Pav Bhaji

Pav bhaji is a fast food dish native to Maharashtrians and is popular in most metropolitan areas in India. Pav in Marathi means bread, Bhaji is a term for a curry and vegetable dish. Pav bhaji consists of the bhaji (a potato-based curry) and the pav, garnished with coriander and chopped onions. Pav is high in carbohydrates and fats (if served with butter), while bhaji, the vegetable-based curry portion, is high in carbohydrates. Such is popularity of this dish, that it is common to find it on the menu of most Indian restaurants serving fast food in Asia (especially Singapore, Hong Kong), America, UK (London), Switzerland and elsewhere. It is consumed as a light evening snack, between lunch and dinner, particularly by individuals in western India. In Maharahtra, pav bhaji is available on hand carts popularly known as Pav bhaji chi Gaadi. In recent years, it is also a party favorite.

Preparation & Cooking time: 40 Mins
For Pav
6 pavs (small squares of white bread. I used butter rolls here)
Butter: 1-2 tablespoons
For Bhaji
Potatoes: 3, medium, boiled and mashed
Tomatoes: 2, big, minced ot pureed
Bell pepper: 1, minced (I used red bell pepper)
Peas: 1/2 cup, fresh or frozen
Ginger-garlic paste: 1 teaspoon
Pav Bhaji Masala: 1 tablespoon, adjust to your taste (I used Everest pav Bhaji masala)
Turmeric powder: 1/4 tablespoon
Chilli powder: 1.5 tablespoon, adjust to your taste
Salt: To taste
Coriander: Chopped, for garnishing
Butter: 4 tablespoons, adjust to your liking

1..Heat oil in a deep saucepan and saute the pepper. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute some more.2. Add turmeric powder, chili powder to taste and salt to taste. Saute for a few seconds.
3. Add pureed/minced tomatoes, peas, mashed potatoes, pav bhaji masala and keep sauteeing and mashing it together till it is a smooth mixture.
4. Add mashes potato and water as required.
5. Simmer for 20-25 minutes to really get the flavors to meld together.
6. Adjust salt, masala and chilli powder according to your taste.
7. Now add butter and saute for the last time till it melts. Mix well.
8. For servings, take sufficient bhaji in a cup, add pats of butter (as much as you take).
9. Garnish with finely sliced onion rings, minced coriander and wedges of lemon.
10. Melt butter in the skillet, fry the bread in the butter till it turns golden brown. Eat with the garnished bhaji.


Note- Can also add carrots, cauliflower, beans etc for the preparation of bhaji.
- Another variation of pav bhaji is masala pav bhaji, where butter is melted in a skillet. Sprinkle pav bhaji masala in it, then fry the bread in this spicy butter until it turns golden brown.
- Cheese pav bhaji can be made by topping pav bhaji with some shredded cheese.

Source of information: Wikipedia and several other food blogs.