's features! Congratulations!
Chef@Cookilicious says
awesome! Thank you so much..love your parties! 🙂
Aarika says
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!
Chef@Cookilicious says
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.
Boon Ong says
Alright, you just got me drooling. Thanks for the instruction tho.
I like how you capture the photos as well.
yum yum
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm says
OH MY YUM>>>>>this looks amazing.
Jess says
Wow...this sounds SO amazing!! YUM!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!