Paav Bhaji

A fast food dish/street food served with soft bread rolls and bhaji (a spicy vegetable curry which includes potatoes, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and green peas). This delicious blend of veggies and bread tastes delicious and is enjoyed by all.

Ingredients:

Jeera/Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp

Onion – 1 big (finely chopped)

Potatoes – 3 big (boiled)

Green peas – 1/2 cup (store bought, frozen)

Cauliflower – 1 1/4 cup (finely chopped)

Carrot – 1 cup (finely chopped)

Tomato – 1 medium (chopped)

Tomato paste (store bought) – 1 tbsp

Capsicum – 1/2 cup (finely chopped)

Ginger Garlic paste – 1 tbsp

Butter – 1 tbsp

Oil – 1 tbsp

Green chillie – 1 finely chopped

Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp

Red chillie powder – 1/2 tsp

Turmeric – 1/4 tsp

Kasuri methi – 1/2 tbsp

Paav Bhaji Masala – 1 1/2 tbsp

Lemon – 1/2

To toast pav

Pav (buns) – 4 to 6

Butter – 1 tbsp

Pav bhaji masala – 1/2 tsp

For Garnish

Coriander leaves – 1 tbsp

Onions finely chopped – 1 tbsp

Butter – 1 tsp

Lemon wedges – 1

Preparation:

Mash the boiled potatoes and keep it aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and oil in a large pot on medium heat. Once the butter melts and oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add the chopped green chillies and saute.

Add the chopped onions and saute well again. Cook the onions for around 4 minutes until golden brown in color. Add the ginger – garlic paste and fry until the raw smell disappears.

Now, add the finely chopped carrot and saute again. Add chopped tomatoes and mix well. Let the tomatoes cook for 2 minutes. Next, in goes the cauliflower and the fresh green peas. Saute well for 4 minutes.

I prefer to use my food processor/chopper to chop cauliflower and carrots, which helps in cutting it very finely.

Add tomato puree and salt. When it is well sauteed, add the finely chopped capsicum and mix well. Add the pav bhaji masala, red chili powder and turmeric powder.

Mix well and then add in 2 teaspoons of kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) and 1/2 cup of water. Add a generous amount of chopped cilantro and juice of 1/2 large lemon. Let the bhaji simmer for 2 minutes. Add the mashed potatoes to this bhaji, mix well and then remove pan from heat.

To toast the pav, melt butter on a pan. Sprinkle some pav bhaji masala on top of the butter and then place the buns on the pan. Press to toast the pav until crisp and golden brown, on both sides.

Serve the toasted pav with the bhaji.