Friday, December 12, 2008

Pav Bhaji (Curried Vegetables with Rustic Indian bread)

Pav Bhaji can best be described as rustic Indian bread with curried mashed vegetables. Pav=bread and Bhaji=curried vegetables. This is a famous street food of India and is offered in most restaurants and stalls in all major metros of India. Bhaji here means curry but this simple term and my picture below, both seem inadequate and don't do justice to this unique and delicious curry served with a garnish of cilantro and finely cut onions and a dollop of butter on top.

It is to be had along with with pav (bread) that is cut in half and toasted with some butter too.In fact the generous use of butter in this dish is one of the main reasons that gives one pause while ordering this dish at restaurants.Of course the homemade version of this curry is way better,  since the quantity of oil/butter/fat can be substantially reduced making it much more healthier than the restaurant version.  

Pav Bhaji-Curried vegetables with rustic Indian bread



Ingredients and method to make Pav Bhaji


For the Bhaji

1 1/2 cups green bell pepper/capsicum (simla mirch/koda molagai) deseeded and cut into little quarter inch squares)
3 large tomatoes cut fine (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 tsp finely chopped / grated ginger (adrak/inji)
3 cups cauliflower florets
1 cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
3 cups cooked, skinned and mashed potatoes (about 4 large white potatoes)
2 and 1/2 tsp pav bhaji masala (or according to taste) (I use my homemade version of pav bhaji masala that can be found here)
1/2 tsp chilli powder (or according to taste)
salt to taste
1 Tbsp butter (oil for a vegan version)

For garnish
1 small red onion cut fine (pyaaz/vengayam)( or according to taste)
2-3 small wedges of lemon
handful of cilantro cut fine (coriander leaves/hara dhania/kothamalli)
1-2 Tbsp butter (or vegan non diary butter for a vegan version)
a little additional butter if you want to toast the pav

Heat butter/oil in a large heavy bottomed pan.

Add tomatoes and grated ginger to this and saute until the tomatoes get soft and mushy.

Add cauliflower florets, green peas and green bell pepper, chilli powder, pav bhaji masala and salt to taste and saute for a minute.

Add water as required and cook the vegetables until soft.

Add the cooked mashed potatoes to the cooked vegetables,lower heat and using a potato masher mash the vegetables together.

Adjust spices according to taste and add water to achieve required consistency.

Let this simmer for a few minutes on a low flame, so that the flavors blend well.

Remove and serve with a ingredients mentioned for garnish and toasted pav on the side.


26 comments :

Vishali said...

wow Usha.......a perfect dish in this cold climate ...nice pav with baji....good one
the pav u made looks wonderful.....i must try making it too..:)....

vishali

Laavanya said...

With the beautiful pavs you posted I knew the bhaji wouldn't be too far.. that looks perfect. I was appalled too the first time i saw the copious amts of butter they use to make this in restaurants.

anudivya said...

This compliments your previous posts perfectly! Yeah I agree with you on home made ones with lesser butter...

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

ummm looks awesome with the butter on top:)pav bhaji always has to be rich. no compromise on butter..

CurryLeaf said...

I was waiting for this and knew it was coming when you published your pav post.Lovely and buttery tasty.I agree with you.I think twice b4 ordering these.

AnuSriram said...

Its one of my all time favourite... Looks delicious!

Rathna said...

Thanks for visiting my blog and your lovely comments. Your bhaaji looks very tempting. Never made pav at home better. Definetly going to try as they taste thousand times better than the ones they sell at the store. :-)

Trupti said...

pav bhaji one of my favourite... looks delicious ...now I am tempting to eat this today.. if possible can u send me some :)

Unknown said...

my favourite..have to try the pav..they looked wonderful

Alexa said...

I love coming to see your blog! This recipe is lovely and sounds so flavorful.

Varsha Vipins said...

Pav bhaji's remind me of Pune days..was my only resort..:)

Sharmila said...

The best thing about your pav bhaji is you made the pav too. :-)
Looks delicious Usha. :-)

Shama Nagarajan said...

looking perfect....love this...nice recipe

Cham said...

It is such a confort food for this winter cold!

Uma said...

Wow, yummy bhaji!

Cilantro said...

Looks very delicious. Like Pav Bhajji any time. Making Pav at home is a good idea. I have to try your recipe.

Unknown said...

wow.. looks really delicious...

Jaishree Iyer said...

Pavbhajji is one of my all time favourite... Looks delicious!

Adlak's tiny world said...

lovely pav bhaji..its my and my hubbys favrt one.

Kalai said...

Definitely one of my faves!! Looks awesome. :)

Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

Always my one of favourite. Looks good.

Ikshaa said...

Looks delicious!!
Always wanted to try it.
Visit my blog too and give ur comments:)

Megha Desai said...

Hi Usha

Wow.. this is a wonderful recipe.
I liked the cookware too. Is it a clay pot ? Where I can get such a pot ?
Please let me know.

Thanks
Sasha

Priya said...

I love pavbhaji and this looks so yumm ...

Unknown said...

A mouthwatering recipe...Love Pav Bhaji always. Lovely presentation.

-nithyas corner
http://nithyascorner.com

Usha said...

Thanks all for your comments.

@Megha/ Sasha yes that is a clay pot I got it at a local world market store:)

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