Mumbai Pav Bhaji

When we think of street food, the first thing that comes to our mind is Pav Bhaji. It’s a Maharashtrian dish consisting of a spicy mixture of mashed vegetables cooked in a thick gravy and served with hot buttered soft white bread rolls (pavs). Though I have had pav bhaji many times in Delhi but the one you get in Mumbai are completely different. The secret lies in its fresh taste. It’s a hot selling product on the busy Mumbai roads. The bhaji is always ready which the vendor reheats with some spices and butter… butter being their key ingredient. Dollops and dollops of butter is added and the end result is heavenly..melt in the mouth bhaji. I've tried using less butter in this recipe but feel free to add more as per your choice, the more the butter the butter..ohh sorry..better!!

Ingredients:

1 cup cabbage

½ cup French beans

2 carrots

½ cup green peas

3 big potatoes

1 cup capsicum

2 onions

2 large tomatoes

3 tbsp butter

Hing – 1 pinch

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp haldi

2 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp red chilli powder

3 tbsp Pav Bhaji masala

1 tsp garam masala powder

1 tsp dry mango powder

½ tsp cumin seeds

2 tbsp lemon juice

Salt to taste

Method:

1. Boil and mash cabbage, carrots, peas and potatoes. Keep aside. Do not throw away the water. It is full of nutrients and we will use this stock in our bhaji.
2. Take a pan and add 2 tbsp butter. Add hing to it.
3. Now add finely chopped onions. Sauté till they become translucent.
4. Add finely chopped capsicum and French beans. Cook for 2 minutes till the vegetables become nice and soft.
5. Add chopped tomatoes along with ginger garlic paste, haldi, coriander powder and red chilli powder.  Cook till the oil seperates.
6. Now add the mashed vegetables along with salt, cumin seeds, garam masala and dry mango powder. Let it simmer for 10 minutes.
7. You can add the vegetable stock at this stage.
8. Use a masher to finally combine all the vegetables. It has to come together as a paste consistency.
9. Simmer it for another 10-15 minutes.
10. Finally add a dollop of butter and stir for another 2 minutes.
11. Remove from gas and add lemon juice.
12. Serve hot with buttered pavs.

For the pav:

1. Slit 2 pavs vertically and keep aside.
2. Heat a large tava, add 2 tsp of butter and slit open the pavs and place on it.
3. Cook on a medium flame till they turn light brown and crisp on both the sides. (add more butter if required).