Pav(pao) Bahji

Pav bhaji or pao bhaaji as it is authentically called is a very tough competitor to famous street foods like paani poori,masala poori in India.Pav bhaji is a combination of soft pav (yeast bun)eaten with a mixed vegetable gravy flavored with special spice powder called Pav bhaji masala.It is one of the most loved street food in Mumbai and that in noway means it is less loved else where in India :)Be it in Bangalore or Chennai there are ample places and most importantly street vendors who sell hot and steaming pav bhaji.It is a usual scene that people dig into this delicious stuff outside any shopping mall or cinemas.Now though it is a street food it cannot be called as a junk food altogether.An array of vegetables that goes into the making of this quick snack or dinner makes this one nutrient rich food,of course quality and hygiene matters.Here I am posting my recipe for pav bhaji that I adapted from one of the street vendors in Bangalore.Please try n let me know :)

Pav bhaji
Star ingredient-Vegetables and pav bhaji dry spice powder
Time-30 minutes
Serves-3
Ingredients:
3  pav buns
2 table spoons butter
3 green chillies
1 small piece of ginger
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons pav bhaji masala
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
1 onion chopped fine
2 tomatoes chopped very fine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Cilantro for garnishing
Vegetables
1 potato1 carrot
1 cup cauliflower florets
2 babycorns
1/4 cup green peas
1 green bell pepper chopped fine
Method:
1.Pressure cook all the vegetables except bell pepper up to 4 whistles.Mash the vegetables once the pressure is released
2.In a kadai,add 1 tablespoon butter,saute the green chillies,crushed ginger garlic and bell pepper.Add the chopped tomatoes and mash well using a potato masher.
3.Now add the cooked vegetables and mash again.Add 1/4 cup water and simmer the stove.Next add all the dry powders,pav bhaji masala ,chilli,turmeric and coriander powder and mix well.Add salt and simmer for 10 minutes.
4.Now add one more table spoon of butter,mix well and take off the heat.Add lemon juice,chopped onions and stir well.
5.While the bhaji is cooking,heat a tava,add butter and let it melt.Toast the pav buns on both sides till as crispy as required.Serve hot with extra lemon juice and chopped onions,garnish with cilantro

Notes:
According to the street vendor whom I got the recipe from,
1.Do not puree the tomatoes in mixer.Just chop it fine and mash very well.
2.Do not saute onions in butter.Mix raw onions in bhaji to get the real rustic taste
3.Baby corn was my addition to the recipe
4.I have cut the pav into small pieces for the ease of eating