Mumbai’s Pav Bhaji is one of the famous street foods in India. This flavoursome street food, with a delicious mix of spices and vegetables, served with onions and lemons, leaves behind a story of unforgettable taste.

In this blog, we will learn how to make Pav Bhaji at home. But before doing so, let’s first explore its definition and meaning.

What is meant by Pav Bhaji?

Pav Bhaji is one of the most-loved Indian street foods. It consists of soft dinner rolls called pav and a thick gravy called bhaji. Since it originated in Mumbai, it became famous across India as Mumbai's Pav Bhaji. Right from small street vendors to upscale luxury restaurants, this Indian snack is available everywhere. However, according to people's opinions, the best taste and the best Pav Bhaji can be found only in Mumbai.

The literal meaning of Pav Bhaji comes from combining two languages — Hindi and Marathi. While ‘Pav’ means ‘Bread Roll,’ ‘Bhaji’ stands for ‘vegetable gravy.’

Here’s how to make Mumbai style Pav Bhaji at home.

How to make Pav Bhaji at home

You can make Pav Bhaji two ways. First is by boiling all the Pav Bhaji ingredients like vegetables together and then simmering in onions and tomatoes. Another is by preparing the masala first and then adding the finely chopped raw vegetables.

Here’s what you need to make Pav Bhaji.

Pav Bhaji Recipe Ingredients required

Make sure you have prepared these Pav Bhaji recipe ingredients in advance.

Pav or bread rolls
Mixed vegetables (cauliflower, peas, beans, potatoes, bell peppers, carrots, and beans, whichever is available with you)
Chopped onions and tomatoes
Butter
Pav Bhaji masala

How to make Pav Bhaji Masala

It’s easy to find the Pav Bhaji masala in any store nearby. However, if you prefer homemade masala, then here is how you can make Pav Bhaji masala at home.

You need:

2 tablespoon coriander seeds
2 green cardamoms
1 black cardamom
1 tablespoon jeera
1 teaspoon pepper corn
3 dried red chillies
3-4 cloves
1/2 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 inch cinnamon piece
1/2 tablespoon dried mango powder

Combine all these ingredients and grind them into fine powder using a mixer grinder.

P.S. You can roast all the ingredients for 60 seconds on low flame and then grind them into a fine powder.

How to make Pav Bhaji

Preparation

First of all, take two large or three medium sized potatoes. Rinse, peel, and cut them into cubes. Now, rinse half to quarter cups peas, 1 to 2 cauliflower florets, and 1 carrot. Chop all the vegetables except peas.

Steps and instructions

1. Pressure cook potatoes, peas, and cauliflower together. Add half cup of water and pressure cook for 1 to 2 whistles.
2. Let the vegetables sit for a few minutes until pressure is released naturally.
3. Open the lid and mash the vegetables together using a masher.

Making onion-tomato masala

4. Take 1 tbs butter and 1 tbs oil and heat it in a pan.
5. Add the chopped onion and sauté until it becomes translucent.
6. Add 1 tbs ginger-garlic paste and one chilli to the mix and sauté until fragrant.
7. Add chopped bell pepper and sauté for a few minutes.
8. Now add chopped tomatoes with salt as per taste and sauté it until it becomes mushy and tender.
9. Add 1 tsp chilli powder with 1 ½ tbsp. pav bhaji masala. You can add or skip the chilli per your taste and needs.
10. Mix all the vegetables and sauté until everything thing becomes consistent.
11. Simmer the mixture until it becomes fragrant.
12. At last, add ¾ tbsp. kasuri methi, add coriander leaves for garnishing. Sprinkle some lemon juice and serve it hot.

Pav preparation

13. Divide the pav horizontally, make sure it doesn’t get separated. Heat butter on tawa or a pan, add a bit of masala powder and toast the pav. Toast the pav upside down until it becomes a little crispier.
14. Serve Pav Bhaji with chopped onions!
Also, to make instant Pav Bhaji, combine all the ingredients and pressure cook for 1-3 whistles. Mash using a masher, add spices and cook for a few minutes. Add butter and keep sauteing until the mixture becomes consistent.

Prepare the pav and serve hot!