PAV BHAJI - the evergreen Indian fast food!

Have you been to India before? If yes, you should have definitely heard about this fast food next to its kin Pani puri/Bhel puri. Definitely most of the restaurants in India have loads of these Pav's to make this wonderful and fulfilling dish - Pav Bhaji. Although this dish seems to be originated in Mumbai, I believe its become a favorite food to most of us. 

I learnt this one from my mother, she used to make it at home and would be so tasty. She was the one who said its very easy to try at home; and it is! This dish is usually light but it has its dose of vegetables to make a full healthy sumptuous meal. For me, its easy to make plus I can use the left over for the breakfast - as a sandwich filling! Sometimes I feel, it tastes amazing in a sandwich.

Pav is the bread and this can be substituted with even white bread if you don't have the Pav. Bhaji is a spicy curry base made with onions and tomatoes as base; adding in the potato and the other vegetables. You can substitute the vegetables with just potato as well and it would still be wonderful. I wanted to add in as much as vegetables as possible to the gravy. Top it with some onions, coriander and lime - You are done!

PAV BHAJI

Servings: 3-4

Time to make: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

Vegetables - 1 cup (your choice, I added in potatoes, red capsicum, beans, carrots, peas, cabbage)

Onion - 2 (finely chopped; one for the masala and other for garnishing)

Tomatoes - 3

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Red chili powder - 2 tsp

salt - for taste

Pav Bhaji masala - 1-2 tbsp

Butter - 2 tbsp (you can substitute with oil)

Bay leaf - 1

Cardamom, clove - 2 each

ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp

How to do:

1. Cut the vegetables you want to add in the pav bhaji masala and boil them in enough water in a pressure cooker or in a microwave. Make sure you retain the water as it can be used as a stock for adding in the mixture. Mash the vegetables and set it aside.

2. Puree the tomatoes in a mixer and keep them aside.

3. In a pan, add in the butter/oil. Once it is hot, add in the clove, cardamom and bay leaf. Fry them for half a minute.

4. Add in the chopped onions and fry them till it becomes transparent/mild golden brown

5. Now, add the ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes off from the mixture.

6. Add in the pureed tomatoes. You may add the turmeric powder, chili powder and salt to the mixture. Mix well and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.

7. Add in the Pav bhaji masala and make sure the tomatoes gets cooked

 8. Add in the mashed vegetables to the mixture. Mix nicely. You can add in the remaining water we used for boiling the vegetables till the right consistency. Make sure the mixture don't dry, so add in more water if necessary. Simmer it and let it cook for another 5 minutes.

9. Pop in some butter for a nice aroma and switch off the flame.

10. Butter the Pav and keep it a tawa and fry it for a minute. Serve it hot with the masala. Garnish it with some Coriander leaves (I use the stalk as well as I love the crunchiness) and sliced/chopped onions. Tastes wonderful

Note:
* You may adjust the spiciness of the mixture as per your taste by adding in some chili powder/green chillies if needed.
* If you do not have Pav, you can use the usual bread and it would still taste nice.
* If you have some left over Bhaji, you may use it as a sandwich substitute. Toast the bread with some Bhaji and cheese in the middle. It would make a wonderful breakfast!
* If you do not have Pav Bhaji masala, you can substitute it with Garam Masala and dry mango powder (or add in some lemon if you do not have dry mango powder; as it gives that sour taste).