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    Home » Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner Recipes » Pav Bhaji

    Pav Bhaji

    Published: Jun 20, 2007 · Modified: Sep 23, 2020 by Srivalli · 9 Comments

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    What pizza is to Italy or the hot-dog is to America, pav bhaji has the same connotation to western India.

    Pav bhaji or pao bhaji is a specialty Indian dish with origins in Mumbai and Gujarat. In Marathi pav means bread (the term derives from the Portuguese "pao") and bhaji means a curry and vegetable mix. The serving of pav bhaji consists of the bhaji (a potato based curry) and the pav (bread) garnished with coriander and chopped onions. Pav is a meat-less dish, which is high in carbohydrates and fats (if served with butter) and bhaji is high in carbohydrates and proteins.

    The origin of this dish is traced to the heyday of the textile mills in Mumbai. The mill workers used to have a short break for lunch. A full lunch which was not rushed probably needed more time than what was available. A light lunch was also preferred given that physical work followed immediately. A vendor understood this and came up with this dish using items or parts of them available on the menu. The role of Indian bread or rice was taken up by pav and the curries that usually go with Indian bread or rice were amalgamated into just one spicy concoction-the 'bhaji'. Thus was born-- the celebrated pav-bhaji!
    - Source wikipedia

    Well thats the facts on Pav Bhaji. Apart from that, the beauty of this is, it is so easy to prepare at home with most of the ingredients easily available. And its quite favorite at home as its so filling and so tasty. I prefer to make it often as my daughter likes it a lot. She is so fussy about Vegetables, that I am glad I have this handy as she doesn't get to see the Vegetables.

    I make bhaji with mashed potatoes, peas, beans, carrot, cauliflower. Another Vegetable that can add extra zing is Beetroot.

    We normally make it for dinner as we can relax and enjoy this simple yet yummy dish.

    Pav Bhaji

    Serves : 4
    Preparation Time : 15 mins
    Cooking Time : 15 mins
    Cuisine : Maharashtrian

    Ingredients Needed:

    For Pav

    • Pav Bread
    • Butter for roasting

    For Bhaji

    • 1 cup - Potatoes
    • 1/2 cup - Carrots
    • 1/2 cup - Beans
    • 1/2 cup - Cauliflower
    • 1/2 cup - Peas
    • 2 big - Onions
    • 3 big - Tomatoes
    • 4 pods - Garlic
    • 2 tsp - Pav Bhaji Masala
    • 1 tsp - Chilli Powder
    • A pinch Turmeric Powder
    • Salt to taste
    • 50 gm - Butter
    • 1 tbsp - Cooking Oil
    • Coriander Leaves for garnishing

    Method to prepare:

    • Clean and cut all the vegetables. Pressure cook them. Once they are cool, mash them to paste.

    Its ok to have one or two pieces in their original shape...but if you have a kid who refuses to eat anything in shape of a Veg, then take my advice and mash to real paste with nothing recognizable. Kids are smart you see, they will see through these tricks.

    • Chop Onions, Tomatoes finely. Crush the garlic, this gives a nice taste to the gravy.
    • Heat a pan, add butter and oil. Add onions, sauté till they are nicely gold in colour. Then add garlic.
    • Once onions are done, add tomatoes and salt. Once its well cooked and soft, add Pav bhaji masala, chilli powder, turmeric powder. Cook on high flame for few mins, till the masala gets mixed well. Pav bhaji masala can be made at home or can be store bought.
    • Then add the mashed Vegetables, allow it to simmer for a few minutes.
    • Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves and add butter on top.
    • Roast the pav in a pan with butter and serve the bhaji with slice of onion and lemon.
      Great dish for kids. Enjoy!
    Print Pin

    Pav Bhaji

    Course Dinner, Main Dish - Gravies
    Cuisine Maharashtra
    Dish Type Cauliflower Dishes
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 4
    Author Srivalli

    Ingredients

    For Pav

    • Pav Bread
    • Butter for roasting

    For Bhaji

    • 1 cup Potatoes
    • 1/2 cup Carrots
    • 1/2 cup Beans
    • 1/2 cup Cauliflower
    • 1/2 cup Peas
    • 2 big Onions
    • 3 big Tomatoes
    • 4 pods Garlic
    • 2 tsp Pav Bhaji Masala
    • 1 tsp Chilli Powder
    • A pinch Turmeric Powder
    • Salt to taste
    • 50 gm Butter
    • 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
    • Coriander Leaves for garnishing

    Instructions

    • Clean and cut all the vegetables. Pressure cook them. Once they are cool, mash them to paste.
    • Chop Onions, Tomatoes finely. Crush the garlic, this gives a nice taste to the gravy.
    • Heat a pan, add butter and oil. Add onions, sauté till they are nicely gold in colour. Then add garlic.
    • Once onions are done, add tomatoes and salt. Once its well cooked and soft, add Pav bhaji masala, chilli powder, turmeric powder. Cook on high flame for few mins, till the masala gets mixed well. Pav bhaji masala can be made at home or can be store bought.
    • Then add the mashed Vegetables, allow it to simmer for a few minutes.
    • Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves and add butter on top.
    • Roast the pav in a pan with butter and serve the bhaji with slice of onion and lemon.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cooking4all or tag #cooking4all!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Coffee says

      June 20, 2007 at 7:16 am

      I should not surf blogs when at work!!!!! I feel the urge to run and eat this right now!! 🙂

      Reply
    2. Sia says

      June 20, 2007 at 11:24 am

      everyone loves pav bhaji... till now i have never come across a person who doen't like to eat pav bhaji. thats the beauty of this dish:)
      ur pics making me hungry and just reminded me its time for lunch:) srivalli, loved ur veggie hot dog recipe also. donno how i missed it.

      Reply
    3. Asha says

      June 20, 2007 at 12:00 pm

      My fav snack of all times!:))Thanks girl.

      Reply
    4. archana says

      June 20, 2007 at 2:16 pm

      I love pav bhaji and can have it daily. Will never get tired of eating it 🙂

      Reply
    5. Manasi says

      June 20, 2007 at 4:17 pm

      I made this last night!! i loooooove pav bhaji!!!! I guess everyone does!!

      Reply
    6. Suganya says

      June 21, 2007 at 12:53 am

      All time favourite!

      Reply
    7. Kajal says

      June 21, 2007 at 2:11 am

      Nice and perfect dish, mouthwatering....as sia say....love every one.:)

      Reply
    8. Srivalli says

      June 21, 2007 at 5:47 am

      Hi Coffee ..you are welcome to it.

      Thanks Sia for your nice comments.

      Welcome Asha.

      You are right archana.

      Manasi, Suganya, Kajal thanks for dropping by!

      Reply
    9. Anonymous says

      April 15, 2008 at 2:10 am

      aaahh noo!!! now i am hungry. aww i miss home and all those delicious foods we have back there 🙁

      anyways, great job! luv the pics..

      -Ami

      Reply

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    srivalli

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