Pav Bhaji

I was thinking of "Chaats" and my mouth started watering.Ummmmm...gosh!

Mumbai - the city never sleeps....I have fond memories associated with this place.In Bandra (Hill Road to be precise)there is this place called "Elco"...I guess they make the best Paani Puris and Pav Bhajis.I remember being charged Rs 56 ($1.12)for 6 Pani Puris...which is actually expensive as per Indian standards, coz you get Pani Puris for Rs 10 ($0.20)too.Though its expensive, its worth tasting it.The Paani...ie., the liquid was cold...thats how an authentic Pani Puri should be.

The other best thing to try is the "Pav Bhaji".It is the quintessential street food.
Imagine butter toasted bun along with mashed vegetables with good amount of spices....with alot of flavouring agents....sounds yummy right?????

There are different kind of Pav Bhaji...the one without Onion & garlic is the Jain Pav Bhaji,Sada Pav Bhaji is without butter,Kada Pav Bhaji is without mashing vegetables.This one is the Mumbaiya Pav Bhaji by Sanjeev Kapoor...he comes up lovely recipes.Long back,I had seen this in Television in India ...here it is for all...


Ingredients :

Butter - 1 tbsp for the Bhaji and good amount for toasting the Pav
Pav - as required (I dont get Pav here, so I used Hamburger buns)
Onions - finely chopped - 2-3 medium sized
Tomatoes - finely chopped - 3 medium sized
Tomato Puree - 1/2 cup
Ginger Green Chilli Paste - 2 tsp
Peas - 1/4 cup ( I use frozen peas as it is easy to cook)
Capsicum - finely chopped - 1/2 cup
Potato - 1 cup (boiled and mashed)
Cauliflower - 1/4 cup grated
Coriander leaves - for garnishing
Pav Bhaji Masala - 1 3/4 tbsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/4tsp
Lemon - 1 (cut into cubes)
Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1tbsp
Salt - As per taste

Masher - An equipment used to mash the veggies (Available in plastic,steel,wood).

Method -

1.Heat a mixture of Oil and butter in a Kadai.Add the chopped Onions and Ginger green chilli paste and saute till the Onions turn pink.
2.Add Tomatoes and cook till you get a gravy consistency.
3.Add Cauliflower and Peas.Let it cook for few minutes and then add the Pav Bhaji Masala,Tomato Puree,Red Chilli Powder & Turmeric Powder.
4.Mix the above well and leave it for a minute or two.Add Potatoes,Capsicum and li'l water (around 1/2 cup) and allow it to cook.Use the masher( this is used to mash veggies)and mash the vegetables.Don't overdo it.
5.Add salt, add more water if needed.It should end up to a thick gravy.
6.Once done garnish with coriander leaves

For the Pav

Slice the Pav/Hamburger buns horizontaly, apply butter on both the sides and toast it on a Tawa (pan).

Squeeze lemon on the Bhaji and serve it with the Pav and chopped Onions.




I used the Pav Bhaji masala which was readily available at the Indian Stores.Instead of using all the Veggies, few selected ones make alot of difference.Also, instead of Mashing the boiled Potatoes, grating them is definetly better.Ensure you don't overdo with the masher. The Capsicum is added in the last so that it remains a l'il crunchy.

In Mumbai, to make it spicy l'il bit of Red Chilli Powder is sprinkled inside the Pav and then toasted.Its yummmmmmy!!!!!