Pav Bhaji is a beloved Mumbai street food that combines a spicy vegetable mash (bhaji) with soft, butter-toasted buns (pav). It’s a versatile dish, perfect for using up leftover vegetables and creating a hearty meal at home. Here’s how you can prepare it:
🥔 Ingredients
For the Bhaji:
- 2 boiled potatoes
- ½ cup green peas
- ¾ cup finely chopped cauliflower
- ½ cup finely chopped carrots
- 1–2 finely chopped onions
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 1–2 finely chopped tomatoes
- ½ cup chopped green bell pepper
- ½ tsp red chili powder
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp coriander powder
- ¼ tsp cumin powder
- ½–1 tsp pav bhaji masala
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- Salt to taste
- 2 tsp oil
- 2 tsp butter
- Chopped fresh coriander for garnish
For the Pav:
- 8 pav buns
- Butter for toasting
🍳 Preparation Steps
- Cook the Vegetables:
- Wash and finely chop all vegetables.
- In a pressure cooker, add the chopped vegetables with 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt.
- Cook for 1 whistle.
- Once cooled, blend the cooked vegetables into a smooth paste.
- Prepare the Masala:
- Heat 2 tsp oil in a pan.
- Add finely chopped onions and sauté until they turn light brown.
- Add ginger paste and chopped tomatoes; cook until tomatoes soften.
- Add red chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder, and pav bhaji masala.
- Cook the masala until oil separates.
- Combine and Cook:
- Add the blended vegetables to the masala.
- Mix well and add 1 cup of water to adjust consistency.
- Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10–15 minutes.
- Add lemon juice and mix thoroughly.
- Toast the Pav:
- Slice the pav buns horizontally, keeping them attached at one end.
- Heat butter on a pan and toast the buns until golden brown on both sides.
- Serve:
- Serve the hot bhaji garnished with chopped coriander.
- Accompany with butter-toasted pav, chopped onions, lemon wedges, and green chutney if desired.
Enjoy your homemade Pav Bhaji, a delightful and flavorful meal that’s sure to please everyone at the table!
