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What happens when you bring together a dash of creativity, a dollop of solid cooking principles, and one trusty kitchen appliance? You discover unexpected ways to use a product and delicious results you want to recreate time after time. Wondering which product we’re talking about here? It’s the Usha sandwich grill that may have sandwich in its name but is good for a variety of dishes, from cheesy quesadillas to stuffed parathas. The grill, large enough to cook four sandwiches, is one of the more efficient kitchen appliances to have at home. But if you use it for only one thing, you’re definitely not taking advantage of its features.
Here are five dishes, beyond classic sandwiches, you can make in a sandwich grill.
Quesadillas
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Quesadillas are a classic Mexican dish made from stuffed tortillas. You can stuff the tortillas with different fillings, like meats and spices, vegetables and cheese, etc. They are then folded and cooked on the stovetop, traditionally. However, you can even cook them in a sandwich grill. The technique is actually the same – you just grease the grill plates lightly with butter, oil, or cooking spray so the tortilla toasts nicely. Cook them in a preheated grill for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Just remember not to overfill the quesadillas, or the filling may leak.
If you don’t have Usha’s Sandwich Grill, 
Stuffed Parathas
This is the one that surprises most people, but it’s actually an excellent way to put your sandwich maker to good use. The prep is fairly similar to how you’d make stuffed parathas on a tawa, but the result is a crispier treat. Start by adding your filling (mashed potato, paneer, or other filling) inside a dough ball. Now, roll or flatten the stuffed dough into a square or rectangular shape to fit your sandwich maker. Simultaneously, turn on your sandwich grill to preheat it. Once it’s ready, brush a little oil or ghee on the hot grill plates. Now, place the paratha inside, brush the top with oil, and close the lid. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until the paratha is crispy and golden brown. For a quick breakfast, pair this with a cup of tea. Just boil water in the USHA kettle, and pour it over tea leaves or a tea bag in a separate cup or teapot. Stir in milk, honey, lemon, or sugar to taste and enjoy a wholesome breakfast.
Wraps
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You can easily make crispy, heated wraps in a standard sandwich maker by folding or rolling them tightly. The two things to keep in mind are greasing the grill and not overfilling your wrap. The best shape is a rectangle; it fits easily inside the grill. Ideally, fold the wrap like an envelope or roll it into a cylinder, placing the seam side down. A grilled wrap can even work better than a stovetop as far as crisp and even browning is concerned. For extra crispiness, you can lightly butter the outside of the wrap before placing it in the preheated sandwich grill. Once grilled, slice it in half and serve it with a cup of black coffee or latte, made with the help of your kettle. The kettle can heat water as the wrap grills in the sandwich, leaving you with time to arrange condiments, lay the table, etc.
If you don’t have Usha’s Kettle, .
Dessert Sandwich
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Yes, technically this is a sandwich as well, but it’s anything but regular. A dessert sandwich is exactly what it sounds like: a sweet treat made by placing fillings like ice cream, fruit, or chocolate between two layers of bread. You can even use cookies or cake as layers, but bread works best in a sandwich grill. Take, for example, a chocolate-hazelnut and banana sandwich. To make this, first smear chocolate or cocoa spread on two bread slices. Then, add sliced bananas and a sprinkle of crushed almonds for crunch. Assemble the bread and grill until melty. You can even swap cocoa spread with peanut butter for a nuttier flavour. Pair this with a cup of instant chocolate. Just mix boiling water from the kettle with the powder in a mug. Once the powder completely dissolves, add a splash of milk or cream to make it rich and creamy and enjoy.
Fried Eggs
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This is the kind of quick and comforting breakfast that will make you look at your sandwich grill in a whole new, appreciative light. The dish actually comes together in just five minutes if you follow the steps. First, preheat your sandwich grill. Once it warms up, apply butter, oil, or cooking spray generously to both the top and bottom non-stick plates to grease it. Now, carefully crack the eggs directly onto the bottom heated plate. Take care not to break the yolks if you want them intact. Gently lower the lid. Do not press down too hard. Cook the eggs for about 3 minutes until the whites are fully set. Open the lid and sprinkle salt and black pepper over the eggs. Use a non-metal utensil like a silicone spatula or a wooden or butter knife to lift the eggs out so you do not scratch the non-stick coating. It does require careful handling, but practice this a few times, and before you know it, this will become your go-to breakfast for all busy mornings.
