Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji is a native dish of the state of Maharashtra but is very well known through out India and Indian households overseas! The Pav means bread and Bhaji means a mixed vegetable thick curry. It is served as a fast food in many of Indian restaurants and is also a big time street food in many Indian cities as well. I made this on a beautiful sunny day this summer. Me and my hubby then packed up everything in our picnic basket and went off to Charles River. Since it was a weekday, there weren't that many people on the banks of the river. We found a nice spot near the river, spread out, and munched on this Indian, spiced up, healthy delicacy!

If you are vegetarian, I gaurantee it that you will instantly fall in love with this dish and not just that if you have all the ingredients available, it can be made in a jiffy, unlike other Indian curries.

Ingredients:

1. One cauliflower - cubed.
2. Two potatoes - cubed.
3. One cup green peas - I used frozen.
4. One tomato - finely chopped.
5. One and half tsp red chili powder (or per your taste).
6. One tsp dhaniya powder
7. Salt per taste
8. 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
9. One tblsp lemon juice
10. One tblsp sugar.
11. Three tblsp cooking oil
12. 1/4 tblsp mustard seeds
13. Two or three curry leaves
14. Finely chopped onions - for garnishing
15. Finely chopped tomatoes - for garnishing
16. Chopped coriander - for garnishing
17. 6-8 buns

Process:

1. In a pressure cooker, add in two glasses of water, add cubed cauliflower, potatoes, and green peas. Let it cook till 4-5 whistles or 12-15 minutes.
2. Drain all the water and in a bowl mash up all the veggies.
3. In a wok, heat cooking oil, add in mustard seeds and curry leaves, and let it splutter.
4. Now, add chopped tomatoes and mix well till oil separates.
5. Now, add red chili powder, dhaniya powder, salt, turmeric powder and mix well till oil separates.
6. Add in the mashed veggies and mix well.
7. Add in sugar and lemon juice, mix well and let it cook for 15 minutes. Stirring in the mean while.
8. Dish out in a serving plate and garnish with chopped onions, tomatoes, and coriander.
9. Serve hot with toasted pavs.

Notes: You can add various types of veggies if you like, just make sure you mash them all up. 

Here are some snaps of our mini-picnic.

 

ENJOY!!!