Pav Bhaji is one of the most loved Indian street foods, originally from Mumbai but now enjoyed across the world. It is a flavorful
vegetable curry (bhaji) served with soft butter-
toasted buns (pav). This dish is perfect for dinner,
lunch, or even a weekend evening snack with family. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know:
the origin, ingredients, step by-step cooking process, and useful tips to make restaurant-style pav bhaji at home.
What is Pav Bhaji?
Pav Bhaji is a spiced vegetable mash made with potatoes, tomatoes, peas, capsicum, and butter. The word “Pav” means bread rolls, and “Bhaji” means curry. It is served hot with pav roasted in butter and garnished with onions, lemon, and coriander. The secret lies in the pav bhaji masala, a spice blend that gives the dish its unique flavor.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to make authentic Mumbai-style Pav Bhaji:
For the Bhaji:
2 large potatoes (boiled and mashed)
1 cup cauliflower florets (boiled)
1 cup green peas (boiled)
1 capsicum (finely chopped)
2 medium onions (finely chopped)
3 large tomatoes (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons butter (plus extra for serving)
2 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
2 green chilies (finely chopped)
2 teaspoons pav bhaji masala
1 teaspoon red chili powder
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander leaves (chopped for garnish)
Lemon wedges
For the Pav:
8 pav buns (Indian bread rolls)
2 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon pav bhaji masala