Chicken Tikka Naanwich (Naan-Sandwich)

What is naanwich?

A naanwich is simply a sandwich made using  naan bread. The filling used to make it is usually Indian dishes that are dry or have minimal curry sauce. It can be any of your favorite Indian dishes -  chicken tikka,  paneer tikka,  gobi tikka,  Bombay potatoes, or  keema matar, to name a few. Naanwich is a great way to use up leftovers from your favorite Indian takeaway.

Naan needs no introduction and is probably one of the most ordered items in Indian restaurants. It is one of the easiest bread to make at home and pairs perfectly with your  favorite curries. Chicken tikka naanwich combines two of the most popular Indian dishes into one great dish.

What is chicken tikka?

Chicken tikka is juicy, tender, and flavor-packed chicken kebabs made by marinating boneless chicken pieces in yogurt and spices and grilling them. Traditionally, a tandoor (clay oven) is used to grill the tikkas but I love to make them in my air fryer which gives me a taste very close to the traditional ones.

The term tikka translates to chunk or piece and this dish was introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Mughals. But it is this cooking style combined with the Indian spices and yogurt gave birth to the modern-day kebabs that we love and are now an integral part of Indian food. Simmer it in a rich and creamy sauce to make delicious chicken tikka masala.

Ingredients

Naan: Use store-bought naan or make them at home using this easy no-knead naan recipe.

Chicken tikka: Make the easiest air fryer chicken tikka using this recipe or buy them from your favorite Indian restaurant. For a vegetarian version, use paneer tikka in this recipe.

Yogurt mint chutney: Yogurt mint chutney is very easy to whip up - just blend some mint leaves, cilantro, green chili, salt, fresh ginger, and garlic. Add this to whisked yogurt and mix well. See this green chutney recipe for measurements. You can also use just plain yogurt for this recipe.

Greens: I have used baby lettuce and cilantro. Use any of your favorite salad leaves instead.

Butter and cheese: Use salted butter to top the naan. Any cheese of your choice works - I have used shredded mozzarella.

Step-by-step instructions

Place one naan on a clean board. Take the chicken tikka and and veggies, spread them over the naan. Top with lettuce, yogurt-mint dip, and cilantro. Next, evenly spread the shredded cheese. Cover with another naan on top.

Carefully place the assembled naanwich on a sandwich maker (or panini press) and add butter on top. Cover and cook for 3 minutes.

Cut and serve hot.

Cheesy, delicious, and perfect.

Useful tips

You can use frozen naan straight from the freezer without the need to defrost it.

Use any salad leaves as per your liking - different varieties of lettuce, arugula, baby spinach, parsley, napa cabbage, etc. work very well.

We love mozzarella in our naanwich, however, other cheese varieties like cheddar can also be used. You can also skip it altogether.

For a vegetarian alternative, use paneer tikka in this recipe and make paneer tikka naanwich.

Never run out of ideas on what to serve with naan with this detailed guide. If you have leftover naan, don't worry. Check out these resources to learn how to freeze naan properly and the ultimate guide to reheating naan.

FAQs

What is naanwich?

A naan-wich is basically a sandwich made using naan bread. The filling used to make it is usually Indian dishes that are dry or have minimal curry sauce. You can use any vegetarian, meat, or seafood dishes to make it, and naanwich is a great way to enjoy Indian leftovers.

How to heat up a naanwich?

I like to use a sandwich maker or panini press for this. You can also heat them in a preheated oven or air fryer. Preheat the oven or air fryer up to 350 F (180 C). Put them in the oven for 7-8 minutes or in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes.

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