Pav Bhaji
(from Nandini’s recipe box)
Pav Bhaji is a fast food which is found both in road side stalls as well as in big hotels. The bhaji is a finger lickingly delicious made with potatoes and other mixed vegetables. It gets it flavors from the pav bhaji masala (a special blend of spices), onions, cilantro and lemon juice. The pav (bun) served with the bhaji is buttered and toasted.
Traditionally pav bhaji is prepared using a big iron griddle (tawa). The vegetables are cooked, mashed and flavored in the tawa. At home it can easily be prepared using a pressure cooked and a flat pan. This can be served as a light meal or as an evening snack.
Categories: Chaats/Evening Snacks
Ingredients
- Potatoes - 2 (cubed)
- Mixed Vegetables - about 2 cups (You can use whatever vegetables that you have on hand. The vegetables may include (but not limited to) carrots, cauliflower, beetroot, radish, brinjal, capsicum, zucchini, beans etc.)
- Green Peas - 1/4 cup
- Onion - 1 (chopped)
- Tomatoes - 3 or 4 (crushed)
- Green Chillies - 2
- Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
- Pav Bhaji Masala - 2 tblsp
- Lemon Juice - 1 tblsp
- Butter - 3-4 tblsp
- Cilantro - for garnish
- Onion - 1/2 (chopped for garnish)
- Lemon Wedges - for garnish
Directions
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Take a pressure cooker, add the onions, patatoes, mixed vegetables, green peas, green chillies, about 1 cup water and salt. Cook for 2-3 whistles.
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After the pressure goes down, mash all the cooked vegetables using a potato masher or with the back of a thick spoon.
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Heat the butter in a flat wide pan and add the ginger garlic paste to it. Add the tomatoes and let it cook for 8-10 minutes.
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Add the pav bhaji masala and the mashed up vegetables. Add required salt and lemon juice.
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Let it cook till it becomes a very thick gravy.
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Garnish with chopped onions, lemon wedges, a blob of butter or cilantro. Serve piping hot with toasted pav buns, burger buns, hot dog buns or white bread.