Pav bhaji is more than a mere snack! it’s a quick meal that can be grabbed on the go – since large potions of the bhaji are made in advance and simply reheated with a few spices before serving. You just need to wait till the pav is toasted to perfection with oodles of butter! hmm, top with the raw onions and tomatoes, squeeze a tad of lemon atop the bhaji, and forget yourself!
Recipe Description for Pav Bhaji (Mumbai Pav Bhaji Recipe)
Soaking Time: 1 Hour
Preparation Time:
Cooking Time:
Makes 4 plates
Ingredients
5 to 6 whole dry kashmiri red chillies , deseeded
8 to 10 clove garlic(lehsun), roughly chopped
For The Bhaji
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- 3/4 cup finely chopped onions
- 1/2 cup chopped capsicum
- 1 1/2 cups finely chopped tomatoes
- 1 1/2 tbsp pav bhaji masala
- 2 tsp chilli powder
- salt to taste
- 1/2 cup boiled and lightly mashed green peas
- 1 1/2 cups boiled , peeled and mashed potatoes
- 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander (dhania)
For The Pav
- 8 ladi pav
- 8 tsp butter for cooking
- 1 tsp pav bhaji masala
For Serving
- 1 cup finely chopped onions
- 4 lemon wedges
- 4 roasted papad
- 4 tsp butter
For The Garnish
- 4 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania)
Method
- For the chilli-garlic paste
Soak the red chillies in enough warm water for atleast an hour.
Drain the chillies, add the garlic and blend in a mixer till smooth, adding little water. Keep aside.
- For the bhaji
Heat the butter and oil in a kadhai and add the cumin seeds.
When the seeds crackle, add the chilli-garlic paste and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the onions and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
Add the capsicum and sauté for 1 more minute.
Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, mash well using a potato masher.
Add the salt, pav bhaji masala, chilli powder and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add the green peas, potatoes, mix well and cook along with 1/3 cup of water for 1 to 2 minutes, while mashing it with the help of a masher.
Add the coriander, mix well and cook for 1 minute.
- For the pav
Slit 2 pavs vertically and keep aside.
Heat a large tava, add 2 tsp of butter and slit open the pavs and place on it.
Cook on a medium flame till they turn light brown and crisp on both the sides. (add more butter if required).
- How to serve
Place ¼th of hot bhaji, 2 pavs, ¼ cup of onions, a lemon wedge and a papad on a plate.
Top the bhaji with 1 tsp of butter and serve immediately garnished with 1 tsp of coriander.
Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 3 more plates.
- Handy tip:
Pav bhaji masala is a spice blend, which is readily available under different brand names at most grocery stores.