Pav Bhaji

Indian Street Food

I only make this recipe once a year and that's for lent as the whole year we are pure non - vegetarians who may include a vegetarian dish ( depending on the mood of the cook..) However, one of my friends also makes it for breakfast. Imagine starting the day with Pav Bhaji that would surely open up your taste buds as it's so aromatic and fragrant that it would definitely keep you full until lunch time (for myself, until the evening)

Tried the simple method of pressure cooking the vegetables to save time. This method was how one of my neighbours made itas . I have added a few changes and my touch. This is how I make it, may not be like a street vendor, however it's quite close to it in taste.
The main base of this recipe is a lot of tomatoes and I add less potatoes as I want to make it as healthy as possible. Since we would be eating it with the famous Mumbai white bread called Pav, don't want to add too many carbohydrates for one meal. Not forgetting the butter thats goes with it!

Ingredients:

Vegetables to pressure cook ( cut into huge cubes) :

3- 4 large sized tomatoes - ( This would be the main base of the bhaji)

cauliflower - 1 medium sized

potato - 2 medium or 1 large potato ( peeled and cubed)

Capsicum - 1/2 ( I do not add as I'm not a big fan)

peas - 1/2 a cup

ginger - 1" , garlic - 8 cloves and 3-4 green chilli paste

salt to taste

Other ingredients:

Oil - 2 tbsp

**butter - as much as like

cumin seeds - 1 tsp

1 onion - chopped fine

1 tomato - chopped fine

1 tbsp. - tomato puree ( just for the colour)

Pav bhaji masala - 1-1/2 tbsp or 2 tbsp. if you like a stronger flavour

chilli garlic paste - 2 tbsp's ( made with 10 red chillies and 1 pod garlic)

OR

red chilli powder - 1 - 2 tsp ( depends on how spicy you want)

garlic paste - 1 tbsp.

Accompaniments:

chopped onion - 1 large

coriander leaves - 1/2 cup

lemon wedges - 2-3 limes

Method:

• Pressure cook cauliflower, potato, tomatoes and peas. Add gin garlic paste and 2 green chillies chopped or paste.cook for 4 whistles. Once done you can mash them easily. 
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• Next take oil. Add cumin seeds, chopped onion, chilli garlic paste and one tomato. Cook till tomato gets soft.
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• Add pav bhaji masala pwd. 1 and half tbsp. Only. Chilli pwd. Tomato puree and salt. Add lots of butter and mashed vegetables. Cook until it is uniform and keep mashing with a masher in case of any vegetables which are still not mashed. 
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• Serve with fresh chopped onion, coriander leaves and lime wedges.
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• Cut the Pav's and apply butter, sprinkle pav bhaji masala, fry on slow fire and enjoy.