Friday, September 17, 2010

Pav Bhaji - Indian street food


Pav Bhaji is one of the common Indian street food found at every nook and corner of all major cities. Most of the places which sell Pav bhaji also sell golgappas, aloo tikkis chat, samosa chat, vada pav too. These experienced cartwallahs make it so yummy with fresh butter, ghee and frying it to the yummiest!
When we make at home, we usually don't get the same taste as we try to keep it lighter and healthier....or do we!!! Well try I try to do both....and it does taste good.
Its a fail proof recipe, and will come out good everytime! And its also a good way to get all the required amount or your daily veggies.
Pav in Pav bhaji means bread, actually small rolls as they are called here, and bhaji is the curry which is topped with butter, fresh onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves(cilantro) and lemon juice. The pav is toasted on the tawa or the flat pan with butter till warm and brown. The pav is used to dip and scoop up the bhaji. Bhaji is a mushified concoction of all the veggies, but I like it to be a little on the chunky side, so I don't mush everything. If you have a hand held grinder or even a grinder or masher, grind or mashonly a small amount leaving the rest chunky.
I was very happy when I made it recently and my kids enjoyed it without a fuss, which means they are growing up to yummy tastes.
Make it as spicy as you want, cos the cartwallah will make it as spicy as you want!!!
Here for pav, use readily available soft buns which are available in the grocery store.

Ingredients:

1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
4-5 green chillies
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 big potato, chopped to medium pieces
2 carrots, chopped to medium pieces
about 2 cups of cauliflower florets,
3/4 cup of chopped beans
1/2 cup peas
You can surely add any other veggies you like, like lima beans.

Salt to taste
1/2tbsp - 1 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp - 2 tbsp of pav bhaji masala ( I used Everest brand)
1 - 2 tbsp oil

Coriander leaves for garnish
Extra, chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves for garnish on the bhaji
a dollop of butter if required
Cut lemons wedges or limes wedges or lemon juice

Pav or bread or soft rolls or soft buns



Method:

In a pot, heat oil. Add onions and saute till translucent. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute. Add the green chillies with the potatoes and saute for couple of minutes. Now add the rest of the veggies with salt and some water and cover to let cook. Some where in the between add the chilli powder, turmeric. Just see to it that it doesn't get too thick, add water if required. Cook till all the veggies get cooked. Now to get the gravy texture, mash a veggies like about a 1/2 to 1 cup. You can use the grinder or hand held or just mash with a masher. If the veggies are cooked to soft, they will mash easily with just a masher. Mash only some so that you can have it chunky style.
Let this cook another 5 mins. Check if salt and chilli is good to your taste, otherwise add some now. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Rub the tawa with butter and also the rolls, cut in half and toast on the tawa till brown.
Serve the bhaji topped with fresh cut onions, tomatoes, cilantro and lemon wedge on the side. Also top with dollop of butter if you like. Enjoy!!!

7 comments:

Hi Guys!!!...Please leave a comment!..I love and enjoy reading all your comments!...