Toshka ~ A Damascus Sandwich

Toshka is a delicious street food mostly made with an Arabic flatbread stuffed with kebabs and white cheese. These are then baked over charcoal or on a flat griddle.

Toshkas are originally from Aleppo and travelled to Damascus where it took a different form, though retaining the name. In Damascus, Toshka is a type of sandwich made with Sujak meat and Kashkawan cheese. It is then grilled in a sandwich maker for the cheese to melt.

I adapted my version of this recipe, where Pita bread is used instead of the Arabic Flatbread or the Khobez. The Kashkawan cheese is replaced with mild Gouda cheese.

I further went with my own modification of the recipe, for the meat I replaced it with the Soya Mince.  The meat is cooked as Sujak/ Sucuk, which is a dry, spicy sausage. The spices used were almost similar to our Indian style, except it was mild. As I have mentioned, I ensured I cooked all possible dishes with the huge Soya Mince I made. So this recipe has Soya Mince, Cheese filled in a Pita Bread and then grilled on a hot tawa served with a cucumber pickle.

So this sinful Damascus sandwich is my pick for T in the A to Z International Street Foods. If you are interested to know the Flatbread for T, check this post. Check my other space.

In this A to Z International Street Foods:

A for Arancini
B for Bunny Chow
C for Chatamari
D for Dürüm
E for Empanada
F for Fataa’ir Farmaajo
G for Gilgeori Toast
H for Hua Juan Bao
I for Imqarrun il-Forn
J for Jasuben’s Pizza
K for Khachapuri
L for Lángos
M for Mofo Anana
N for Nachos Supreme
O for Okonomiyaki
P for Panelle
Q for Qamdi
R for Rustico
S for Sabich

Step By Step Pictures for making Toshka

Toshka ~ A Damascus Sandwich

For the Minced Soya Granules

1 cup Soya Granules
A Pinch Turmeric
A Pinch Salt
Water as required
2 tsp Cooking Oil
1 cup Onions finely chopped
1 Bay Leaf
1 cup Tomato Puree
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1 /2 tsp Garam Masala
1 /2 Cumin Powder
Salt to taste
4 to 5 Cashews

Other Ingredients Needed
Cheese Slices
Cucumber pickle
Pita Bread

For the Minced Soya Granules

Bring a pot of water to boil along with turmeric and salt. Add soya granules and let it cook for a couple of minutes. Drain it in a colander for a while till all the water drains away. If required you can further squeeze to make the granules very dry.
Heat a nonstick pan with oil, add bay leaf and then finely chopped onions. Saute well.
Add the soya granules and saute till it becomes dry.
Add all the spice powders and combine well.
Then grind soaked cashews along with tomatoes to a fine puree
Combine all and simmer for 10 mins till the soya granules get cooked in masala well. Keep it aside.

Assembling the Toshka

Open the Pita bread into a pocket shape. Fill with a layer of minced soya and a slice of cheese. Grill in a sandwich maker or on a flat griddle.
You can brush the bread with melted butter if you want it to crisp
Serve with cucumber pickle on the side.

Toshka ~ A Damascus Sandwich

Toshka is a delicious street food mostly made with an Arabic flatbread stuffed with kebabs and white cheese. These are then baked over charcoal or on a flat griddle.

• CourseDinner
• CuisineSyria
• By Cook MethodStovetop
• OccasionHoliday Special
• By DietProtein Rich
• Dish TypeStreet Food

Ingredients

For the Minced Soya Granules

• 1cup Soya Granules
• A Pinch Turmeric
• A Pinch Salt
• Wateras required
• 2tsp Cooking Oil
• 1cup Onionsfinely chopped
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1cup Tomato Puree
• 1tsp Red Chilli powder
• 1tsp Coriander powder
• 1 /2tsp Garam Masala
• 1 /2 Cumin Powder
• Salt to taste
• 4 to 5 Cashews

Other Ingredients Needed

• Cheese Slices
• Cucumber Pickle
• Pita Bread

Instructions

For the Minced Soya Granules

1. Bring a pot of water to boil along with turmeric and salt. Add soya granules and let it cook for a couple of minutes. Drain it in a colander for a while till all the water drains away. If required you can further squeeze to make the granules very dry.
2. Heat a nonstick pan with oil, add bay leaf and then finely chopped onions. Saute well.
3. Add the soya granules and saute till it becomes dry.
4. Add all the spice powders and combine well.
5. Then grind soaked cashews along with tomatoes to a fine puree
6. Combine all and simmer for 10 mins till the soya granules get cooked in masala well. Keep it aside.

Assembling the Toshka

1. Open the Pita bread into a pocket shape. Fill with a layer of minced soya and a slice of cheese. Grill in a sandwich maker or on a flat griddle.
2. You can brush the bread with melted butter if you want it to crisp
3. Serve with cucumber pickle on the side.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 87

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Posted in: Indian Cook