Grilled Watermelon Cottage Cheese Sandwich

With Green Pepper Kasundi

This recipe is inspired from the arid desert area of Rajasthan. In these regions, milk doesn't remain fresh and easily curdles, thus making paneer commonly used in the cuisine.

Ingredients
1 watermelon
200 g cottage cheese
1 tsp cumin powder, roasted
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
2 tbsp lemon juice ï Himalayan salt to taste
2 tbsp butter
For kasundi paste
2 tbsp kasundi
1 green bell pepper
1 tsp oil
mint leaves and ginger, julienned for garnish

Method
For the watermelon steak
Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise, then place the flat edge down.
Cut it in 1 1/2-inch-thick and 3-inch-long slices.
Shave off the edges to make a rectangle shape (save the excess bits for using in any salad or juice).
Make four such pieces ensuring that all the seeds are removed from it.
In a tray, place the watermelon steaks.
Sprinkle salt, roasted cumin powder and freshly ground black pepper on both sides of the steaks. Set aside.

For cottage cheese
Cut the cottage cheese in 1-inch-thick and 3-inch-long slices.
Make two such slices.
In a tray, place the cottage cheese steaks and sprinkle Himalayan salt, freshly ground black pepper and lime juice on both sides of the steak.
Set aside.

For kasundi paste
Gently rub oil on a whole green bell pepper.
Preheat the grill and place the bell pepper on it.
Grill from all the sides till a grilled texture appears.
Once done, remove from the griller and immediately put it in cold water.
Remove the skin, stem and seeds from it.
In a mixer jar add kasundi and grilled capsicum and make a fine paste.
Transfer in a glass bowl.

For grilling
Preheat the grill and place the marinated steaks of watermelon and cottage cheese.
Grill from both sides, pouring little amount of butter on it.
Continue till grill marks appear.

Assembly
To make a sandwich, place the watermelon steaks on a tray.
Spread some green bell pepper kasundi paste on it.
Layer the grilled cottage cheese steak on it.
Spread another layer of the kasundi paste on it.
Now put the other grilled watermelon steak on top to make a sandwich.
Cut it in two triangles, as shown in the picture.
Garnish with mint leaves and ginger.