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Healthy Hung Curd Spinach Cheese Sandwich- Easy Vegetarian Protein Recipe

I normally avoid having commercial bread loaves on a regular basis. But once in every few days, we all crave for sandwiches. They are so versatile that everyone loves them. So, when that craving strikes, I try my best to add as much nutrition as I can.

I still remember when my child was 5 years old, he asked me before bedtime, if he can have cheese sandwich with 5 leaves of spinach for breakfast. 😄 The request was made so sweetly, I had to oblige. This was the time he tasted his first hung curd sandwich. He is 10 now and these are still his all time favourite.

This can be your easy peasy laid back weekend breakfast. Hung curd sandwiches are so easy to whip up. If you are looking for a veg sandwich recipe with high protein without mayonnaise, try these – a healthier take with the same creaminess level. These yogurt sandwiches are packed with probiotics from the curd & essential fiber, vitamins and minerals from spinach & herbs.

This recipe is very basic & is vegetarian but you can easily transform it to egg or chicken yogurt sandwich for more protein. 

Greek yogurt also known as Hung curd is nothing but strained yogurt. It is simply homemade yogurt that has been strained off the whey to get a thick and creamy product.

Hung curd can be a great healthy, low calorie substitute for mayonnaise, cream cheese or sour cream. 

I have made it using just spinach. You can use other finely chopped fresh vegetables like carrots, cabbage, onions, capsicum. Use herbs of your choice- mint, coriander, parsley, sweet basil. Sky is the limit! Customise this Yogurt Sandwich Recipe the way you want it.

Recipe

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes 
Serving: 5

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Hung curd
  • 1 cup tightly packed Spinach
  • 10 slices Bread (I used wholewheat bread)
  • 1 tbsp Butter 
  • 1 tsp Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 5 cloves, chopped of garlic
  • 1/4th tsp Oregano 
  • Red Chilli flakes to taste
  • 3/4th cup Mozzarella cheese (optional)

Instructions

  • In a pan, heat butter & olive oil.  Add chopped garlic. Sauté till rawness goes. Now add roughly chopped spinach leaves. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and cook till spinach shrinks and water evaporates. 
  • Allow it to cool a little. Add spinach in hung curd and mix well. Add black pepper, oregano, salt & chilli flakes. Give a good mix. 
  • Take 2 bread slices. Spread hung curd mix generously on one slice. Add some mozzarella cheese on it and top it with another slice. 
  • You can either grill it in a griller or cook it in a pan using a little butter. If cooking in a pan/griddle, cook on a low flame so that the cheese melts. 
  • If using an air fryer, place the prepared sandwich in the air fryer basket or rack. Brush it with some butter. Air fry for 2 to 3 mins at 360 F or 180 C.

Notes:

If you do not have Greek Yogurt/ hung curd, add regular curd to a cheese/ muslin cloth and squeeze it gently to remove excess whey. You can do this the previous night and also hang it in the refrigerator.

Enjoy 😊

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Healthy Millet Protein Packed Pancakes

These gluten free millet pancakes are delicious, fluffy, easy to make and most importantly healthy. Thanks to the earthy flavor of millets, these pancakes will make a great healthy start to your days and also, they are child approved. 

What is a millet flour?

Millets are coarse grains with a high nutritional value. Millets are low in calories and contain a lot of fiber which helps with weight loss and promotes healthy digestion. Vitamins and minerals found in millets can help to lower your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Millet flour is a naturally gluten free flour that is made by grinding millet seeds. Millet grains are ancient grains that have been cultivated in Asia and Africa for over 4000 years. 

Ingredients for Millet Pancakes

Millet Flour: I have made these pancakes using Finger Millet (Ragi) flour. You can use any other millet flour for this recipe like Buckwheat, Barnyard millet, Pearl millet or Little millet flour. 

Oats flour: I have also added oats flour in combination to millet flour. Too much millet can make for a somewhat bitter flavor pancakes, so a bit of oats flour helps to keep it balanced.

Jaggery Powder: Some form of sweetness helps to balance out too much earthy flavor of millets. Jaggery has its own distinct flavor and I think goes very well with finger millet. 

Baking Powder + Baking Soda: For adding lift and lightness to the pancakes.

Buttermilk: Buttermilk is an excellent ingredient in baked goods and pancakes because it helps to create light and fluffy baked goods by encouraging carbon dioxide bubbles to form in the batter. Also, it gives a slightly tangy flavor which I love. 

Eggs + Coconut Oil: Eggs not only add protein but are also helpful in adding volume to the pancakes. They also provide moisture along with the oil. Pure coconut oil is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant in nature, that helps maintain heart health. Thanks to all the good fats. 

Vanilla extract & Dark Chocolate chunks: These are our flavor enhancers. A good quality dark chocolate makes these pancakes totally irresistible. 

Recipe: makes 4 pancakes

Ingredients

  • Finger Millet/Ragi flour: 1/2 cup
  • Rolled Oats flour: 1/2 cup
  • Buttermilk: 3/4th cup
  • Egg: 1 whole 
  • Salt: 1/4th tsp
  • Coconut oil: 1 tbsp
  • Jaggery powder: 1 tbsp
  • Vanilla extract: 1/2 tsp
  • Baking powder: 1/2 tsp
  • Baking Soda: 1/4th tsp
  • Dark Chocolate chunks (70%): 1/4th cup
  • Nut Butter & Maple Syrup for serving

Method:

  • Mix both flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt in a bowl. 
  • In another bowl, add oil & jaggery powder. Mix it well. Then crack an egg and whisk till jaggery dissolves. 
  • Now tip in buttermilk & vanilla extract. Whisk well till everything combines.
  • Pour wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix gently till everything incorporates.
  • Add chopped chocolate chunks. Give a gentle mix. Do not over mix the batter. Whisk the pancake batter until mostly combined. A few lumps and pockets of flour left are totally fine.
  • Heat a nonstick pan to a medium heat. Brush it with oil or butter. Pour 1/3rd cup of the batter. When the bubbles form and top sets, flip and cook the other side. 
  • Serve with a dollop of any nut butter and maple syrup. My favourite is almond butter.

Enjoy 😊

Total Protein Content

  • Buttermilk: 6 grams
  • Egg: 6 grams
  • Oats flour: 5 grams
  • Finger millet flour: 6 grams
  • Nut butter: 4 grams

Total protein: 27 grams