Mumbai Pav Bhaji/Potato Veggie Mash

Mumbai Pav Bhaji is a very popular street food where warm buttered dinner rolls are served with spicy potato veggie mash. This flavorful dish is not just popular on the streets of Mumbai but is fairly popular is most kitchens as it is very simple to make.

Pav Bhaji was introduced around the 1850s in a Mumbai Textile Mill as a lunchtime meal to all workers of the mill. Soon it became so popular that it was on the menu of every Mumbai restaurant. Over time it found its place around India and the world.

Ingredients
3 potatoes; boiled; crushed
1 cup green beans; chopped
1 1/2 cup bell pepper; chopped
2 cups cauliflower; chopped
2 cups green cabbage; chopped
1 cup of water while boiling
2 medium white onions; finely chopped
4 medium Roma tomatoes; finely chopped
1 tbsp Sea Salt (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp Garam Masala
1/4 tsp red chili powder
4 tbsp pav bhaji masala (adjust to taste)
1 cup peas; frozen; thawed

Garnish
1/2 red onion; finely chopped
1 Serrano pepper; finely chopped (optional)
3 tbsp cilantro; finely chopped

Preparation
1. Pressure cook the green beans, bell pepper, cauliflower, cabbage with 1 cup of water. (Normally 4 whistles). The goal is to boil the vegetables which can be done without the pressure cooker in a saucepan.
2. Heat a large saucepan on medium heat.
3. Add onions to the saucepan. Sauté onion until turn golden brown.
4. Add all the boiled vegetables with the water released from the vegetables (don’t add potatoes) to the saucepan. Mix them well with onions.
5. Add tomatoes to the boiled vegetables. Mix well.
6. Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder. Mix all the spices with vegetables.
7. Add potatoes and pav bhaji masala. Stir for 4-5 mins.
8. Add peas to bhaji (vegetables). Mix peas and vegetables.
9. Turn the heat of the stove to low. Cover the saucepan with the lid.
10. Keep checking and stirring for every 5-7 mins. Let the pav bhaji simmer for about an hour.
11. Turn off the heat after an hour.
12. Garnish with few onions pieces, Serrano pepper, and cilantro.
13. Serve it hot with whole wheat bread or whole wheat bun. I used Dave’s Killer Power Seed Bread.