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