Yes, you read it right - Pav Bhaji can be low fat and low cal too. After the stupendously successful Pumpkin-Chocochip Bread, I was more confident of experimenting with Pumpkin Puree in more of my dishes, especially those which required volume (like Cakes / Pav Bhaji) all the while cutting down extra carbs through butter or even Potatoes. So, one evening on a whim, kiddo asked me to make Pav Bhaji, but I didnt want to load up a lot. So I offered to make it for a Sunday evening snack, and as it was her X mas holidays asked her to help me out as well. She surprisingly agreed (it was the Pav bhaji that worked magic - letting go of Chota Bheem and friends on Television never seemed easier ;-)) Now, since she is too young to chop veggies for the pav bhaji (which was majorly Pumpkin puree etc), I asked her for little things , like getting me the masala powders from the shelves within her reach. And imagine my surprise when the first masala packet she brought out was Pav Bhaji Masala, followed by Amchur & Red Chillipowder. I was touched that my little one was a cute chef in the making:-) And as she doesn't like Potatoes in most forms (except may be fries), she helped me get some veggies like Carrots and Beans from the refrigerator. She also chose capsicum as she likes the crunch in the Pav Bhaji. So armed with all this, holiday cooking never looked better, and rather tasted better. The Pumpkin puree was a total hit, with even mom approving of the taste. It isnt sweet at all as one might be inclined to think. Rather the masalas we add cuts down the sweetness while the puree increases the volume but with no extra fat 🙂 Try this for a quick evening snack or even make it for school lunchbox. You surely have a winner there. Sending this to Week 2 BM # 11 under "Holiday Cooking" and also to Valli's Snacks Mela , Veena's kids delight and Radhika's Winter Mela. Its a wonderful party idea too, and you might want to increase the spice if serving to elder guests.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#11
Prep time : 20 mins.
Cooking time : 15 mins.
Serves : 3
Ingredients:
(A) Bhaji of the Pav Bhaji:
- Pumpkin (Butternut Squash) - 2 cups peeled and cubed
- Onions - 1 large minced
- Oil - 2 TBSP
- Ginger garlic paste - ½ tsp
- Capsicum - ½ minced fine
- Carrots - 1 small - grated
- Fresh Peas - a handful
- French Beans - a handful
- Tomatoes - 2 large
- Salt - to taste
- Turmeric - ½ tsp
- Garam Masala - ½ tsp
- Dry Masala (each 1 tsp) - Pav Bhaji Masala, Red Chilly powder, Amchur
- Butter - 1 TBSP
- Coriander & lemon - for garnish
(B) To Serve : Pav or Dinner Rolls - storebought or baked at home - 6 nos
Method:
1) Peel the pumpkin and puree the cubes without water in a blender. Similarly blanch and puree the tomatoes separately. Strain and reserve
2) Chop onions and capsicum fine. Blanch peas in hot boiling water for 6 mins.
3) Grate carrots and chop french beans fine
4) In a large non-stick pan, heat oil. Add onions and half the capsicum. Saute well. Add the french beans, ginger garlic paste, salt and saute again till onions slightly brown. Now add the grated carrots and mix again.
5) Once the raw smell goes off, add the peas, pumpkin puree, tomato puree and all the dry masala powders, garam masala and mix well.
6) Cook covered for 10 mins.
7) Add 1 tablespoon of butter and half the coriander leaves
8) Switch off stove and transfer to serving plate.
9) To serve, lightly grill the pav with butter / nutralite on a hot tava for 15 seconds.
10) Serve the hot Bhaji (vegetable gravy) with pav, lemon wedges and some chopped onions.
Srivalli says
I am impressed Kalyani, with the pumpkin puree and your kid!..way to go..:)..bajji looks really so colourful!
Unknown says
Pav bhaji looks delicious....
Kavi says
Woah.. I am definitely trying this! I just LOVE Pav Bhaji. Every time I go to Chembur station, I HAVE to go to Sadguru! 😀 Maybe using Pumpkin will make me feel better about adding calories! 😀 Is there any difference in taste?
Hari Chandana P says
Woww... looks so tempting and delicious.. thanks for sharing dear !!
Indian Cuisine
The Pumpkin Farm says
super cool idea, btw must have been quite an experience cooking with ur kid, i am so envious.
Priya Suresh says
Wow,thats surely an incredible twist to the usual bhaji,very creative,thanks for sharing Kalyani..
Lifewithspices says
Woolah.. with pumpkin its an awesome.. recipe.. bookmarked..
Nalini's Kitchen says
Wonderful idea,with pumpkin...delicious and yummy.
Chef Mireille says
looks delicious...and lots of veggies that I love...thank you for no eggplant..will definitely try this one..its bookmarked!
Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says
love the richness in the bhaji!!! Will try adding pumpkin puree the next time i make it!!!!
Vardhini says
Nice use of butternut squash and the pav bhaji looks inviting.
Anu says
My fav..looks so good..fell like having it right now..
anjana says
wow..low fat pav bhaji..great idea of using pumpkin instead of potato..very healthy and delicious..loved it!!
Kalyani says
@ kavi - there is no change in taste, but this has a different texture. But the dry masalas when added in the right proportion, does make it extremely good ! Do try it out, its surely different from the Sadguru's pav bhaji version, but definitely low cal !
Suma Gandlur says
Very delectable combo.
Gayathri Kumar says
Adding pumpkin to Pav Bhaji is a great idea and it looks so inviting...
Cool Lassi(e) says
Mouthwatering dish! Classic combo!
Pavani says
Addition of pumpkin puree is interesting. I'm sure it tasted great, especially with the little one helping.
Archana says
delicious.