Pav Bhaji: Mumbai’s Spicy & Savory Street Food

Pav bhaji is a beloved Indian dish featuring a spicy vegetable curry served with toasted pav buns. This recipe provides a detailed guide to making it at home. It involves boiling and mashing vegetables like potatoes and cauliflower, then cooking them with a blend of onions, spices, and tomatoes. The pav bhaji masala adds depth of flavor, and the final dish is typically served with chopped onions, coriander, and a squeeze of lemon. Enjoy this flavorful and satisfying meal anytime!

Ingredients

• Vegetables
  • 2 large potatoes, boiled and mashed
  • 1/2 head of cauliflower, boiled and chopped
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, boiled and chopped
  • 1/2 cup frozen green peas, boiled

• Spices
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 medium red onions, finely chopped
  • 2-inch ginger, finely chopped
  • 7 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 green chilies, finely chopped (adjust to spice preference)
  • 3 large tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup tomato puree
  • 1.25 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1.25 cups water, divided
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon pav bhaji masala (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves (Kasuri methi)

• Serving
  • Pav buns
  • Chopped onions
  • Chopped coriander leaves
  • Lemon wedges

Instructions

Heat the Oil and Butter

In a large pan or kadhai, heat oil and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium flame. Add cumin seeds to the hot oil and wait until they begin to splutter.

Saute Onions and Spices

Add the onions and cook until translucent. Then, add ginger, garlic, and green chilies, and saute for 30 seconds.

Cook Tomatoes

 Add tomatoes and cook until they soften and become mushy.

Add Spices and Water

Stir in pav bhaji masala, chili powder, turmeric, and salt. Saute for another 2 minutes. Add tomato puree and 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook for 6 minutes.

Incorporate Vegetables

 Add the boiled and mashed vegetables. Using a potato masher, further mash them into the masala until well combined.

Adjust Consistency

 Add remaining water (3/4 – 1 cup) to achieve a thick consistency.

Final Touches

Add sugar (optional) and kasuri methi. Taste and adjust salt if needed.

Serve

Toast pav buns with butter and serve hot with bhaji, chopped onions, coriander leaves, and a squeeze of lemon.

Tips

• You can adjust the spice level by adding more or less green chilies and chili powder.
• For a richer flavor, use ghee instead of vegetable oil.
• To make the pav bhaji even smoother, you can blend it with an immersion blender after adding the vegetables.
• You can find pav bhaji masala readily available in most Indian grocery stores.

Enjoy your delicious  Pav Bhaji Recipe at home!