What is Pav Bhaji?
This delectable fast food dish is a household favourite of almost everyone. It originates from the state of Maharashtra and is a popular fast food that has now made its way to the rest of the country. Pav means dinner rolls or bread and bhaji means sabzi or veggie preparation. Ideally, the Pav bhaji is made by boiling a bunch of vegetables and then adding them to an onion-tomato gravy base. Once the vegetables have been coated in the masala, they are mashed into a grainy pulp.
How to prepare Bhaji in Pav Bhaji? (detailed recipe)
My aim for this recipe was to bring to light all the veggies that go waste in our kitchens on a daily basis. Did you know that food waste totals up to million tonnes each year and nearly 570 million tonnes of this waste occurs in household kitchens? That’s a LOT of waste considering the number of people who are having food scarcity in this world. I am not trying to bum you out with these facts but I want to bring to light the things that are in our control viz. using leftover veggies and ingredients instead of just throwing them out. The secret ingredient is the Pav Bhaji Masala – which you can procure from any Indian shop or make it at home if you prefer. The amount used can vary depending on your taste buds and spice tolerance capacity. I like it on the higher end This classic Maharashtrian dish has been blessed with @beextravegant’s magic touch. Ingredients used (in this recipe)
Cauliflower
Potatoes
Carrots
Green peas: frozen or fresh
Bell peppers
Garlic: minced
Ginger: Minced
Alternatively or additionally, you can also use chopped green beans, radishes, beetroot, cabbage etc.
Method to prepare bhaji
Cooking the vegetables
For Gravy base
For plating
This bhaji is usually served with Pav or dinner rolls. Ingredients for plating and garnishing are:
Pav (dinner rolls)3 to 4 tbsp Vegan butter – for roasting pav and topping the bhaji3-4 lemon wedges1 onion – medium to large, finely chopped6-7 stalks of coriander leaves, chopped, for garnish
Serve the bhaji with a bit of vegan butter, chopped coriander, chopped red onions and a squeeze of lemon along with the pav! Enjoy! Give my other vegetable-based dishes a try:
