Sunset on Toast – Cheese Chili Toast with roast chicken bits

As the winter sun starts to set a bit earlier than usual, we tend to feel a little (sometimes more) hungry. As the clock approaches 5pm, we think of something to nibble on, nothing too heavy, yet something to give our tea or coffee happy company.

With the schools moving to online mode owing to the rising AQI levels in the Delhi-NCR region, we mums tend to take the avatar of a butler. Always expected to be at the beck and call of our offspring – having to tend to our offspring’s never-ending hunger pangs.

As online classes continue for the entire day, and the child gets hungry by 4:30pm – 5:00pm, I don the chef’s hat and prepare something I think she would like.

While I try to make everything a healthier option, it is usually met with much protest. Junk food always…always tends to be the first preference (thanks to peer pressure and advertisements that make it drool-worthy).

If I make it a healthier alternative, it is usually received with rolled eyes and a stiff upper nose, typically turning away from the plate.

So, to balance things out, here’s what I did this time.

I placed cheese slices on two whole wheat bread slices and smeared them with tomato sauce and sweet mustard sauce. I finely chopped roast chicken bits (which I usually keep in my fridge to add to my oats, rice or noodles). I topped it up with mozzarella cheese and oregano seasoning. In case you don’t have chicken bits, you can skip it entirely, or use finely chopped sausages or salami or boiled chicken shreds. Of course, a healthier alternative would be boiled/ grilled/ roasted chicken bits as compared to processed meat. You can also replace the cheese with hung curd, it is entirely up to you!

I let the bread slices with the toppings, toast on the iron tava greased with butter with a lid. This gives a crisp golden texture to the bread. And just before serving, I melted the cheese for 30 seconds and voila! I created magic with simple home ingredients.

For those who want a vegetarian option, feel free to customize the toppings. Skip the chicken and add boiled crushed corn or paneer. It’ll taste just as divine.

And as for the offspring at home, she devoured them in minutes minus the rolled eyes, and all that the mum turned butler and chef gets in return is ‘Hmm…it’s nice.”