A Sandwich with a Pune Twist

There’s nothing quite like a hearty and delicious chicken salad sandwich! Whether you’re packing lunch for work or school or taking it along for a weekend picnic or hike, they’re the kind of meal that’s satisfying without being too heavy, and versatile enough to play with flavors. In my family, Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad Sandwiches are a beloved staple and I find myself making them time and again.

What makes these sandwiches special is that they’re inspired by one of my favorite childhood spots in Pune—Marz-o-rin Café on Main Street. If you’ve ever been to Pune, chances are you’ve heard of this iconic café that’s been serving sandwiches, rolls, and baked goods for decades. But their Chicken Burgers?! For me, they sure steal the show!

A Nostalgic Bite

Now, technically, Marz-o-rin’s famous chicken burger is really a chicken salad sandwich in a bun. But it isn’t your usual chicken salad. The Parsis on Main Street took the humble chicken salad to a whole new level and turned it into their signature burger. Stuffed between two hamburger buns smeared with a sweet and spicy combination of mayo, chili sauce, and honey mustard is a generous pile of shredded chicken along with diced onions and peppers. It’s simple, but it hits all the right notes—a little sweet, a little spicy, and a whole lot of delicious.

Whenever I’m back home in Pune, Marz-o-rin is one of the places I go, and their chicken burger is always something that I order, in addition to their famous Chutney Sandwiches. In fact, on my last trip there just last month, I couldn’t resist going multiple times just to get my fix! There’s something timeless about the café’s charm—no matter how much their menu has evolved, their classic burgers and sandwiches are still just as I remember them from my college days.

Recreating the Magic back Home

Since I can’t hop on a plane to Pune every time I get a craving for that chicken burger, I’ve recreated a version that’s become a hit in my house—my own Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad Sandwiches. These sandwiches take inspiration from the Marz-o-rin classic but come with a few tweaks that fit my lifestyle here, in California. It also makes them more portable and easy to prep for weekday lunches or weekend adventures.

The base of my sandwich starts with shredded chicken, just like at the café. I often use a store-bought rotisserie chicken for convenience, but if I have time, I’ll roast my own. You can also go the poached or grilled chicken route if you prefer. For a vegetarian version, swap the chicken with chopped boiled eggs, crumbled paneer, or shredded mild cheddar (like the cheese burger offered at the café).

When it comes to the flavors, I stick to the original sandwich—just like Marz-o-rin’s recipe, I use chopped red onion and green bell pepper for crunch, but I toss everything together in one bowl for easy assembly later.

For the dressing, my version uses a combination of mayo and Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Chili sauce, without the use of honey mustard. This adds just the right balance of heat and sweetness, while also keeping the chicken salad creamy and flavorful. I also like to throw in some cilantro for freshness and season it well with salt and finely ground black pepper. It’s a little simpler than the café version, but no less delicious.

A Sandwich for every occasion

What I love about my Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad Sandwiches is how perfect and easy it is to make them ahead of time. The chicken salad stays fresh in the refrigerator for a few days. I can pack the chicken salad and sandwich buns separately, so the bread doesn’t get soggy.

When it’s time to eat, the sandwiches come together in minutes. This makes them perfect for school lunch boxes (my daughter loves them!), work-from-home or office lunches, and even picnics or hikes when we want something a little more substantial. These sandwiches are a regular on our weekend family brunch table or afternoon tea with family and friends. They’re also great for entertaining where you can set up a bar for the guests to assemble their own sandwiches.

Creative Twists

My Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad Sandwiches are fully customizable, allowing you to get creative with the other toppings to go with filling, like sliced Havarti or cheddar, baby spinach or mixed greens (my go-to most times!), pickled jalapeños, or sliced cucumbers or radishes. The mix of sweet and spicy flavors provides a fantastic base for experimentation, so feel free to get creative and make these sandwiches your own.

For a fun twist, you can turn them into wraps! Sometimes, I’ll ditch the sandwich buns entirely and use tortillas instead. I’ll layer the wraps with sliced cheese, mixed greens and then top it with the chicken salad before rolling them up and cutting into pinwheels.

These pack all the flavor into neat little bites that are great for finger foods if you’re entertaining or taking them on-the-go.

Your New Go-To Sandwich

Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch to take to work or school, or planning a picnic in the park, these Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad Sandwiches are sure to hit the spot. With a nod to the classic chicken burgers from Pune’s Marz-o-rin Café and a few of my simple updates for a portable, crowd-pleasing nosh, I know this is going to be your new go-to sandwich!

Next time you’re craving something flavorful, make these sandwiches up and take them wherever the day leads you—whether it’s a picnic, a school lunchbox, or a midweek meal or a weekend brunch that comes together in no time. And if you happen to find yourself in Pune anytime soon, don’t forget to stop by Marz-o-rin for a taste of the original inspiration!

Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad Sandwiches

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• Author: Vasanti
• Yield: Makes 16 sandwiches 1x

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Description

A homemade twist on the popular Chicken Burgers from Marz-o-rin Café in Pune, India.

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1/2x1x2x3x

For the Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad

• 1 whole rotisserie chicken (see Variations for veg options)
• 1–1 1/2 cups mayonnaise, based on your preference for creaminess
• 1/2 – 3/4 cup Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Chili Sauce, based on your preference for heat (see FAQs & Notes)
• 1 medium red onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium green pepper, finely chopped (see Variations)
• 10–12 sprigs of cilantro/coriander leaves, minced
• salt, as needed
• fine ground black pepper, as needed

For the Sandwiches 

• 16 hamburger buns
• baby spinach leaves, optional
• sliced cheese like Havarti or Cheddar, optional

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Instructions

Preparing the Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad

• Start by removing the skin of the rotisserie chicken and manually separate the meat from the bones. You can also use a sharp knife to cut along the backbone, leg, and wings to remove the pieces.
• Use your fingers to tear the meat into thin strips, or use two forks to pull the meat apart into thin shreds.
• To the shredded chicken, add the mayonnaise and the tomato chili sauce.
• Toss well to combine and then stir in the chopped onions, bell peppers and cilantro/coriander leaves. 
• Season with salt and pepper and give it a final toss to mix everything well. (See FAQs & Notes for storage instructions).
• Spoon the prepared chicken salad over lower halves of the buns. Add optional toppings like baby spinach and or cheese slices. Place the top halves and serve alongside chips or pickled vegetables. 
• Alternatively you can layer a tortilla with sliced cheese, baby spinach and spoon the chicken salad over it. Roll it into a wrap and cut in half or into pinwheels.