Pav Bhaji - Indian Street Food

It's been a very long time since I posted two recipes in one post.  If I think about that it's quite breathtaking for me now.  I made up my mind to post this as quick as possible, so let's have a few words about the recipe and then hit straight to the recipe.  Pav Bhaji is a well known to be as  Indian street food.  In Marathi Pav means a small  loaf of bread and bhaji means vegetable dish, you can also read some interesting history and origin of this recipe from here.

Today in this recipe , the bread recipe which I have given is not pav buns, it's Buchty.  Buchty is popular in Poland and Germany, which is normally served for breakfast.  These buns are very similar to pav buns, except that the top layer is bit crusty.  These buns also goes very well with bhaji.  This unique dish can be served as a snack or a meal by itself.

Buchty

Preparation Time: 10- 15 minutes + rising time
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Makes about 16 rolls

Ingredients:
All purpose flour-  450g
Sugar- 50 g
Butter- 2 tbsp
Eggs- 2
Milk- 120 ml
Yeast- 2 tsp
Salt- 1 tsp 

Egg wash:
Egg yolk- 1
Milk- 1 tbsp

Method:
Sift the flour in a large bowl.  Mix the salt, sugar and yeast along with the flour.  Heat the milk and butter until butter gets melted.  Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, add the eggs and slowly add the warm milk mixture, beat with a electric beater.  Once the dough comes together, knead the dough in a floured work surface for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Place the dough in a clean and oiled bowl, cover with a cling film.  Let the dough rest in a warm place for about 1 to 2 hours or until doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 190 degree Celsius.  Take the raised dough, knock the air back.  Divide the dough into 16 equal parts.  Grease a  9 inch square tin.  Place the balls inside the tin, cover loosely with a cling film and let it rest in a warm place for about 30 minutes.  Brush the top of the bread with milk and egg.  Bake it in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top of the bread looks crusty and golden brown in colour.  Take it out from the oven, remove it from the tin and let it cool in the wire rack.




Pav Bhaji masala:

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20- 30 minutes
Serves 6 to 8

 Ingredients:
Cauliflower- 1 cup ( florets separated )  
Potatoes - 2 to 3 medium sized ( chopped )
Carrot- 2 medium sized ( chopped ) 
Peas- 1 cup
Onion- 1 medium sized ( finely chopped )
Tomatoes- 3 medium sized ( finely chopped )
Capsicum- 1 chopped
Ginger garlic paste- 2 tsp
Green chilly- 2 slit lenghtways
Pav bhaji masala- 3 tsp
Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp
Coriander leaves- 1 tbsp ( finely chopped )
Butter- 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Juice of 1/2 a lemon

 Method:
Immerse the cauliflower florets in hot water and wash it thoroughly.  Add cauliflower, potatoes, peas and carrot in a pressure cooker, add little water and pressure cook it for upto 1 whistle.  Mash the vegetables and keep it separately.  In another pan, heat the butter until it gets melted, add the cumin seeds, ginger garlic paste and onion, saute until the onion looks transparent in colour.  Now add the tomatoes and mix it well.  Cover the pan and cook until the tomatoes get mashed well.  Add some water to it ad let it boil for few minutes until it looks saucy.  Now add the capsicum and boiled vegetables.  Then add the pav bhaji masala, green chilly and salt.  Cover it and let it cook for few minutes, until the oil floats on top.  Finally add chopped coriander leaves and juice of 1/2 a lemon.


To Serve:
Slit a bun into half, toast with butter on both sides, spoon some gravy on the inner side of the bun, sprinkle some raw chopped onion and coriander leaves on top, serve with some lemon wedges on side, to squeeze the juice just before serving.

Note:
Don't miss the raw onion, coriander leaves and squeeze of lemon juice,it not only adds up a special flavour, it's also very good for your health.  Raw onion build immunity and coriander leaves is good for digestion, stops bad breath, keeps your lips healthy.


This recipe goes to Yeastspotting, Street Foods, New U, Healing Foods- Cauliflower hosted by Zesty Palette originally created by Siri,  Bake Fest hosted by The Pumpkin Farm originally created by Vardhini.