Bread or double roti as it is commonly known as since times immemorial in our culinary history has been one of our all-time favorite and helpful buddy in our kitchens assisting us in so many ways working on recipes, helping bind and coat dishes, from the very basic bread butter sandwich to the classic club sandwiches, bread is one ingredient without which most of us feel lost and incomplete.

I still remember when I learnt my very basic cooking I was first taught how to make good sandwiches, how to carefully remove the crusts of the slice breads, the application of butter etc and choice of fillings, cutting and assembling of sandwiches on platters for our birthday parties etc it was so much fun working with bread and relishing its outputs.

There are of course a variety of them from our classic laadi Pao to the white bread, the brown variety, the multi-grain, the whole wheat concepts, the flour and seed combination breads to the designer rolls and international breads too each one of them has a different taste and outlook altogether.

Here are a few simple and easy recipes using our regular leftover/ couple of days old breads in our kitchens in a slightly twisted way and in a new look!

Recipe-1] Bread Ka Masaledaar Nashta

[ quick fix bread snack]

Ingredients

Sliced bread/pao- 4-5 slices/3-4 no

Oil- 2 tbsp.

Cumin seeds- ½ tsp

Mustard seeds- ½ tsp

Curry leaves-10-12 no.

Onions-1 cup chopped

Tomatoes-1 cup chopped

Salt to taste

Aamchur powder-1/2 tsp

Water-1/2 cup

Coriander powder-1 tbsp.

Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp

Red chili powder-1/2 tsp

Coriander leaves-2 tbsp.

Lime-1 no

Roasted crushed peanuts-2 tbsp.

Method:

1. Cut the bread slices into small pieces using the crusts as well.

2. Heat oil in a pan, saute the cumin, mustard seeds, curry leaves, onions, add chilies to taste.

3. Add in the tomatoes and salt, all spices little water and cook for 3-4 mins on low flame.

4. Add in the bread, sprinkle little water over it and mix well, simmer cover and cook the bread in the masala for 3-4 mins.

5. Finally add in the aamchur powder, coriander leaves, peanuts, lime juice and mix well, add nylon sev or sev bhujiya on the top and serve as a snack/breakfast etc.

Recipe-2] OPEN FACED BREAD PIZZA BITES

Ingredients

Sliced bread/ bread loaf slices- 4-5 no

To apply on the bread:

Butter/cream cheese/ tomato ketchup/ schezuan chutney/green chutney/ pesto sauce/ peanut butter.

For the toppings on the bread pizza:

Onions, capsicums, tomatoes, boiled American corn, saute mushrooms, grilled paneer/tofu, leftover sliced tandoori chicken or seekh kababs, choose between ingredients like olives, gherkins, sun-dried tomatoes, non-veg like sausages, salami, ham etc.

The final topping before baking:

Grated cheese of your choice + mixed herbs + chili flakes + crushed black pepper corns + chat masala to taste mix well and place on the top and bake in a pre-heated oven or using a non-stick tava etc allow to cook and get a crusty base and cut into wedges and serve.

Method:

1. Assemble all the ingredients as per your choice for this quick snack.

2. Depending on availability decide the various parts of your pizza.

3. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and bake the pizza and serve hot.

Recipe-3] TIL WALE BREAD KE TOAST

[Sesame toasts]

Ingredients

Sliced bread- white/brown- 4-5 no.

For the spread on the bread:
Butter/Cream cheese.

For the topping on the bread:

Veg- Option-1] paneer bhurji/grated paneer, capsicum, onion mixed with salt, pepper,

Chili flakes, herbs, and topped with white til/sesame seeds and little cheese toast and serve.

Veg- Option-2] mashed /grated potato with onion, tomato, chili, salt, pepper, chat masala, coriander leaves, mix well place on the bread slice top with cheese and til and toast.

Non-Veg- Options] boiled chopped chicken mixed with cheese sauce, herbs, chili flakes, boiled chopped eggs mixed with onion, tomato, chat masala, tomato ketchup, chili and coriander leaves, mix and place.

Method:

1. Prepare the ingredients for this interesting snack called til wale toast.

2. After choosing veg/non-veg toppings get the ingredients ready, apply a spread of butter/cream cheese on the slice of bread, place the topping of your choice.

3. Finally sprinkle the mixture of sesame seeds can use mix of black and white as well and cheese and mix well and get the toasts getting into the oven for toasting, serve hot.