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Pav Bhaji is a very popular Indian street food where spicy and irresistibly delicious curry (bhaji) prepared using mixed vegetables is served with homemade warm rolls or pav that are toasted in butter. The recipe is ready in 30 minutes and each serving is about 270 calories.
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About Pav Bhaji
You ask any Indian what food they miss the most when living in another county, I am sure the immediate answer would be street-food or chats (chaat). Indian chaat recipes are among the most popular recipes in the world. Pav bhaji is one such recipe that is loved by people of all age groups. Mumbai street style pav bhaji is a must-try dish if you visit Amchi Mumbai.
What does Bhaji mean? and What are Bhajis made of?
Bhaji is a very versatile dish. Along with main ingredients like potatoes, green peas, tomatoes and onions you can add additional veggies like cauliflower, capsicum, carrots and Indian spices like garam masala, chat masala, and cumin powder to the recipe.
I love simple bhaji prepared using potatoes and green peas, which are then garnished with coriander leaves and finely chopped onions. Even the spices I add to my bhaji are very limited I just add red chilli powder and pav bhaji masala. Sometime very simple but important ingredients blended together makes your dish outstanding.
Do try out this simple and easy recipe for pav bhaji along with fresh homemade honey butter rolls or homemade pav and share your comments. I am sure you are going to love this.
While you are here, do check out my other favorite Indian chat (chaats) or street food or evening snacks recipes like bhel puri, masala puri, papdi chat, aloo tikki chat, ragda pattice, vada pav, dabeli, aloo pyaz kachori, aloo chana chaat, etc.
Dont forget to try some popular street-side sweet items such as:
- Paneer Jalebi | Chhena Jalebi | How To Make Instant Jalebi
- Disco Coffee | How To Make A Layered Coffee
- Best Falooda Recipe | Rose Faluda Ice Cream | Indian Dessert Drink
- Mango Smoothie | Best Mango Lassi
Ingredients for Pav Bhaji
For the Bhaji
- Potatoes, Green peas (fresh or frozen, or cooked), and Tomato are the vegetables used in this recipe. You can also add carrots, capsicum (bell pepper), cauliflower, green beans, etc.
- Butter (Vegan butter) and Vegetable oil - used to saute the spices and aromatic veggies. You can use only butter or vegetable oil if preferred.
- Cumin seeds - a common spice used in Indian cuisine. You can use Jeera Powder in place of cumin seeds.
- Onions and Garlic cloves - aromatic veggies added to this dish.
- Red chile powder and Pav bhaji masala - are the two main spices used on this dish. You can use cayenne or paprika in place of red chili powder. If pav bhaji masala is unavailable, feel free to use garam masala powder or curry powder.
- Salt - to taste
- Coriander leaves (Cilantro) adds freshness and flavor to the dish.
For the Pav/Bun
- Homemade honey butter rolls / Pav - is the main component of the dish. It is served as a side, either toasted or untoasted.
- Butter (Vegan butter) - to apply before/after toasting the pav (buns/bread) over a skillet or in a toaster/oven.
- Red chile powder and Chat masala are optional. These add additional flavor to the toasted pav/buns.
- Finely chopped onions, Cilantro (Coriander leaves), Butter (Vegan butter), and Lemon slices for garnish and side.
Refer to the recipe card for a complete list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
How to make Pav Bhaji - Step by Step Recipe
Step 1 - Cook the vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peas, etc.) using any method (stovetop/instant pot/microwave) of your choice.
Step 2 - In a pan, add butter, vegetable oil, cumin seeds and saute for a few seconds. To this add the onions, garlic, salt and saute till onionsturntranslucent. Add red chilli powder and allcooked vegetables from Step 1 and mash everything together. To this add pav bhaji masala, salt to taste, water for desired consistency and bring this to a nice boil. Add chopped cilantro, mix well and switch off the flame.
Step 3 - In a bowl, add melted butter, red chile powder, chat masala and mix. Heat a non-stick pan or tava. Warm each pav/roll by brushing both the sides with butter mixture prepared above.
Serve toasted pav (from Step 3) along with bhaji (from Step 2). Add a side of chopped onions, lemon slice, and cilantro leaves.
Variations to the Pav Bhaji Recipe
- Black Pav Bhaji
- Best Indian Pizza | Pav Bhaji Pizza
- Misal Pav | How To Make Misal Pav Recipe
- Vada Pav Recipe | How to make Vada Pav
Expert Chef Tips
- Feel free to add other vegetables likecauliflower, capsicum, and carrots if desired.
- Vary the spiciness and masalas as per your taste.
- If you are using medium-sized tomatoes, add 2 of them to the recipe.
FAQs
Which veggies to add while making pav bhaji?
Add vegetables like potatoes, green peas, cauliflower, capsicum, and carrots. I generally keep my recipe simple and add just potatoes and green peas. You can cook the veggies in the pressure cooker or steam them in a pan or in an Instant Pot. Use your preferred cooking method.
Can I make pav bhaji vegan?
Yes, you can make this dish vegan. Simply substitute butter with coconut oil or any cooking oil.
What can I substitute for pav bhaji masala powder in the recipe?
If pav bhaji masala powder is not readily available in your pantry, you can substitute it with garam masala powder or curry powder. I have tried making it this way a couple of times, and it tastes equally good. In this case, you can either add lemon juice (1 tbsp), amchur powder (¼ tsp) or chat masala (¼ tsp) for a hint of tartness.
You can use any brand of pav bhaji masala powder in the recipe. Each brand has the same ingredients but different quantities of each ingredient. So the taste and color may change depending on the brand you use.
How to serve pav bhaji ?
For all those who are new to this dish, generally served with toasted warm butter rolls, bun or pav, finely chopped onions and lemon wedges.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
Can we make pav bhaji ahead of time?
Pav Bhaji tastes best about 5 to 6 hours after preparing it. This is because, the spices/masala and the vegetables would have had sufficient time to blend with each other which enhances the taste of your bhaji. I usually prepare the bhaji at night and serve it the next morning or atleast 4 to 5 hours before you are ready to serve.
Can we freeze pav bhaji?
Yes, you can definitely make bhaji in bulk and store in freezer. This would be useful if you are busy working mom or single working professional who likes to meal prep. If you are planning to freeze, I would recommend freezing it portion wise and then thaw it in refrigerator overnight. Next day heat it up and serve with some pav/bun or slices of bread.
How long does pav bhaji last in the fridge?
The flavors of pav bhaji remain fresh in the refrigerator for a maximum of 2 days.
How to reheat the bhaji?
Reheat the bhaji on the stovetop until it comes to a simmer and serve. Add a splash of water before reheating to adjust the consistency of the bhaji. You can also reheat the bhaji in a microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.
More Steet-food/Chaat Recipes to Love
- Easy Sev Puri | Papdi Chaat Recipe
- Aloo Tikki | Potato Patties | Mashed Potato Cakes
- Instant Dahi Bhalla | Dahi Bread - Easy Chaat Recipe
- SAMOSA RECIPE | HOW TO MAKE SAMOSA
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Recipe card
Easy Pav Bhaji Recipe | Best Mumbai Street Style Pav Bhaji
Kushi
Pav Bhajiis a very popular Indian street food where spicy and irresistibly delicious curry (bhaji) prepared using mixed vegetables is served with homemade warm rolls or pav that are toasted in butter. The recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and comes to about 270 calories per serving.
5 from 21 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Snack
Cuisine Indian, Maharashtra, Mumbai, north indian, South Indian
Servings 6
Calories 269 kcal
Equipment
1 Pan
Ingredients
- 3 medium Potatoes
- ¾ cup Green peas (fresh or frozen)
- 1 large Green bell pepper or Capsicum (optional)
- 1 large Tomato
- 2 tablespoon Butter or Vegan butter or oil
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- ¾ cup Onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic finely chopped
- 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon Red chile powder (Vary as per taste)
- 1 to 2 teaspoon Pav bhaji masala powder (vary as per taste)
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoon Cilantro or Coriander leaves finely chopped
For toasting pav or bun or rolls
- 1 tablespoon Butter or vegan butter, melted
- ⅛ teaspoon Red chile powder
- ¼ teaspoon Chaat masala
- 6 Butter rolls or pav or bun
For garnish and side
- ¼ cup Onions finely chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoon Cilantro or Coriander leaves, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Butter or vegan butter, as needed
- 1 piece Lemon slices or wedges, as needed
Instructions
Step 1
Peel the skin of potatoes and cut them into cubes.
3 medium Potatoes
Cook the potatoes in any way desired. I like to microwave potatoes as it is quicker. In a bowl add potato cubes and sprinkle some water, cover with a lid and microwavefor 3 minutes.
After 3 minutes,to the same bowl that contains potatoes – add chopped capsicum, tomatoes, green peas and continue to microwave for another 3 minutes. Keep this aside.
¾ cup Green peas, 1 large Green bell pepper, 1 large Tomato
Alternatively, you can cookpotato cubes in boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes or pressure cook it for 2 whistles. Tomatoes and green peas can also be cooked in a steamer or pressure cooker or on instant pot
Step 2
In a pan, add butter or vegetable oil, cumin seeds and sauté this for few seconds.
2 tablespoon Butter, 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
To this add the onions, garlic, salt and saute till onionsturntranslucent.
¾ cup Onion, 3 cloves Garlic, Salt
Now add red chilli powder and saute for 1 minute. Reserve 1 or 2 tablespoon of spicy onion mix so that you can serve it as a spicy side for your pav bhaj. This will enhance the taste
1 to 1 ½ teaspoon Red chile powder, 1 to 2 teaspoon Pav bhaji masala powder
Add allcooked vegetables from step I and mash everything together. To this add pav bhaji masala, salt to taste, water for desired consistency and bring this to a nice boil. taste the dish at this point and if you want strong flavors, you may increase the amount of pav bhaji powder.
Add 2 tablespoon of chopped coriander leaves, mix well and switch off the flame.
2 tablespoon Cilantro
Step 3
In a bowl, add melted butter, red chile powder, chat masala and mix.
1 tablespoon Butter, ⅛ teaspoon Red chile powder, ¼ teaspoon Chaat masala
Heat a non-stick pan or tava. Warm each pav / roll by brushing both the sides with butter mixture prepared above.
6 Butter rolls, 1 tablespoon Butter
On a serving plate add the bhaji on one side. Garnish it with coriander leaves and butter. On the other side place the toasted pav, chopped onions, lemon slice, coriander leaves and ½ tablespoon of reserved sautéed spicy onion mix from step II.
¼ cup Onions, 1 ½ tablespoon Cilantro, 1 piece Lemon
Best Mumbai Street Style Pav Bhaji is now ready. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Expert Chef Tips
- Feel free to add other vegetables like cauliflower and carrots if desired.
- Vary the spiciness as per your taste. If you want more spicy and strong flavors increase the amount of chile powder and pav bhaji masla powder.
- Based on the combination of veggies you add in the recipe the color of the dish may vary.
- If you are using medium sized tomatoes make sure you add 2 of them in the recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 269kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 8gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 275mgPotassium: 679mgFiber: 6gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 674IUVitamin C: 49mgCalcium: 110mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Note: We originally posted this recipe in October 2016. It has now been modified in July 2023 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Storage Instructions, etc.
