PAV BHAJI

Pav Bhaji - a spicy curry of mixed vegetables cooked in a special blend of spices with soft buttered pav ,is any Indian food lover’s dream. It is a perfect party food that can be made in advance. It’s also best way to make your kids eat some veggies as sometimes kids don’t like the taste of a particular veggie, but I am sure for this , they never say no. It is my family favourite food. If you ever get to visit Mumbai and looking out to enjoy the real street food there. One of the most popular fast food names you might hear is Pav Bhaji. Known as king of fast food, it is a unique and super delicious dish of variety of vegetables. Particularly, cooked in lots of butter with special spicy Pav bhaji masala and served with pav/ pao/ पाव. In short, Pav or Pau refers to soft buns or dinner rolls. And, Bhaji is a special mixed vegetable gravy.

Although, it is popular all over the country and even overseas. But, we get the authentic Pau Bhaji only in Mumbai (Bombay). If you visit the streets of Mumbai, you will notice that bhaji is especially made or assembled on a big iron tawa or flat griddle. You ask any Indian what food they miss the most when living in another county, I am sure the immediate answer would be street food / chats. Indian chaat recipes are among the most popular recipes in the world. Mumbai street style pav bhaji is a must try dish if you visit Amchi Mumbai. The colour in gravy which you see here is purely from Kashmiri red chilli paste and beetroot. I do not add food color here. First you have to pressure cook vegetables and then cook smooth mashed vegetables with few Indian spice powders.  This is a quick meal be grabbed only you just need to wait till the pav toasted !Delightful yummy dish which will Never Ever Fail to please you, you bet! Hmmm, top with the raw diced onion and coriander, squeeze a tad of lemon at the top and add a piece of butter, accompanied by warm buttery pan-toasted pav, this visually delightful dish is sure to fill your tummy as well as you forget everything. This post will help and guide you to make the easiest and best Pav Bhaji that tastes delicious and flavourful. Here's how to make the best pav bhaji recipe at home in just 30 minutes. 

                           

📌📌 Watch the video recipe here 👇👇

https://youtube.com/shorts/5gCX7KS9l5E?feature=share

INGREDIENTS:

For the Chilli-Garlic Paste:

5-6 Whole Kashmiri Red Chillies

8-10 Garlic Cloves

For Bhaji:

2 Potatoes

2 Tomatoes

½ Cup Cauliflower

½ Cup Cabbage

1 Carrot  

1 Cup Green Peas

1 Big Sized Capsicum

1/4 Cup Beetroot 

2 Onions

1 tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste 

1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds

1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds

1 tablespoon Oil

2 tablespoon Butter

2 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder [ Or as required ]

1 ½ teaspoon Pav Bhaji Masala

1/2 teaspoon Turmeric Powder 

Salt as needed

For toasting Pav:

Ladi Pav

Butter

1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder

1/4 teaspoon Salt

 For Serving Pavbhaji:

Finely chopped Onion

Finely chopped Coriander

Few LemonWedges

Butter

METHOD:

For Chilli Garlic Paste:

STEP 1 - Soak the chillies in water for at least ½ an hour.

STEP 2 - Drain the chillies , remove the seeds, 

STEP 3 - Add chillies with the garlic in mixer pot and blend in a mixer with little water.

For Bhaji:

STEP 1 – Chop all the veggies roughly.

 STEP 2 - Pressure cook with 1 cup water for three whistles and let it cool. Keep one tomato finely chopped aside.

STEP 3 – After cooling , mash the veggies using a hand-masher.

STEP 4  - Heat a wide pan , add butter and oil together.

STEP 5 - Add cumin, mustard seeds and let them crackle. Add chopped onion and ginger-garlic paste and cook until raw smell vanishes.

STEP 6 –Add red chilli powder and turmeric powder and give a nice mix. Cook for 1-2 minute.

STEP 7 - Now add the chopped tomato which we had reserved earlier and stir and cook well. Mash the tomato while cooking and mix well.

STEP 8 –  Add pav bhaji masala and salt as per taste mix it well.

STEP 9 - Now add the mashed veggies, add some water, stir it and mix it well. Be careful as the bhaji may start to splatter.

STEP 10  - Cook the bhaji for minimum 5 minutes. Adjust the consistency and spices as per your liking. 

STEP 11 - Now heat a small tempering pan with some oil. Crackle cumin and mustard seeds and then add 1 tablespoon butter.

STEP 12 - Then add the freshly blend chilli paste with 1 teaspoon pavbhaji masala,some salt to taste in it and stir it well. 

STEP 13 - Add 1-2 tablespoon water and cook it for 1-2 minute.

STEP 14 - Pour the tempering ( chilli paste )on the bhaji and give a nice mix. 

                              

STEP 15 - Cook the bhaji for another 4-5 minutes.

Your bhaji is ready to serve.

For Pav:

STEP 1 - Slit the pav vertically and keep aside.

STEP 2 – Heat the tawa, in small bowl mix 1 teaspoon red chilli powder and some salt, lightly butter the pav/ buns, sprinkle some red chilli-salt mixture and toast each side on a heated tawa till crispy on both sides. Add more butter if needed.

PLATING TIME:

STEP 1 – Spoon the bhaji onto plates, top the bhaji with chopped onion, coriander and butter over it .

STEP 2 – Place two pav from the buttered ladi pav .

STEP 3 – Serve with some more chopped onion, chopped coriander and a lemon wedge on a plate.

Pav Bhaji is now ready. Serve immediately after garnishing and enjoy the homemade pav bhaji. 

NOTES: * Use lots of butter  , preferably use Amul butter in your bhaji.

* Feel free to add other vegetables like cauliflower, capsicum, and carrots if desired.

* Vary the spiciness as per your taste.

* Use fresh ginger and garlic, the store bought ginger-garlic paste won’t give the same flavor.

* Kashmiri chilli paste is added mainly for color. Do not confuse it with regular chili powder, this one isn’t hot.

* Don’t forget the chopped onions while serving the pav bhaji, a generous squeeze of lemon juice and lots of coriander.

* You can bake fresh batch of pav at home or use store brought pav.