Pav bhaji is an iconic Mumbai street food recipe made with spiced mashed vegetables, dollops of butter and soft toasted pav buns. It has a rich, tangy flavor that everyone loves. Learn how to make authentic street style pav bhaji at home with step by step photos!
Pav bhaji is a worldwide popular street food originated from Mumbai, India. I prepared it for the first time yesterday and it was a super hit. It came out very well. I took this recipe from a cooking manual and made some changes by watching Mumbai street style pavbhaji YouTube videos.
Sendhil and Raksha loved it a lot and told me to make the same next day too for dinner. It was awesome in taste when had with chopped raw onions. It is a great evening snack recipe for kids. Even bachelors can try this as it has no grinding jobs. I am sure the smell of this pavbhaji masala makes everyone crave for it.
Do try this for your kids and husband after they are back home. You will get appreciations for sure. Ok, lets see how to make this Mumbai special pav bhaji at home easily.
Quick Notes for US & Abroad Kitchens
- Pav Bun Substitutes: Authentic Indian pav buns are available in Patel Brothers and Indian grocery stores. If not accessible, use King’s Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls, brioche slider buns or plain hamburger buns sliced horizontally.
- Store Masala Brands: Everest, MDH or Badshah pav bhaji masala gives the best restaurant aroma. Store the masala powder in an airtight jar in the freezer to retain freshness.
- Vegetable Choices: Fresh or frozen cauliflower florets, carrots and sweet green peas from Trader Joe’s or Costco work wonderfully. You can also add a small piece of beetroot while boiling for that vibrant natural red street food color.
- Butter is Key: Street vendors use generous amounts of salted butter. In the US, salted Kerrygold or Land O’Lakes butter yields that authentic rich street flavor.
- Stovetop & Pan: A wide cast iron tawa or heavy-bottom skillet allows you to mash the vegetables thoroughly and achieve that signature street-style bhaji sizzle.
Pav Bhaji Recipe – Street Style Mumbai Pav Bhaji
Ingredients
For Bhaji
- 1 cup Chopped mixed vegetables (approx. 150g / 5.3 oz) carrot and cauliflower florets
- 2 nos Potatoes (approx. 200g / 7 oz) medium sized, boiled and peeled
- ¼ cup Green peas (approx. 40g / 1.4 oz) fresh or frozen
To Saute and Season
- 2 tbsp Butter (approx. 30g / 1 oz) or more as desired
- 2 nos Big onions finely chopped
- 2 nos Tomatoes finely chopped
- ½ no Capsicum / green bell pepper finely chopped
- 1 no Small green chilli finely chopped
- 1 tsp Ginger and garlic paste
- 2 to 3 tsp Pav bhaji masala powder such as Everest or MDH
- ½ to 1 tsp Red chilli powder adjust to taste
- ¼ tsp Turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp Sugar
- 1 pinch Kasoori methi / dried fenugreek leaves crushed, optional
- Salt as needed / to taste
- 1 cup Water or vegetable broth (approx. 240 ml / 8 fl oz) adjust consistency as needed
- ½ no Lemon juice of 1/2 lemon
To Garnish and Serve
- 1 tbsp Coriander leaves finely chopped
- 1 no Onion finely chopped, to serve
- 2 to 3 wedges Lemon slices to serve
For Pav
- 6 nos Pav buns soft squarish dinner rolls / pavs
- 1 to 2 tbsp Butter for toasting on tawa
Instructions
- Wash and chop the vegetables. Pressure cook mixed vegetables, potatoes and peas till soft for 4 to 5 whistles. Mash them well using a potato masher after draining the water. Reserve the vegetable broth.
- Heat butter in a pan. Add finely chopped onion, capsicum, green chilli and ginger garlic paste. Saute for a few minutes. Add tomatoes and saute for 2 to 3 minutes until mushy.
- Add pav bhaji masala, chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt, sugar and cooked mashed vegetables. Fry further for 2 to 3 minutes (for less spice skip green chilli and use 1/2 tsp chilli powder).
- Add the reserved vegetable broth and bring to boil. Simmer till gravy is thick, stirring and mashing the masala in between with a potato masher. Lastly add crushed kasoori methi and lemon juice. Stir and switch off the flame. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
- Slit pavs horizontally leaving one edge attached (like an open book). Apply butter generously and roast open on a hot tawa till hot and soft with the surface crisp on the open side. Serve hot with warm bhaji, lemon wedges and chopped raw onions!
Notes
- Adjust the quantity of spices as per your taste buds.
- You must add pavbhaji masala to get the real taste. Else you can add garam masala powder and little aamchoor powder but you have to compromise with the taste.
- Add finely chopped coriander leaves for garnishing.
- Mashing the vegetables well is the key here to resemble Mumbai street style pavbhaji.
- Adding carrot and beans is optional. You can use cauliflower, potatoes and peas alone.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What gives Mumbai street style pav bhaji its red color?
Street vendors often use Kashmiri red chilli powder for vibrant color without excess heat. You can also pressure cook a small wedge of fresh beetroot along with the potatoes and mash it into the bhaji for a beautiful natural red hue.
Can I make pav bhaji without a potato masher?
Yes friends! Pressure cook the vegetables for an extra whistle until they turn very soft. Then mash them thoroughly using the back of a round metal ladle or heavy wooden spoon while simmering in the kadai.
What can I substitute for pav buns outside India?
Soft dinner rolls, potato slider buns or brioche buns work wonderfully as a substitute. Slit them open, toast generously with salted butter on a hot tawa and serve with hot bhaji.
Can I freeze leftover pav bhaji?
Yes! Bhaji freezes very well for up to a month in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, reheat in a pan with a splash of warm water and add a fresh dollop of butter before serving.
Yummy pav bhaji is ready to relish with hot tea!
pav bhaji is my fav too..nice colour gal..
Pav bhaji looks very delicious & tempting.
Bhaji looks creamy and has a lovely color. Why don’t you send this to pallavi’s sunday snacks-Chaats event.
looks so deliciious..just like the chaat corners..yumm..
Looks so good! Have never tried making it .. just step out when feel like having this. :-)
Thanku all foodies:)
Pav Bhaji looks delicious..i want some right now :)
My fave snack to have, I even make it for dinner! Looks delicious! :)
Nice photos Chitra…I love this as evening dinner, my favorite. Thanks for sharing the facts about yeast. I used to wonder if yeast is good for health. Now I can use them without all the guilt :)
super, super, super!! Great pic.. feel like eating it now!
I love Pav bhaji and yours look delicious! Feel like grabbing it right out of the pic!
Yum my favourite for snack or lunch or dinner:-). Looks yummmm
I want to grab that plate from the last pic, looks so temptinly delicous.
wow this looks fantastic!!
wow! fanatstic very yummy !!
looks very yummy! Excellent!
Hi Chitra,
Ur blog looks lovely :)
Paav baaji looks super yummy, can have it at any time of the day :) very filling and tasty.nice pics.
TC
This is one of my favorite. Very yummy.
Chitra, pav bhajji looks amzing and very tempting… I love this, my all time fav…
Yummy pav chitra..your template is looking nice..
Anytime am ready to have pav bhaji, makes me hungry!
pav bhaji is one of my favorite street foods. looks delicious, Chitra!
This reminds my college days. We often have this in gangotri.
looks good, love your clinic box!, west yorkshire – caught my eye as a Brit!
Looks delicious…I used to stuff myself with this in Mumbai.
Good work Chitra!
ur new template looks cool.
Thanku all dearies;)
Pav bhaji in first attempt looks perfect, just like the one we get in Chennai. yummy.
wow..pav bhaji looks perfect..
lovely bhaji, looks yummy…….., love it always….., i do it quite often as its childrens favourite dish !!, good for u that u did it…..ur a great cook dear……
Oh yummm Chitra..you gave me some hard hunger pangs now..:P..n the new lay out is pretty neat..:)
The pavs look so good but the bhaji looks like it would be delicious on rice, too!
looks yummy! can u send it over :)
yummy chitra.. Good template change!
Yummy pav bhaji… Looks tempting!
Lovely colour and excellent presentation.
chitra.very detailed presentation .More queries &followers u can expect soon.
Thank u Uncle :)