Pav Bhaji

My husband suddenly wanted to have Pav Bhaji for lunch and I somehow ended up making it. I also thought it was a good chance to open up the Pav Bhaji masala packet after a very long time. So, here's the dish with the recipe and the picture :)

Serves 4 people

Ingredients:
                          Veggie Mix - (Gobi, potatoes, carrots, green peppers are all chopped into cubes)
                           Gobi (Cauliflower)   - 1 cup
                           Potatoes (peeled)    - 1.5 cup
                           Carrot (cubed)        - 1
                           Green Pepper          - 1/2 cup
                           Green Peas              - 1/2 cup                        
                           Onions (chopped)    - 1 to 1.5 cups
                           Green Chillies (4) chopped
                           Ginger Garlic Paste  - 1.5 teaspoons
                           Tomatoes (chopped)- 4                
                           Lemon                     - 1
                           Red Chilli Powder
                           Oil                           - 2 to 3 teaspoons
                           Salt
                           Pav Bhaji Masala     - 2.5 to 3 teaspoons
                           Butter (optional)
                           Turmeric Powder
                           Pav/ Bread

Bhaji preparation:

Boil the veggie mix in a cooker to the maximum level (so that they can be mashed easily). Heat oil in a bowl and add green chillies. After a minute add ginger garlic paste and saute for another minute. Now roast half cup of onions till they turn golden brown. Add chopped tomatoes and let it cook until they almost turn into a paste. Strain the veggies and keep the water too. That can be used at the end or in between the process. After tomatoes are cooked, add the veggies and mash them as much as you can. After you see some consistency, add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and pav bhaji masala. Add the strained out water and let it cook for 10 minutes. Ask your spouse to check if the taste is ok (just kidding ;)) It'll be ready to serve after the above procedure :)

Pav preparation:

Heat a pan and roast the bread/bhaji. You can add butter/ghee for better taste :)


Serve it with finely chopped onions+coriander and lemon!!

Fresh Tomato pachadi/chutney

This is a great side dish for idlis/dosas/upma and is super simple to cook. Takes absolutely very less time.

Ingredients: (Serves 2)

Tomatoes               - 2
Green Chillies         - 2/3 depending on spice levels
Garlic                     - 2 cloves
Dry roasted penuts  - 1.5 tablespoons
Coriander leaves
Tamarind               - just a pinch
Salt to taste
Oil                         - 1 teaspoon


How to prepare:

Heat a pan and add one tablespoon of oil in it. Cut tomatoes into big chunks and add tomatoes, green chillies. Saute the tomatoes and green chilies until tomatoes become soft and turns like paste. Cool this mixture till it is usable in a blender.

After the tomatoes are good to go in a blender, add garlic cloves, tamarind, peanuts, salt, coriander and this tomato mixture and blend it till you see a consistent paste. That's it...the chutney is now ready to eat :)