Pav Bhaji Recipe

One of the most famous street foods in India (originated in Mumbai), Pav Bhaji, in its truest sense, is comfort food that tempts, impresses, and satisfies your taste buds craving for something savory, spicy, and flavorful.

A medley of mashed veggies in a tomato-based, slightly tangy gravy is easily accessible at almost every eatery in India. You can spot the passionate street food lovers thronging these eateries looking for this flavor-packed, delicious dish to relish and satiate their craving souls!

The piping hot plate of bhaji topped with a dollop of salted butter, chopped onions, and cilantro and served along with soft buttery pavs reminds us of how iconic this street food is and how it is a perfect crowd pleaser that serves as an ideal meal.

If good food is known to bring happiness, then this dish is the perfect example.

What is Pav Bhaji Recipe

If you are wondering what Pav Bhaji means, then this will help you. ‘Pav’ in Hindi means ‘bread rolls,’ and ‘bhaji’ means cooked vegetables or a vegetable dish.

Together it means bread rolls served with a vegetable dish.

This easy Mumbai-style Pav Bhaji recipe consists of soft, feather-light textured rolls smeared with butter and served with a tomato-based bhaji, essentially a medley of assorted veggies flavored and uniquely blended with spices.

Chopped onions and cilantro are used as toppings, and lemon wedges served with this dish add a magical touch to the overall flavor!

This irresistibly delicious Pav Bhaji recipe is native to the metropolitan city of Mumbai, Maharashtra, but has garnered recognition as one of India’s most famous street foods.

If you stroll around the bustling city streets in India, you can spot street vendors cooking and assembling the bhaji on a large skillet and serving it hot on a platter alongside butter-laden pavs and lemon wedges.

Reasons You’ll ♡ Pav Bhaji Recipe

Pav Bhaji is meant to be loved; it is superbly tasty and is the perfect fit for everyone’s taste buds. Besides this, here is why you will like to make this dish in your kitchen —

• A straightforward recipe
• Packs tons of flavors and textures
• Cooks in one pot, minimizing efforts and time
• A great way to include veggies in the meal, and
• Loved by all ages!

The best part is that this bhaji recipe is gluten-free and can be served with gluten-free Pavs. 

Pav Bhaji Recipe Ingredient list

Vegetables — Assorted veggies like green bell peppers, green peas, baby carrots, cauliflower florets, potatoes, tomatoes, etc., are used to prepare this heart-warming delicacy. You can also add other veggies of your choice.

Beetroot — This is optional, but beetroot lends subtle earthy flavor and appealing deep-red color to the recipe, making it look irresistibly luscious.

Butter — Adds real magic to the Instant Pot Pav Bhaji recipe, so it should not be skipped. It renders a rich buttery taste to the bhaji, and the soft Pavs smeared generously with the butter make it a heavenly dish.

Onion and ginger paste — Onions and ginger lend their unique flavors that hype the overall taste of the recipe.

Tomato Puree — Adds a touch of tanginess and also some richness to the bhaji’s texture.

Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder — This lends a beautiful color to the recipe, making it look glamorous and completely drool-worthy.

Pav Bahji Masala — The star ingredient of this recipe, Pav Bhaji Masala, is a unique blend of spices that turn the mashed veggies into the stunning Bhaji recipe!

Water — It is essentially used to dilute the bhaji that keeps thickening when cooked. To maintain the desired consistency, you must occasionally add some water while cooking. I have used the leftover water from the boiled veggies. However, you can use regular water for your preparation.

Kasoori Methi — Kasoori methi or dried fenugreek leaves are crushed and added to the recipe, which lends a unique flavor to the dish.

Recipe tips and Variations

The buttery deliciousness — Unsalted or salted butter adds richness and texture to the Pav Bhaji recipe and should not be cut back or compromised upon. It lends the Pav Bhaji recipe the same street-style taste you want!

Creative use of the leftover veggies — This Quick and easy Bhaji recipe is a great way to utilize the leftover veggies in your fridge. You can use any leftover raw veggies like potatoes, cauliflower, peas, carrots, bell peppers, beans, etc., that make a great addition to the taste and nutrition of the recipe.

Addition of carrots — I prefer to keep adding carrots on the lower side as they may make the bhaji sweeter owing to their sweet taste.

Addition of beetroots — Although adding this magic root is optional, I recommend you to use it in the Pav bhaji recipe, as it adds a nice color and a subtle earthy flavor.

Stick to the ratio — To achieve authentic taste, ensure that the ratio of the ingredients is maintained. It is imperative to stick to the proportions to reach the desired results.

Looks that make you drool — This Mumbai-style Pav Bhaji recipe attains its deep red orange-ish color from the added ingredients like the Kashmiri Chilli Powder and the tomato puree. Please add both to achieve the beautiful looks that will leave your family drooling over it!

A touch of lemony magic — A generous squeeze of lemon just before serving this delicacy adds a delectable tangy taste and takes your bhaji to a new level!

For the vegan bhaji — This bhaji can be turned into a vegan bhaji just by replacing regular butter with vegan butter.

For a spicier bhaji — This recipe creates moderately spiced bhaji. Feel free to adjust the spice level as per your taste buds. If you have kids at home, keep the spice level low; you can add a green chili or even add some more Pav Bhaji Masala or add an extra bit of red chili powder after separating their share.

Tip for Instant Pot Pav Bhaji — If you are cooking your Pav Bhaji in the Instant Pot, remember to dice your veggies in an even cut. This helps to cook them all at the same time. When cooking in the Instant Pot, you don’t need to boil the veggies, just add the raw ones to it and seal. It will cook the wonderful bhaji in no time and without any intervention!

For a completely gluten-free recipe — This delicious bhaji is gluten-free already. But, when serving, use gluten-free dinner rolls for an utterly gluten-free dinner.

Adding a healthy vitamin twist — Add an abundance of vitamin-rich veggies like bell peppers, carrots, and zucchini to meet the daily requirement of vitamins- the more of it, the merrier!

Adding protein health — Crumbled paneer or tofu, when added to this Instant Pot Pav bhaji recipe, contribute ideally to meeting the protein requirement.

Fresh masala for fresh flavors — Fresh Pav Bhaji masala should be used to bring maximum flavor to the Pav Bhaji recipe. The newer it is, the stronger the flavor! I love Everest Pav Bhaji Masala, but there are several others like MDH Pav Bhaji Masala, Badshah, Shan, etc. You can use the one your taste buds approve of!

For the chunky texture — Bhaji is best relished when it has a smooth consistency. But in case you want it chunkier, just crush the vegetables lightly with the masher.

Finishing to perfection — Always finish preparing your delicious bhaji by adding crushed Kasoori methi and chopped cilantro leaves for maximum flavor and delectability. These two take the entire dish to another level.

Let me know what you think!

Don’t just let the delicious looks of the images keep you drooling over them because this fool-proof recipe below takes you through a complete tutorial for preparing the best Pav Bhaji at home.

Bring your favorite veggies together and enthrall your loved ones with this flavorful savory delicacy.

Should you make this Mumbai-style Pav Bhaji recipe, please let me know your thoughts by sharing your comment below. And don’t forget to share it with your family and friends.

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