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Friday, October 12, 2012

Pav Bhaji


         Pav Bhaji, this is one of my favorites, something that I order most often in a chat house, it's a very popular Indian fast food. Pav ( soft buns) with bhaji ( a gravy with a mixture of vegetables) makes up for a nice snack or as in my home, a good dinner. Today I've used regular, store bought pav (buns made with all purpose flour), but when you use whole wheat buns and use butter sparingly, I can say this dish becomes healthy too..

Need To Have
For The Bhaji

  • Potatoes - 2 medium
  • Capsicum Or Green Bell Pepper - 1 medium chopped
  • Tomatoes - 2 
  • Cooked Chickpeas (chana) - 1/2 cup
  • Onions - 2 medium chopped
  • Garlic - 5 cloves chopped
  • Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
  • Red Chilly Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
  • Pav Bhaji Masala - 3/4 teaspoon
  • Chopped Coriander - 1/4 cup
  • Butter - 1 teaspoon
  • Cumin Seeds - 1 teaspoon

Method
          Boil and mash the potatoes and make a puree with the tomatoes.


          Heat some oil, add the cumin seeds, when it starts sizzling, add the onions and chopped garlic, saute for 2 or 3 minutes. Add the capsicum pieces, saute for another 2 minutes.


          Now add the tomato puree, turmeric and chilly powders, saute till dry, for about 3 to 5 minutes, till you get a nice smell. Finally add the mashed potatoes, cooked chana and 1 cup water, boil it for 3 to 4 minutes.


          Then add the pav bhaji masala, boil for 2 minutes and just before turning off the stove add the chopped coriander and the teaspoon of butter. Toast the pav buns with or without butter and serve it warm with the bhaji and some sliced onions and lemon wedges.


Note
Usually they add fresh green peas, but I added chickpeas (garbanzo beans) since I ran out of green peas.
You can also add some chopped ginger, carrots and cauliflower.
I missed out the lemon wedges when I took the pictures.
You can totally avoid the butter and make it vegan.
Can serve the leftover bhaji (gravy) with rotis or plain bread.

21 comments:

  1. This indeed looks healthy as you say. But still makes you want to have that plate and refills! Who says healthy food cannot be tasty?

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  2. Pav bhaji looks delicious and perfect with chickpeas.

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  3. My fav... street food..Perfect one!!

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  4. My favorite too. Can have this for a dinner.

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  5. My favorite.. Looks so delicious.

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  6. ahhhhhhh pav bhaji, looking at pics i thought u made a twist and added chickpeas but ur explanation and twist makes it even different. pav bhaji seems to have made lots of fans as its simple and easy to make yet yummy


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  7. Yummy pav...healthy too..love it...

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  8. wow... what a visual treat... pav bhaji looks simply fantastic...

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  9. This looks so delicious & interesting...Very nice captures...
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  10. wow yummy pav bhaji,luks too gud...

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  11. Cant stop drooling!!! Superb clicks..Chickpeas is a nice addition..
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  12. Lipsmacking here, pav bhaji's are always my fav, never get bored of this dish.

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  13. Vow my favorite evening snack..

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  14. love this dish.. reminds me i have post poking it for so long.. have to make this soon! looks super tempting!

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