Pav bhaji recipe

Pav bhaji recipe

Pav Bhaji Recipe – The Ultimate Mumbai Street Food Delight 🍛🥖

If there’s one dish that captures the spirit of Mumbai’s bustling streets, it’s Pav Bhaji. This buttery, spicy mash of vegetables served with soft, toasted buns (pav) is not just a meal—it’s an experience. Whether you’ve had it at a street stall or at a fancy restaurant, there’s something about that rich aroma and sizzling butter that pulls you in.

In this blog post, I’m sharing a step-by-step Pav Bhaji recipe that you can easily recreate at home. Get ready to bring the flavors of Chowpatty Beach right into your kitchen!


🌟 What is Pav Bhaji?

Pav Bhaji is a popular Indian street food that originated in Mumbai. It’s a thick vegetable curry (bhaji) made by mashing boiled vegetables and cooking them with a special Pav Bhaji Masala, butter, and tomatoes. It's served hot with soft pav (bread rolls), toasted on a griddle with generous amounts of butter.


📝 Ingredients

For the Bhaji:

  • 2 large potatoes (boiled and mashed)

  • 1 cup cauliflower florets (boiled)

  • 1/2 cup green peas (boiled)

  • 1/2 cup carrots (boiled and chopped)

  • 2 onions (finely chopped)

  • 2 tomatoes (finely chopped)

  • 1 green capsicum (finely chopped)

  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste

  • 2 tablespoons Pav Bhaji masala

  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)

  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

  • Salt to taste

  • 2 tablespoons butter (or more!)

  • 1 tablespoon oil

  • Fresh coriander (for garnish)

  • Lemon wedges (for serving)

For the Pav:

  • 8 pav buns

  • Butter for toasting

  • Pinch of Pav Bhaji masala (optional)


🔥 How to Make Pav Bhaji

Step 1: Prep the Veggies

Boil the potatoes, peas, cauliflower, and carrots until soft. Mash them roughly and set aside.

Step 2: Cook the Masala

In a large pan or tawa, heat butter and oil. Add chopped onions and sauté until golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for a minute until the raw smell disappears.

Step 3: Add Tomatoes and Spices

Add chopped tomatoes and cook until mushy. Mix in capsicum, turmeric, red chili powder, and Pav Bhaji masala. Cook until oil begins to separate.

Step 4: Mash the Bhaji

Add the boiled and mashed vegetables to the masala. Mix well and mash everything using a potato masher directly in the pan. Add water to adjust consistency and let it simmer for 10–15 minutes.

Step 5: Toast the Pav

Heat butter on a tawa. Slice pav buns in half and toast until golden brown on both sides. Sprinkle a little pav bhaji masala on the butter if you like extra flavor.

Step 6: Serve Hot!

Serve the bhaji hot with buttered pav, a dollop of butter on top, chopped onions, fresh coriander, and lemon wedges.


🍽️ Tips for the Perfect Pav Bhaji

  • More Butter = More Flavor – Don't shy away from using butter; it’s what makes street-style pav bhaji irresistible!

  • Use a Flat Tawa – Cooking on a large griddle or tawa helps mix and mash better.

  • Garnish Right – Onions, coriander, and lemon are not just extras—they balance the flavors beautifully.


❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Comforting and hearty

  • Loaded with veggies

  • Perfect for parties or family dinners

  • Street food vibes at home!


Have You Tried This Pav Bhaji Recipe?

Let me know how it turned out in the comments! Tag your Pav Bhaji pics with #MyPavBhajiLove on Instagram—I’d love to see your creations. 😍

Happy Cooking & Enjoy the Bhaji Bash! 🧈🌶️🥔


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