Pav bhaji, a well-known Indian street food, is a combination of mashed vegetables and spicy masala served with buttery pavs or buns. If you are looking for quick and easy dinner ideas, you should definitely give this a try!
What’s your favorite Indian street food? I know, there are lots out there, and it's not easy to pick just one. If you ask me, I'll come up with a list. There are so many favorites.
Well, this pav bhaji recipe is one of my most-loved dishes, and it's spicy, flavorful and all the more delicious. It brings that street food atmosphere to home which I really love.
This popular street food is really easy to make at home. And when I say easy, I guarantee there are no complicated cooking procedures or alien ingredients involved. With basic cooking skills, you can whip up this pav bhaji in a flash. After all, street foods are meant to be fast foods, right?
All the ingredients used in this recipe are easily available. Few vegetables that make the base, pav bhaji masala to add the spice factor, and lots and lots of butter to make it flavorful.
Apart from mashed potatoes which give the mushy texture to this pav bhaji recipe, you could add your favorite vegetables. The classic recipe calls for capsicum (bell pepper), cauliflower, potatoes and green peas though.
Butter is a 'must' in pav bhaji. The street vendors in Mumbai use plenty of butter, which I think imparts a huge flavor hit. Pavs or buns toasted in butter is pure deliciousness.
I served this with chopped red onions and lemon wedges. Just so good.
Mumbai Pav Bhaji Recipe | Indian Street Food
Ingredients
- 2 large potatoes 21/2 cups (375 ml) cut into cubes
- 2 ½ cups cauliflower florets
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup chopped red onion
- 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 2 green chilies chopped
- ¾ cup chopped green capsicum bell pepper
- 1 ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste puree
- 2 tablespoon pav bhaji masala
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 cup frozen green peas
- ½ cup chopped coriander cilantro leaves (optional)
- 4 pav buns
- Salt to taste
- Water
- 1 cup chopped red onion to serve
- Lemon wedges to serve optional
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Sprinkle with salt. Place over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 4-5 minutes or until potatoes are well cooked. Drain. Mash the potatoes. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, place cauliflower in a steamer. Sprinkle with salt. Steam until well cooked.
- Heat 2 tablespoon butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onions. Saute for 2 minutes or until onions are soft and translucent. Add garlic. Saute for 1-2 minutes or until aromatic. Add green chilies. Saute again, stirring, for another 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in tomatoes and tomato paste (puree). Saute, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until tomatoes starts to break down. Add bell peppers. Saute until tender. Add pav bhaji masala and red chili powder. Sauté for a minute or until aromatic.
- Add mashed potatoes, cooked cauliflower florets and frozen peas. Add enough water to get a semi solid consistency. Season with salt. Scatter over coriander (cilantro) leaves, if you are using. Stir well. Simmer for 3-4 minutes. Transfer the bhaji mixture to a bowl.
- Heat 1 tablespoon butter in the same pan over medium-high heat. Slit the pavs in half, and place it in the pan. When one side is brown, flip them over to toast the other side. Set aside.
- Serve pav bhaji with chopped onions and lemon wedges.
Video
Notes
-Feel free to add more veggies to pav bhaji like carrots and corn.
Nutrition
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Traditionallymodernfood says
My all time favorite:-) your click make me drool. can I have some.
kushi says
All time favorite 🙂 Very tempting and YUM!
CHCooks says
Pav Bhaji is my most favorite street food! 🙂 This looks lovely!
Abida says
Being in the UK, I have only tried things like samosa chaat from street vendors. I would love to try some pav bhaji, at least I can make it myself using this recipe!