Pav Bhaji / Spicy Vegetable Gravy With Shallow Fried Buns

Pav Bhaji is a mix of spicy vegetables served with shallow fried buns. It is a famous fast food in Mumbai available on every street corner.  There was a hotel near our house in Mumbai named Shabari where we used to have pav bhaji at least twice a month. I was crazy of the aroma especially when they add Amul butter in the end and each time it took me to a totally different world. Oh, I missed it so much after I left Mumbai that I had no choice left but to start cooking this at home. And now I prefer home-made pav bhaji than the restaurant ones. It is my all-time favorite and very easy to prepare too. My hubby loves to eat the leftover bhaji with chapati's for breakfast. If you are a pav bhaji lover like me, do try this recipe.. It's the best pav bhaji ever.

Ingredients:-

• 200 gms cauliflower (cut in florets)
• 2 - 3 potatoes 
• 1 carrot (peeled & roughly chopped)
• 3 tomatoes (finely chopped)
• 2 onions (finely chopped)
• 2 - 3 green chillies (slit and chopped finely)
• ½ cup green peas
• ¼ cup coriander leaves (finely chopped)
• ¼ cup mint leaves (finely chopped) 
• 3 tbsp oil
• 2 tbsp pav bhaji masala
• 1 tbsp garlic (finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• ½ tsp all spice powder / garam masala powder
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• salt to taste
• butter as required

Method:-

• Boil potatoes, carrots, cauliflower and green peas with enough water. 
• Drain and reserve the stock (boiled water) aside.
• Heat oil in a wok.
• Add garlic and fry till golden.
• Add onions and green chillies. Fry till onions are soft.
• Add tomato and ginger-garlic paste.
• Cook till tomatoes are soft.
• Add chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, all spice powder, pav bhaji masala and stir till oil leaves the masala.
• Add boiled vegetables and potatoes and mash them.
• Pour in vegetable stock.
• Add in coriander and mint leaves.
• Garnish with butter.

For serving:-

• 8 - 10 buns (pav)
• butter for frying

Method:-

• Heat 1 - 2bsp butter in a pan.
• Fry the buns on both sides till light brown.
• Serve hot with bhaji and finely chopped onions.

Notes:-

• Adjust pav bhaji masala according to your taste.
• You may use garlic paste instead of finely chopped garlic.
• You may also use vegetables like cabbage and capsicum.

Happy Cooking!!

Sending this entry to :- WTML–Walk Through Memory Lane & Gayathri's Announcement page and Easy to Prepare in 15 minutes and Taste Of The Tropics - Turmeric & Chef Mireille's Global Creations