Cilantro Pesto/Hummus Sandwich & Watermelon Punch

This is inspired by Panera Bread’s Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich which is served on Tomato Basil bread with Cilantro hummus. This sandwich reminds me of the one that you get in Indian bakeries or movie theaters with the green chutney. Obviously, Panera Bread wouldn’t give me the recipe;) I wish they did! So, I came up with my own recipe!

I made the sandwich when I was going to Bushkill falls (Will post the pics soon) over the past weekend and also had in mind to send it to Show me your sandwich event, hosted by
Divya of Dil Se. Unfortunately, after the long hike, I was hungry and gobbled up the sandwich with out taking pics.. Not even one! And that evening, I come home and plan to blog the recipe and there I was sitting with no pictures So, I thought I missed it this time!
But, Divya was kind enough to take in my entry after the deadline! Thanks for that
With out much delay, let’s dig into the recipe!

2 slices of white bread, or your choice of bread
Couple of slices of Red Onion
2 slices/rounds of Tomato
2 slices of Cucumber
2-3 Pepperoncini/Sweet Peppers
Romaine lettuce

Cilantro Pesto-Hummus

1 bunch of cilantro, stems taken out
½ cup Pine Nuts, toasted
¼ cup Chickpeas/Garbanzo beans
¼ tsp Paprika
1 garlic clove
2 green chilies
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp lemon juice
¼ tsp salt
1/3 cup of Olive oil+1 tbsp

Heat a tbsp of oil in a pan and fry the cumin seeds and green chilies.
Place the rest of the ingredients (Cilantro, pine nuts, beans, paprika, clove, salt) in a blender along with the cumin seeds and chilies.
Blend them until it forms a thick paste.
The paste should be spread able and not watery.
Add more or less oil as needed to make the paste.
Add lemon juice to the pesto-hummus


Note: I don’t use salt as much but feel free to change the proportions of salt to your taste.

Arranging the sandwich:
Cut the crusts off the bread with a knife. Yes, I hate to eat those brown crusts.It is not required to do so, if you like them.


Spread a tbsp of Pesto-hummus on one slice.
Arrange the lettuce, onion, tomato, cucumber, peppers on top of the hummus and cover it with the other bread slice. Secure it with a tooth pick!



This is my entry to Show me your sandwich event, hosted by Divya of Dil Se!

Water melon Punch

I usually have soda with bread or sandwich.But in Summer, its Watermelon time!
This is from the Food Network's Paula Deen recipe of Watermelon Punch. I have tweaked it a bit to suit my taste buds!

3 cups of cubed watermelon
4 oz of frozen limeade concentrate,thawed
1 cup of Pineapple juice
1 recipe Simple Syrup

Simple Syrup
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar

Place water and sugar in a pan and stir until sugar dissolves completely.Boil it for about a minute.Cool the syrup.

Blend the watermelon cubes and syrup.Strain the liquid through a fine sieve.Blend the liquid with Limeade and juice.Serve it cold, with ice.


This is off to Monthly Mingle, guest hosted by Maxine and Hillary of Chewonthatblog , an event created by Meeta of What's for lunch honey.

Shri