Curried Chicken Sandwiches
I’m always a little wary going through a drive through or a sit down restaurant and ordering a sandwich. Why? Because I know that unless I’m able to be standing right there and watching them make my food, there’s a pretty good chance that someone working there is going to get my order wrong. And fewer things tick me off more than someone making a sandwich for me that is made ‘wrong’.
I’ve always been pretty picky when it comes to my sandwiches guys- I’m not like most people.
In the first place, I absolutely can’t stand mayo or miracle whip. Never have, never will. To this day, I don’t know how people eat that stuff. The smell alone triggers my gag reflex, which is why I make a special point of requesting it left off any sandwich I get anywhere. In the past I’ve received sandwiches where they put the mayo or miracle whip on anyway. Regardless of the fact that I could have scraped it off, regardless of how much I paid for the food- if they put mayo or miracle whip on it, I WILL throw it out completely. No amount of scraping off can get rid of the smell or the slight, tangy after taste. Just thinking about it is grossing me out, so I’m moving on.
Another pet peeve of mine is when businesses lay on the condiments that I do like too thick, like oil and vinegar. I understand you want me to taste it, but gol-ly: the bread should not be soaking wet by the time I get back so that it literally ‘squishes’ when I take a bite. That’s gross. My favorite deli place never fails to do this to me so I’ve learned to just leave off any wet condiments at all when ordering and just waiting until I get home to sprinkle my own vinegar on it just the way that I like it.
I usually have to repeat myself in asking for ‘no cheese’ on a sandwich too- it catches a lot of people off guard. Apparently cheese on sandwiches is a pretty popular thing.
I hate those huge tomatoes. Don’t try to put one on my sandwich. I will throw you major shade.
Come to think of it, usually the only things that I order on most sandwiches is just the meat, lettuce, and MAYBE a few veggies. It’s weird I know, but that’s just how I roll. Having said all that, this recipe may seem to be missing quite a few key components that most people would put on a sandwich. That’s only because it’s made the way that I would like it- don’t take it personally. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you what the right kind of cheese would work well with a chicken curry sandwich so I didn’t try. I didn’t include a recipe for a yogurt raita or a mayonnaise based condiment; I’m not a fan of either. I’m giving you guys a sandwich with the bread meat, lettuce, onion and roasted red pepper because that’s exactly how I ate this thing. And to me, that was pretty darn perfect all on it’s own.
However, feel free to add cheese, tomato, raita, mayonnaise to your heart’s content if that’s your thing. I’ll just be over here with my plain sandwich.
Broiled chicken is really underrated. It can take the plain, ordinary chicken breast and elevate it to the level that it really deserves giving that flavorful, dark char on the outside that looks and tastes really good. So instead of grilling the meat like Bon Appetit did, I broiled it in my oven. It made the cook time super quick and easy, with wonderful results. The chicken was moist and flavorful from the overnight buttermilk brine that really packed a punch.
(Me and the grill still don’t get along in case you were wondering. )
I’ll be taking these sandwiches to the Fiesta Friday #61 party hosted by Angie and co-hosted this week by Selma @Selma’s Table and Margy @La Petite Casserole. See you guys there!
Curried Chicken Sandwiches
Recipe Adapted from Bon Appetit.com
Ingredients
Curry Brine
- 1 quart buttermilk
- 4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 teaspoons curry powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
Sandwiches
- 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 pound), halved horizontally
- 1/4 recipe Curry Brine
- 4 large or 8 small slices country-style bread
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 roasted red pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped romaine lettuce
Directions
1. For Curry Brine: combine the buttermilk, kosher salt, black pepper, curry powder, cumin, turmeric.
2. Add chicken and refrigerate overnight, or at least 4 hours.
3. Preheat broiler and spray broiler pan with non stick cooking spray.
4. Broil chicken until golden brown and slightly charred and juices run clear. (Inner temp of chicken should reach 160°-165°)
5. Layer bread with chicken, onion, red pepper and lettuce. Serve.
These look great! Guess what I JUST took pics of today at lunch? Shredded curry chicken sandwiches, haha. Well, more of the tikka masala variety, but still! Great minds 🙂 Have a good weekend!
Indeed Alisa- thank you so much 😉
The only answer is always to make your own!! No better food than the food you make for yourself 🙂
I completely agree Elaine- homemade everything is better 🙂
Well, that’s a real sandwich! Looks great:) love the curry brine:)
The brine makes the chicken tender like you wouldn’t BELIEVE. Thank you 🙂
wow this is to die for and the curry flavor would make this sandwich a feast for the taste buds!!!
Thank you Kelsey!
You’re so funny, Jess! Reading your paragraph about the mayonnaise reminded me of Mama June’s hatred of mayonnaise on Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and now I can’t stop laughing. God, that show was awful, but I couldn’t stop watching it!
AHAHAHA!
I didn’t even think of that, but you’re right Alice- hopefully that’s the only thing I have in common with Mama June lol, thank you 🙂
Yummy looking sandwich! Haven’t had a chicken sandwich in ages … must make soon! 🙂
Thanks Lili, I forget how much I love chicken sandwiches until the next time I have a chicken sandwich. I really think you’ll like this one!
Amazing!!!!
Thank you so much 🙂
What a sumptuous sandwich! So much colour and substance with just the basics. I am with you on mayo…I hate it!
Glad to see I’m not alone on my mayo hate- everyone else in my family loves it, I’m the odd one out lol Thank you!
Looks delicious! Beautiful colours in your pictures, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mr. B- the curry really gave it a nice color and I love incorporating a lot of veggies on my sandwich 🙂
Too Funny!! 😀 I love a packed sandwich, but I absolutely hate thick cut tomatoes too! For some reason I find the finely sliced tomatoes to be far more tastier! It’s weird!
This is definitely my kind of sandwich though!! Apart from maaaaybe a little yoghurt in there, I would say this would be a pretty perfect sandwich for me too! 🙂
Here’s the thing: I LOVE Roma and Cherry tomatoes. Love em. But the big ones make me GAG. It’s sooooo weird, but it’s just the way my taste buds work lol
Thanks Dini 🙂
Your Chicken Sandwiches are very delicious!
Thank you!
Another droolicious recipe Jess! Yum!!
Thanks Naina, this one is a new favorite that I’ll be making over and over for sure 🙂
In case you would like to start an e-commerce web site for selling sandwich, I want you to know that I trust you completely! This sandwich looks amazing… I agree with Elaine, no better food than the food you make for yourself! Thanks for being at FF!
Haha, thank you I appreciate that 🙂
I’ll definitely be making this soon, it looks absolutely delicious! Thanks so much for sharing it at FF! 🙂
Thank you Jeanette, I think you’ll really enjoy it 🙂
Oh Jess, I do love reading your posts! “…I will throw you major shade..” I am so using that line the minute I get the chance!! I’m not too keen on tomatoes in my sandwiches unless it invokes fresh mozzarella and basil and I love the sound of your brine! Thanks for sharing and happy Fiesta Friday x
Hahaha, thanks Selma 🙂
I too hate soggy sandwiches! These look fantastic, yum yum yum 🙂
Thank you Sarah!
Looks succulent!
That’s such a wonderful word to describe these sandwiches, thanks Anna!
My pleasure, Jess. 🙂
I think you’re the first person I’ve come across to hate mayo so violently haha! I probably like it a little too much, so we better not get our sandwiches mixed up or we’ll both be very unhappy haha! I’ve never had miracle whip, I don’t really know what it is but just the name turns me off!
People think I’m weird because I hate pickles and tomatoes so always ask for without, I get the weird looks in Atlanta mostly where pickles are considered mandatory haha
This sandwich looks absolutely mouth watering though, I didn’t even notice the lack of mayo until you mentioned it, it doesn’t look one bit too try (although I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t probably add a thin layer of mayo haha)
I like the sweet gherkin pickles on my sandwiches and just about everything else so yeah, we’d definitely HATE getting each other’s sandwiches by mistake lol
Thanks Michelle 😀
I love curried anything, and this sandwich looks gorgeous!
Me too, thank you for stopping by I appreciate it!