This recipe is as authentic as it can get! It is one of the best recipes which I stumbled upon a while back, and am so lucky to have found it. All credits for this recipe to the Juhu Pav Bhaji Stall waaley Bhaiya ji, as well as the person who recorded and uploaded the video [Vikas Kumar].
When talking about Indian Street Foods, Pav Bhaji invariably tops the list. It's in fact one of the healthier street foods compared to many. Moms are known to sneak veggies in this Pav Bhaji - the ones that we don't tend to eat much - my Mom does that too!
I had blogged about a different - easier and quicker - version of Bombay Pav Bhaji a few years back - and you can find that recipe here.
The Pav Bhaji making process in the video is being shown by none other than a Bhaiya ji at a Pav Bhaji stall in Juhu, Mumbai. Even if you follow my text recipe - don't miss to watch the video - it's fun watching it. I love this technique and the Pav bhaji made using this technique comes very close to the ones available on the streets of Mumbai.
Don't let the picture deceive you - it doesn't do justice to how good this pav bhaji taste. Also, when I clicked this picture, which was the following day on which I had made it, it had soaked/evaporated some water. Generally the consistency of this pav bhaji is more on the liquid side. The video doesn't mention the quantities of the ingredients, so I used it per my guess work. You may try variations of the quantity based on what suits you.
Click here for the Video Link:
I like to use butter, and that's why I have, but you can also make this zero butter/oil recipe and it will still taste good.
Recipe:
Capsicum - 1 1/2, diced
Tomato sauce - 1 cup (or 2 large tomaties, chopped)
Potatoes - 2 medium sized, boiled, skinned, and mashed
Green Peas - 3/4 cup, boiled for 3-5 mins in microwave
Onion - 1 medium sized, finely chopped
Garlic - 3 pods, finely chopped
Ginger - 1 inch piece, grated
Kasuri Methi (dried fenugreek leaves) - 1/2 teaspoon
Butter - 2-3 tablespoons (or more if you like - I like it with lots of butter)
Red Chili Powder - 1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon
Turmeric Powder - a pinch
Pav Bhaji Masala - 3/4 teaspoon (or to taste)
Asafetida - 1 small pinch
Lemon juice - 1-2 tablespoons
Coriander leaves - a few sprigs, chopped
Salt - to taste
Water - About 4-5 cups. Will be using little by little throughout the process
- Heat a broad bottomed tawa (pan), place diced capsicum in it and add some water. Saute'
- Add tomato sauce (or chopped tomatoes), green peas, mashed potatoes, red chili powder, ginger and garlic, turmeric powder. Add some more water to make the vegetables tender, as also to avoid sticking the vegetables to the pan. Add butter, stir for a while.
- Start mashing the vegetables with a masher, till the mixture turns mushy. Add some more water and bring it to a boil. Sprinkle pav bhaji masala, salt, chopped coriander leaves and some more water. Keep mashing and stirring till the bhaji thickens and the oil separates.
- Now heat butter (I like lots, you may add per your preference), in the same or separate pan, to it add some chopped onions, ginger, garlic, red chili powder, pav bhaji masala, dried fenugreek leaves, asafetida , coriander leaves, lemon juice, Can add color to get that red tinge. [I generally tend to make space in the middle in the same pan and continue this process - you may choose to do so in the same or separate pan]
- Now fold in the bhaji, mix it, mash it, and keep stirring until it thickens and no ingredients are recognizable. Bhaji is ready!
Masala Pav:
Pav is the bread which accompanies the bhaji. You may either buy it readymade or make it at home. I had blogged the recipe of Pav a few years ago - you may find it here.
- Heat butter, add coriander leaves, red chili powder, pav bhaji masala.
- Split the pav from middle such that at one end, it's still intact. Roast these on each side in the masala you just added, till these become tender.
- Serve the Pav Bhaji on a plate, garnished with chopped coriander leaves, chopped onion, a lemon wedge, and a blob of butter! It tastes best with Thumps Up (Indian Soda) on the side!
Enjoy!
awesome!
ReplyDelete