Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji has been a quintessential food of every Mumbaikar. Being true Mumbaikars, we also like hogging on to this road side junk whenever we can get our hands on. In Mumbai, the best place to have this at Khaugali.

But whenever you are out of the country the accessibility to have these kinda food becomes restricted. Hence enjoying this typical "Mumbaiya" delicacy is confided into the 4 walls of your home.
I have tried cooking Pav Bhaji in different ways but never could get that taste.

Recently when I wanted to make Pav Bhaji, I did an online search of different recipes. It is only then I stumbled upon this link of Authentic Pav Bhaji made in an Indian Street.
http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/pav_bhaji

Immediately I set myself making this recipe. And I don't have to explicitly mention the outcome. It was simply wow!

Ingredients

• 1 Capsicum
• 2 Tomatoes
• 1 potato
• 1/2 Cauliflower (broken into florets)
• 1/2 cup peas
• 1 onion
• 1-2 tsp of Ginger-Garlic paste
• 2-3 tsp Red Chilli pd
• 2-3 tsp Pav Bhaji Masala (I used Everest)
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric Pd
• A pinch of Hing / Asafoetida
• 4-5 blobs of Butter
• 2 spoons Lemon juice
• 2 tsp of Kasuri Methi (Dry Fenugreek leaves)
• Coriander leaves (for garnishing)
• 1/2 small tsp Tandoori Masala (to get the red color)
• 8 pav / buns

How to make:
For Bhaji:-

1. Heat very little butter in a heavy Bottomed vessel (preferably a flatter one). Add capsicum to it and saute for a min.
2. Now add tomato and saute. Add a little water if required.
3. Smash Potato, Cauliflower and peas with a smasher and add to the tomato-capsicum gravy.
4. Add ginger garlic paste, red chilli pd, turmeric pd and mix well.
5. Add butter and keep smashing the vegetable while u mix.
6. Now add Pav Bhaji Masala, Salt and corriander leaves and keep mixing and smashing till the oil separates.
7. The next heat some butter in another tawa / pan. To it add chopped onions, ginger garlic paste, red chilli pd, Pav Bhaji Masala, Kasuri Methi, Hing, Corriander leaves and some Lemon Juice. (optional - if u require the red color, add tandoori masala)
8. Mix well till the masalas are cooked.
9. Now add the vegetable mixture to the fried onions and keep smashing till u get a consistent mixture.

For Pav:-

1. Heat some butter. To it add a pinch of Red chilli pd, Pav Bhaji Masala and some corriander leaves.
2. Slit the pav or bun horizontally and saute it in this mixture for a min. Roast both sides till it becomes soft.

Serve Pav Bhaji garnished with corriander and a blob of butter with some raw onions mixed with corriander and a lemon wedge on the side.