
Pav bhaji is not merely a snack, it’s a complete meal in itself. Originated in Maharashtra – India, it’s a very popular street food all over India. It’s easy to make, delicious and spicy, ideal to be served at a get together. Pav is a baked Indian bread but not sweet like a bun. Bhaji is a mixture of vegetables, boiled, mashed and cooked.
Ingredients
- Potatoes, boiled and mashed 2 medium
- Tomatoes, one chopped and one pureed 2 medium
- Onion finely chopped 1 medium
- Cauliflower 2 or 3 florets
- Carrot ½
- Peas 1 tablespoon
- Beans 2
And any other vegetable as per your choice. All vegetables boiled and mashed.
- Green chilli, finely chopped 2
- Ginger paste 1 teaspoon
- Garlic paste (optional) 1-½ teaspoon
- Cooking oil 2 tablespoons
- Butter 4 – 5 tablespoons
- Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon
- Red chilli powder ½ teaspoon
- Coriander powder 2 teaspoons
- Dried mango powder (Amchur) 1 teaspoon
- Garam masala 1 teaspoon
- Pav bhaji masala (optional) 1 teaspoon
- Salt To taste
- Pav 4
- Fresh Coriander, chopped For garnishing
Equipment Needed
Procedure
- Place a shallow frying pan over medium heat and pour a little oil in it. Once the oil is heated, add cumin seeds and allow them to crackle.
- Now add chopped onions, stir and cook for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Add ginger paste and garlic paste, cook until onion turns light brown in colour.
- Add chopped tomatoes and chopped chilli and cook until tomatoes are cooked.
- Add mashed potatoes, mix and cook for 3 minutes.
- Then add boiled and mashed vegetables, add some water as per requirement and mix well, preferably using a masher.
- After 5 minutes add tomato puree and all spices i.e. coriander powder, red chilli powder, amchur powder, garam masala and salt to taste.
Tip: 1. Add some boiled peas, without mashing and some cottage cheese (Paneer) after adding the tomato puree at the final stage. This will enhance the taste and looks of the bhaji.
- Cook for next 5 minutes, sprinkle pav bhaji masala, mix well and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Remove bhaji from heat and transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with some butter and green coriander.
- Cut the pavs horizontally to make 2 slices of each pav and toast them applying butter on the tawa (flat pan), flipping both sides.
Tip: Toast the pav only until light brown in color otherwise they might get burnt and become too hard to chew.
- Transfer to a serving plate and serve hot with bhaji.
Preparation time: 45 minutes
Serves: 2