Friday, August 06, 2010

Bombay Pav Bhaji

No one needs a recipe for Pav Bhaji. Not if you have watched that neighborhood Pav Bhaji wala when you were a kid.

I do not know any traditional recipe for Pav Bhaji, what I do is make this quick meal with the MDH Pav Bhaji Masala, a spice mix available (here too) in Indian grocery stores. MDH-Pav-Bhaji-Masala-Big I have grown to love the bhaji (vegetable mishmash) tasting of Amul Butter, something that I miss in my Pav Bhaji here. Sadly no Indian stores shelf this brand of butter, which is a legend in India. A butter-eating Indian will bow down to the name of Amul.

Amul Butter But this post is not about my nostalgia or the things missing in my pantry here. Its about Pav Bhaji, just in case you did not get the drift.

For my Bombay Pav Bhaji, I chopped up vegetables like green beans, green bell pepper, green onions, green peas, cauliflower, few cloves of garlic, half a red onion, some fresh coriander. But that’s not the end. IMG_0042 I think I will just stop feeling lazy after that bellyful of Pav Bhaji dinner and go ahead and write my recipe out for you.

Ingredients for Bombay Pav Bhaji are:

For the Bhaji:

3-4 medium size potatoes, peeled and boiled
Half cup diced cauliflower
Half cup green beans, chopped
Half cup green onions, chopped
Half cup red onions, chopped
Half cup green bell pepper, chopped
2 juicy red tomatoes, chopped
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
4-5 green chilies, chopped fine
Quarter cup coriander, finely chopped
Half cup green peas/ frozen or fresh
One cup spinach, roughly chopped
Lemon juice
MDH Pav Bhaji Masala
Butter (Amul if you are in India)
Salt

Boil together cauliflower, beans, onions, bell pepper, garlic, peas, chilies, tomatoes and spinach. I start by the hardy vegetables and add the peas and spinach only towards the end. IMG_0043 IMG_0044

While the vegetables are getting cooked, I mash the boiled potatoes lightly and add them.
IMG_0046Give it a good mix and add salt.

IMG_0047Once, the vegetables are cooked. Add the Pav Bhaji Masala and chopped coriander, stirring to mix well. Cook for another 5-7 minutes to take care of the raw taste of the Masala.

IMG_0057 Adjust the taste and add a big dollop of butter to the bhaji. Turn the heat off and add lemon juice.

For the Pav:

Small buns
Butter

I used small hamburger buns and tossed them in butter to get a nice caramelization on the sides.

IMG_0049 IMG_0050
Serve the buttered buns with the bhaji. I usually chop some red onions and drench them in lemon juice and garnish my bhaji with it.

IMG_0051 I also sneak in a small dollop of butter on my bhaji.
IMG_0053 IMG_0056 IMG_0052 

How do you like your Pav Bhaji?

With extra butter…

I hear my inner voice say.

8 comments:

? said...

Sounds perfect for the monsoons!

GB said...

Awwwwwww pree: Amul butter?...have we had this conversation before? :)

take care, that's a very healthy meal for you....

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

superb clicks dear...wonderfully presented...

Sayantani Mahapatra Mudi said...

thats the most delicious way of eating vegetables. we make it often for a late breakfast even sometimes for dinner. but this idea of adding spring onion and spinach makes it healthier. love this and as Gagan said, its good for you.

PreeOccupied said...

@GB, yes, yes, yes!

@All, I love Pav Bhaji and can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In fact today, I was looking forward to my breakfast, 'coz its so much more tastier the next morning. :-D

Anonymous said...

I love Pav Bhaji... Wonderful presentation... But I would request not to put green beans in Pav Bhaji.

Unknown said...

Pav Bhaji Recipe is really good. I like so much of this recipe taste and your recipe article is really awesome. thank you for sharing.

Unknown said...

I like so much Pav Bhaji. your Idea Is really wonderful and thank you for sharing.