What is Pav Bhaji
Pav Bhaji needs no introduction, nor any special reason to eat them too 🙂 The undisputed king of street food in India, Mumbai's Pav Bhaji seems to have made headlines in global cuisine. Essentially spicy veg gravy with bread, this finger-licking food turns exotic with each spoonful of butter added to make it hearty & heady.
Now I hate to do this, but the best ever Pav Bhaji to my committed memory from the Sukh Sagar in Jayangar 4th block (much before it was renovated).. My mom and sis used to say that I always felt hungry just passing by that restaurant..
Pav Bhaji and some nostalgia...
In fact, it was the Holy Grail of our family when Dad, mom sis & me used to visit Sukh Sagar at Jayanagar 4th blobk (Bangalore) every 10th of the month just after my parents' pay packet was full, and I fondly remember this ritual ran for almost a decade and a half with eager eyes and hungry tummies for Pav Bhaji, Ragda Patties (another favourite), Special Bhel (sprinkled with extra mango slivers) or Cream Custard with Fruit Salad-Ice Cream !! Amen 🙂 to have those days once again!
Especially in today's lockdown kind of scenario where even stepping out is risky, its better we bring the street food to our homes by making everything from scratch. Quite a task, especally the clean up later but totally worth the effort, dont you agree ? Equally delicious is this fuss-free and hands-free (well, almost!) Instant Pot Pav Bhaji
Today's Pav Bhaji was more on-the-spot decision stuff. I had all the ingredients with me. I had about 40 minutes to log into a music based webinar and this seemed the best option to eat and then fill one's senses with the music later 🙂 I would have loved to bake the pepper pav buns, but sadly my oven is insistent on not working !
Can Pav Bhaji be made healthy / Low cal / low fat?
For the food aficionados, I have also included a link here on the street way of making Mumbai Pav Bhaji.. Its quite a treat watching them make it, as much as eating it too, with dollops of butter floating and adding to your waistline. Mine today however, is a low cal version (ok relatively speaking!). Other Pav Bhaji versions I have on the blog are - Low Fat Pav Bhaji (guess the secret ingredient), Paneer Pav Bhaji .
Pro tip idea 💡 - The BEST makeover for leftover pav bhaji is this utterly delish Pav Bhaji Pizza - have you checked it out yet ?
Other Street Food delights you may enjoy on the blog
More Chaats / Street food from India on the blog:
- Ghugni (Kolkata style White peas chaat)
- Bangalore's famous Masala Puri Chaat (check out the video recipe here)
- Kutchi Dabeli
- Dahi Ragda Chaat
- Kolkata's Badam Makha
Bhel Puri - Gujrati Amiri Khaman
- Fruit Kulfi
- Bangalore's famous Tomato slice Chaat
- Delhi's Tikki Chole Chaat
PIN PAV BHAJI FOR LATER
Preparation Time: 20 mins. Cooking Time: 20 mins
Serves : 4
Ingredients:
- Mixed boiled & diced vegetables - 3 cups
- Onions sliced - 3
- Capsicum diced - 1 large
- Tomatoes - 5 large
- Turmeric - ½ tbsp
- Ginger Garlic paste - ½ tbsp
- Pav Bhaji Masala - 3 tablespoon (I used Everest brand)
- Kashmiri Chilli Powder - 2 TBSP
- Salt - to taste
- Oil - 3 tbsp
To serve:
- Pav Buns - 2 laadis (about 12 pieces)
- Nutralite / Light fat butter - few tablespoon (can sub with vegan choices of nut butters)
- For garnish : Green coriander, lime wedges and Chopped onions
Method:
- Wash, cut and boil the vegetables (I used carrots, beans, peas, potatoes & cauliflower) till al dente.
- You may also microwave the vegetables for 8-9 minutes till 70% cooked. Drain and retain the water (about ¾ cup is adequate)
- Blanch the tomatoes for 5 mins, peel and retain. Make a paste of onions and these blanched tomatoes
- In a skillet / shallow pan, add oil. When hot, add ginger garlic paste and fry well. Now add chopped capsicum. Also add a paste made out of blanched tomatoes and onions and stir well till the raw smell disappears.
- When this paste turn translucent, add turmeric, Kashmiri Chilli powder, pav bhaji masala, salt and the water from the boiled vegetables and simmer for 5 - 6 minutes.
- When the capsicum turns tender, add the boiled & mashed veggies and stir once more.
- Mash up the veggies with a pav bhaji masher or a potato masher to a smooth thickish gravy consistency
- Check for salt / extra pav bhaji masala if required.
- In a tava, layer the butter-smeared Pav Buns and toast till slightly crisp
- To serve, arrange two buns on a plate. Serve Bhaji on the side garnished with green Coriander and lime wedges.
Notes:
- To make your Pav Bhaji more healthy, add sprouted moong / green gram as well
- Street food Pav bhaji is tasty as it is heavy on butter . However, If you are keen, you may also substitute the above mentioned butter with just a film of oil and grill them slightly in a batch.
- If you are planning to serve Pav Bhaji for a party, you may make the Bhaji in advance and refrigerate to be thawed with a serving of butter.
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Pav Bhaji | Mumbai Pav Bhaji | Street Food
Equipment
- Bowl
- Ladle
- Kadai
- Knife
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 3 Cup Mixed Vegetables Parboiled
- 3 Onions
- 1 Bell Pepper
- 5 Tomato Ripe and large sized
- ½ tablespoon Turmeric
- ½ tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- 3 tablespoon Pav Bhaji Masala Powder I used Everest Brand
- 2 tablespoon Kashmiri Chilli Powder
- 1 tablespoon salt Or to taste
- 3 tablespoon Oil any neutral oil would do except coconut / olive/ sesame
- 1 tablespoon Green coriander chopped fine
- 1 Lemon sliced into quarters
- 2 tablespoon Butter Sub with nut butters for Vegan
- 12 Pav Buns
Instructions
- Wash, cut and boil the vegetables (I used carrots, beans, peas, potatoes & cauliflower) till al dente.
- You may also microwave the vegetables for 8-9 minutes till 70% cooked. Drain and retain the water (about ¾ cup is adequate)
- Blanch the tomatoes for 5 mins, peel and retain. Make a paste of onions and these blanched tomatoes
- In a skillet / shallow pan, add oil. When hot, add ginger garlic paste and fry well. Now add chopped capsicum. Also add a paste made out of blanched tomatoes and onions and stir well till the raw smell disappears.
- When this paste turn translucent, add turmeric, Kashmiri Chilli powder, pav bhaji masala, salt and the water from the boiled vegetables and simmer for 5 - 6 minutes.
- When the capsicum turns tender, add the boiled & mashed veggies and stir once more. Mash up the veggies with a pav bhaji masher to a smooth thickish gravy consistency
- Check for salt / extra pav bhaji masala if required.
- In a tava, layer the butter-smeared Pav Buns and toast till slightly crisp
- To serve, arrange two buns on a plate. Serve Bhaji on the side garnished with green Coriander and lime wedges.
Notes
- To make your Pav Bhaji more healthy, add sprouted moong / green gram as well
- Street food Pav bhaji is tasty as it is heavy on butter . However, If you are keen, you may also substitute the above mentioned butter with just a film of oil and grill them slightly in a batch.
- If you are planning to serve Pav Bhaji for a party, you may make the Bhaji in advance and refrigerate to be thawed with a serving of butter.
Umm Mymoonah says
This looks too delicious.
Sum says
Yummmmmmmmmm....... I had been thinking of making pav bhajis from a long time.... Your recipe has come in handy.....
Unknown says
Hey Kalli,
Nice blog! The pav bhaji brought back sooo many memories:) For 3 yrs or so, I remeber being part of the amazing ritual..
Ranjini
Poonam Bachhav says
Pav Bhaji is our all time favourite. For me it is best way of sneaking in loads of veggies in to my little one's diet.
Mayuri Patel says
Who can resist a good platter of pav bhaji with buttery pav. Its my all time favorite to enjoy especially as street food. I quite like the pave bhaji sold at sukh sagar.
CookwithRenu says
That looks so delicious and yum. I got reminded of chowpathy pav bhaji. Lovely presentation
JollyHomemadeRecipes says
Pav Bhaji itself looks so mouthwatering. This looks so amazing and delightful dish. Last night had pav bhaji, by seeing your post I am craving it again. Absolutely yumm!
jayashree says
Pav Bhaji, love it and one of the dishes I make often at home, usually once a month. Your platter looks so delicious.
Archana says
The name pac bhaji itself has me drooling and fantasizing about a plate with some bread. Ahhh love it kalyani and yours looks just yum.
Motions and Emotions says
I am in for this delicious pav bhaji any day. I loved your tips to make this street food even for healthy by adding sprouts or avoiding extra amount of butter.
Superduper kitchen says
Always it's yes for Pav Bhaji from my side. I make it quite often and adding sprouts is an healthy option which I have not made so far.
preethi'scuisine says
Pav bhaji looks irresistible. I can never say no to it. Love tips to make Pav bhaji healthier . Adding sprouts sounds interesting. Yours looks so tempting.
Swati says
Pav bhaji is my my go to meal whenever I am not able to get ideas for wholesome meal loaded with veggies for kids.. loved your post a detailed and elaborate on how make the healthier version ..looks so inviting.. I am making today for our lunch ????
Kalyani says
Thanks Swati! pav bhaji is relished by all .. enjoy your lunch....
jayashree says
Pav Bhaji is one of the dishes that we regularly enjoy at home. A good topping of onion with lemon makes a tasty snack. The post is making me hungry now.
Kalyani says
Thanks Jayashree. Pav bhaji makes everyone hungry, I guess 🙂
Madras Tiffins says
This Pav Bhaji looks mouthwatering! Love how you've captured the authentic Mumbai flavors. The nostalgia and memories make it even more special!
Kalyani says
Thanks for stopping by, and your kind words too!