Pav Bhaji

103 views 12:00 am 0 Comments May 2, 2013
 
 
 
This famous Indian street food needs no introduction. A plate of piping hot bhaji served with pav (square Indian dinner rolls) greased generously with butter is a common sight in Mumbai roadsides. Each one has some special memories associated with a plate of hot pav bhaji topped with butter! For me it reminds me of my college days lunch break.
 
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My friends and I would gather under the huge tree in our college ground (which was nicknamed the honeymoon tree for reasons still unknown!) to eat my Amma`s famous Pav Bhaji.. Even now as we talk about the good old college days during our occasional friend`s reunion, those lunch breaks under the honeymoon tree are still remembered with great fondness. 
 
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Pav Bhaji

The popular Mumbai street food!

  • Pav (found in all stores or soft dinner rolls)
  • Butter – to toast the pav

For Bhaji

  • Potatoes – 4 big sized
  • Peas (frozen- 1 cup)
  • Capsicum – 1 medium sized
  • Onions – 2 (medium)
  • Tomatoes – 4 to 5 medium to big
  • Tomato puree/ paste (readymade – 1 tbsp (optional))
  • Jeera (cumin – 1 tsp)
  • Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Chilli powder – 1 tsp
  • Dhania (coriander powder – 1 tsp)
  • Pav Bhaji masala – 1 tbsp or per taste
  • Butter – Approx 4 tbsp or more
  • Lemon juice – of half a lemon
  • Salt to taste

Grind together or fine chop together

  • Ginger – 1/2 inch piece
  • Garlic – 4 cloves
  • Green chillies – 2-3

For garnish

  • Coriander leaves
  • Chaat masala – to sprinkle on top

To serve

  • Chopped onions (raw)
  • Lime wedges
  1. Pressure cook potatoes for upto 5-6 whistles or till cooked. Peel and mash. Boil peas. Mash lightly.
  2. Finely chop capsicum, onions. Grind or fine chop ginger-garlic-green chillies. Coarsely crush tomatoes in mixer or chop finely.
  3. Melt butter in a wide shallow pan, season with jeera.
  4. Add onions. Fry till they turn soft. Add ginger-garlic-green chillies.
  5. Add the tomatoes and fry till it is mashed properly. Add the tomato puree/ paste if adding.
  6. Add capsicum and fry for 2-3 mins.
  7. Add the chilli powder, turmeric powder, dhania powder, pav bhaji masala. Mix well.
  8. Add mashed potatoes and peas. Mix and add water, about 2 cups or as needed. Adjust the
  9. water as per the consistency desired. Add salt.
  10. Let cook. Mash the bhaji in between with a potato masher when the bhaji is getting
  11. cooked. Cook till gravy becomes thick.
  12. Sprinkle lime juice and mix. Garnish. Sprinkle chaat masala lightly if desired.

To serve

  1. Cut the pav bun horizantally into two. Apply butter and heat on tava. Serve the pav with the prepared bhaji on its side. May dot the bhaji with a little butter if desired.
  2. Serve hot bhaji with toasted pav and some chopped onion and lime wedges on the side.

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