Pav Bhaji

One of the most indelible joyful moments of any mother would be seeing her children relish the healthy food prepared by her. Serving home-made whole wheat pav bread with mixed vegetables curry (bhaji) to my family is one such moment that I wish to cherish forever. If we serve oven-fresh flavorful pav breads with delectable bhaji to our children, then there is no need for them to visit an eatery for a plateful of high caloric pav bhaji which is a major cause of juvenile obesity nowadays.

We can make delicious restaurant-style bhaji easily at home and it can be served with any bread, roti, or rice.

Let’s look into the recipe for bhaji usually served as a side for pav breads; you may also click on the link to find my detailed recipe for whole wheat pav bread.
Time taken: 30 min.
Yields: 3 cups (600 ml)
Ingredients :

1. Any neutral oil – 2 tsp
2. Onion – 1 No.
3. Tomatoes – 2 Nos.
4. Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
5. Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
6. Vegetables:
   • Potato – 1 No.
   • Beetroot – 1 No. (used for its deep red color)
   • Capsicum – 1 No.
   • Carrot – 1 No.
   • Cauliflower florets – a few
   • Fresh peas – a handful
7. Salt – 1 tsp
8. Pav bhaji masala – ½ tsp ( I used Everest brand)
9. Butter – 1 tsp

For grinding:

1. Ginger – 1 inch piece
2. Garlic – 5 Nos.

For garnishing :

1. Chopped coriander leaves
2. Onion rings
3. Boiled peas
4. Butter

Cooking procedure:

• Wash vegetables, chop them into small chunks and keep aside.
• Chop onion & tomatoes finely and keep aside.

• Grind ginger & garlic into a paste after adding little water.

• Heat a pressure cooker with neutral oil in medium flame.
• Add chopped onion and saute until translucent.
• Grind ginger & garlic after adding some water.
• Add tomatoes followed by ginger-garlic paste, red chilli powder & turmeric powder and saute until tomatoes turned mushy.
• Add chopped vegetables and mix well.
• Pour water (150 ml) and add salt into the cooker.
• Pressure cook the vegetables (simmer for 10 min. after bringing to high pressure).
• When the pressure is released, mash cooked vegetables using potato masher.
• Add pav bhaji masala and mix well.
• Pour hot water (50 ml) and bring it to a boil.
• Add butter and turn off the flame.
• Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, onion rings & boiled peas before serving.

How to serve pav bhaji: