Pav Bhaji

Pav bhaji in Marathi

Time: 45 to 50 minutes
Servings : 3 to 4

Ingredients:
1.5 cups finely chopped Onion
2.5 cups finely chopped Tomato
6 medium potatoes (Boiled, peeled and mashed) (approx 1/2 kg)
12-15 small florets of Cauliflower, steamed
1/2 cup steamed green Peas 
1/2 cup Green Bell Pepper, finely chopped
8-10 Garlic Cloves
1 tsp Red Chili Powder
3 tbsp Oil
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
2 tbsp tbsp Pavbhaji masala
Salt to taste
Butter, Lemon Juice, Chopped Cilantro to your taste
10 to 12 pav (Ladipav)

Method:
1) Keep the chopped and steamed vegetables ready.
2) Peel Garlic Cloves. Put them in the grinder; add red Chili Powder and 2 tbsp water. Grind to a fine paste.
3) Heat a saucepan. Add oil and cumin seeds. Immediately add garlic-red chili paste. Sauté for few seconds and then add chopped onion. Cook over medium heat until translucent. Then add bell pepper. Cover and cook for few minutes.
4) After 3-4 minutes add finely chopped tomatoes. Once tomato become soft and mushy; add green peas, cauliflower and mashed potato. Mix well and add Pavbhaji Masala. Turn heat to medium-low. Add little water and salt. Cover and let the pavbhaji cook for few minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent pavbhaji sticking at the bottom. Mash Pavbhaji nicely.
5) Cover and cook for 5 minutes on low heat.

While serving, Add little lemon juice, butter and chopped cilantro. Serve with Pavbhaji bread (ladipav)

Tips:
1) To enhance the richness, use butter instead of oil while tempering.
2) Buttered bread taste great with Pavbhaji. For that, heat tawa, add little butter and press a bun on the butter. Coat bun with melted butter and let it become golden slightly.