Instapot Pav Bhaji

Have you ever tried Mumbai street food? If not, you are seriously missing out! Pav Bhaji is one of my favorite Mumbai street food options. This is an absolutely gob-smackingly delicious treat that’s nutritious, yummy, fun to eat and easy to make.

Guess what the primary ingredients are? Vegetables!! It’s sometimes also used to lure the picky eaters into eating their veggies. Pav Bhaji is a preparation of spiced mashed  vegetables  cooked on a tava ( flat griddle )  with generous amounts of potatoes and tomatoes, the famous pav bhaji masala, dollops of butter and served with bread rolls either lightly roasted with butter or crispy fried in butter.

I have been a street food lover since my teens. While growing up I would eat anything from the street food stalls. I love pav bhaji and I remember how patiently I used to wait to be served my order. I would watch the men cook the bhaji making the clanging sounds on the tava as if the sounds added more flavor to the bhaji.

I love to make pav bhaji because is easy and fast and my kids love it too. Moreover I can make it ahead of time. It is a rescue recipe because you can make use of all the vegetables left over in the kitchen.

A lot of vendors add red food color for eye appeal but I use more tomatoes and paprika to enhance the color of the bhaji. Variants of the dish may use other bread  varieties such as brown bread ,wheat or white burger buns or rotis. The dish is served garnished with a dollop of butter and chopped onions and cilantro.

The Shan pav bhaji masala is easily available at the Indian grocery store or online at Amazon

HISTORY OF PAV BHAJI

Pav bhai is quoted often as having originated as a humble dish for the masses – in the 1850’s as a fast lunchtime dish for textile mill workers in Mumbai. Very soon it gained in popularity and was served from hand carts to formal restaurants in India and abroad

Pav Bhaji (Instant Pot)

Pav Bhaji is a preparation of spiced mashed vegetables cooked on a tava (flat griddle ) with generous amounts of potatoes and tomatoes, the famous pav bhaji masala, dollops of butter and served with bread rolls either lightly roasted with butter or crispy fried in butter

5 from 3 votes

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Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Snack

Cuisine Mumbai Street Food

Servings 10

Calories 249 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  

• 1 1/2 cups diced onions
• 4 medium potatoes
• 2 cups diced tomatoes
• 1 cup cauliflower
• 1 cup green peas
• 1/2 cup bell pepper
• 3 tablespoons paprika
• 8 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons pav bhaji masala
• 1 tablespoon cumin powder
• 3 tablespoons ginger garlic paste
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3/4 cup cilantro chopped
• 8 Bread rolls

Instructions

 

• Steam all the vegetables (potatoes, peas, bell pepper and cauliflower)
• Using the saute option on Intant Pot melt the butter
• Once the butter is melted add the minced garlic and stir well
• Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute
• Throw in the onions and cook till they are nice golden brown. This will take about 8 minutes or so
• Then add to it the tomatoes and cook till they are mushy and you see the butter separating
• Now add the Shan pav bhaji masala, paprika, cumin powder and salt to taste
• Stir well and add the mashed vegetables and 11/2 cup of water
• Close lid and pressure cook for 3 minutes
• Release the pressure open lid add cilantro, lemon juice mix well and serve

Keyword Mumbai Street Food, Pav Bhaji