Bombay Cheese Recipes

Steps:

• Hari chutney:
• Purée apple, lime juice, ginger, garlic, cilantro, mint, sugar, a pinch of salt, and 1-2 chiles, depending on how spicy your chiles are and your heat preference, in a blender, scraping down sides and adding water by the tablespoonful, until a smooth paste forms. Taste and season with more salt or sugar if needed. (You should have about 1 cup, which is more than you'll need for the sandwiches. Color will fade as it sits.)
• Do ahead: Chutney can be made 3 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill.
• Filling and assembly:
• Heat oil in a medium cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium. Add mustard seeds and cook until popping, about 30 seconds. Add curry leaves and cumin seeds. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until slightly darkened in color, about 1 minute. Stir in coriander, turmeric, asafetida (if using), and 1-2 chiles. Crumble potato into pan in large pieces and add salt. Cook, coarsely mashing and tossing potatoes to coat, until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Fold in cilantro and chaat masala. Transfer filling to a bowl. Wipe out pan and reserve.
• Arrange 4 slices of bread on a cutting board. Spread some chutney over each slice. Divide filling among slices and top with red onion, green pepper, then cheese. Spread 1 side of remaining 4 bread slices with more chutney and close up sandwiches. Spread ghee over outside of top slices of bread.
• Heat reserved pan over medium. Working in batches if needed, melt a small knob of ghee in pan, then arrange sandwiches, buttered side up, in pan. Cook until golden brown underneath, about 4 minutes. Turn over and cook, pressing down occasionally with the back of a spatula or the bottom of a saucepan, until cheese is melted and other side is golden brown, about 4 minutes.
• Serve toasties with extra chutney and ketchup alongside.
• Chef's note: Sandwiches can be made in a panini or sandwich press as well, or ideally a toastie maker.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a 9-inch x 16-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Put the cilantro, mint, lemon juice, chiles, cumin, salt, and oil into a blender, and pulse until you have a smooth chutney that is thick and spreadable. Taste: it should be hot, herby, salty, and sour all at once. If it isn't, adjust as you see fit.
• Sprinkle a little flour over your work surface and lay out the pastry. Spread the surface of the pastry with the cilantro chutney, leaving a 1-inch strip free along the top edge (the side farthest from you). Add the cheddar in a similarly even layer and scatter the onion over the top, then brush the exposed strip with beaten egg.
• Roll the pastry in a tight spiral away from you until you have a big jelly roll. Cut the roll into 1½-inch-wide pieces and lay each piece on the baking sheet with a 2-inch gap between them. Brush each cut side with egg, then place in the hot oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and caramelized. Allow to cool slightly before separating and eating.

Steps:

• For the soup: In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering, add the onion, ginger and garlic, and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, broth, heavy cream, garam masala, pepper and salt and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Cover and cook until the flavors have really deepened and the soup has thickened, 20 to 30 minutes.
• In the meantime, make the chhonk: Melt the ghee in a butter warmer or small pan over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and toast for a minute or less, until the cumin seeds turn fragrant and a deeper shade of brown. Remove from the heat and stir in the chile powder and asafetida. Drizzle the chhonk over the soup once it's done.
• While the soup is cooking, make the chutney and assemble and cook your sandwiches.
• For the sandwiches: Spread a thin layer of the chutney on four slices of the bread, then evenly distribute the cheese on top (adding more, if you'd like), followed by the onions. Close each sandwich with the remaining four slices of bread and slather the tops of the sandwiches with a generous amount of mayonnaise (this will let the sandwich brown in the skillet).
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once it's hot, add a sandwich, mayonnaise-side down. Slather the side of the sandwich that's now on top with mayonnaise. Once the sandwich is golden brown on the bottom, flip and cook until the other side is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. While the sandwich is cooking, use a spatula to press down on the sandwich and bind the cheese and bread together. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.
• Slice the sandwiches in half and serve with the soup.
• Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and process until homogeneous, adding more lime juice or water if needed to get the blades moving.

Steps:

• Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature. Grate the sharp cheddar cheese. Combine the cream cheese, grated cheddar cheese and curry. I beat it by hand until smooth. Shape the mixture into a ball and place on plastic wrap. Shape the ball into a 5 1/2 inch diameter disc, about 1 inch high. Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 60 minutes, overnight is best.
• To assemble the platter for consumption, place cheese in the center of a serving tray. You will now spread the chutney over the top of the cheese disc. Sprinkle coconut, toasted nuts, scallions and currants over the chutney. The measurements given were originally give to me. I am usually more generous with the toppings.
• To serve, I cut the apples into thin wedges and toss with lemon or Fruit Fresh a produce protector by Ball, to prevent discoloration. Arrange the wedges and crackers around the cheese.
• Note: The cheese can be made up to 2 days in advance; cover and chill until ready to serve. The platter can be prepared up to an hour before serving, if kept cool.

Steps:

• Mix softened cheeses together until well blended.
• Add wine and curry powder; mix well.
• Place on a platter and arrange into a pie shaped wedge about 1" high.
• Frost completely with chutney and sprinkle with the scallions over the top.
• This can be make several days ahead of serving. Just keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
• Serve with crackers.

Steps:

• Combine the cheese & curry powder in a food processor and process until smooth.
• Shape the mixture into a disc, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate until firm. This should take about 1 1/2 hours or so.
• Remove the cheese disc from refrigerator, unwrap, and place on a plate.
• Spread the chutney over the top, then sprinkle with the green onions and the nuts. Place the currants on top.
• Serve with pear wedges & crackers.