How to Prepare Mumbai Special Pav Bhaji at Home?

Pav Bhaji Recipe: Let’s Cook Mumbai Special Pav Bhaji

We’ll share how to transform basic Pav Bhaji with JK Pav Bhaji Masala. It boasts an incredible texture, achieved by continuously mashing the vegetables as they cook. 

Keep adding water and mashing the cooked veggies until the mixture is uniform yet not entirely smooth. At the serving time, adding butter is the essence of this dish, as pav bhaji isn't complete without generous amounts of butter.

How to Make Pav Bhaji?

You need to arrange all of those ingredients. Here are they-

▢2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil

▢1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds Jeera

▢2 Green Capsicum finely chopped, approx 130 Grams

▢2 Onion finely chopped, approx 150 Grams

▢5 Tomatoes finely chopped, approx 360 Grams

▢4 teaspoons Pav Bhaji Masala divided

▢1 ½ - 2 teaspoons Salt divided

▢2 teaspoons Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder

▢2 teaspoons Pav Bhaji Masala

▢1 tablespoon Coriander Powder

▢½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder

▢2 tablespoons Garlic Paste

▢2 ½ tablespoons Green Chilli Paste

▢500 Grams Potato boiled and mashed

▢2 Carrots finely chopped and cooked, approx 110 Grams

▢½ Beetroot finely chopped and cooked, approx 90 Grams

▢½ Cup Green Peas cooked, approx 130 Grams

▢1 teaspoon Kasuri Methi

▢1 Lemon freshly squeezed

▢2-3 Cups Water approx 500-750 Milliliters

▢½ Cup Coriander Leaves chopped

▢60 Grams Butter

Tips to Prepare Mumbai Special Pav Bhaji 

Here are a few significant tips that you should follow before starting to cook Mumbai's special Pav Bhaji. It helps you to prepare this street food at home in a proper way. 

1. Vegetables

Prepare all your vegetables in advance. Boil or pressure cook them until they are tender enough to be easily mashed between your fingers. This can be done up to a day before.

We recommend cooking the vegetables separately as each one has a different cooking time. However, if you're pressed for time, you can roughly chop all the vegetables and cook them together until tender, then drain any excess water.

2. Oil & Butter

Pav Bhaji requires a generous amount of fat, especially butter, to achieve its signature texture and flavor. The potatoes and vegetables absorb the butter during cooking, ensuring it doesn’t taste greasy. Use a neutral-flavored oil and Butter at the time of serving. 

3. Spices

These spices are required to prepare delicious Mumbai Special Pav Bhaji. Jeera, Chilli powder, Kasuri Methi, Turmeric powder, Coriander powder, and Pav Bhaji Masala. If Pav Bhaji masala is not available in your kitchen, you can visit JK Cart to get rich & authentic Pav Bhaji Masala online.  

4. Ground Pastes

Garlic paste, made from garlic blended with water into a thick consistency, and green chili paste, made from green chilies ground with water, are essential. While many recipes call for ginger-garlic paste, our tests revealed that the secret to authentic street-style pav bhaji lies in using only garlic and green chili pastes.

5. Lime

Add lots of lime to balance the spices and flavor of tanginess. 

Start Cooking

1. Heat vegetable oil and butter in a large tawa or heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add cumin seeds and let them splutter. Add capsicum and sauté for 5 minutes on medium heat until slightly softened.

2. Add chopped onions and fry on medium heat for 6-7 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes, 2 teaspoons of JK Pav Bhaji Masala, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir well, cover, and cook on low heat for 8-10 minutes until softened.

3. Add chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, 2 more teaspoons of pav bhaji masala, 1 ½ tablespoons of garlic paste, green chili paste, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir and mix until combined. Cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes until the oil separates.

4. Add mashed potatoes, carrots, beetroot, and green peas. Stir to combine, then add 1 cup of water and mix well. Bring to a boil and mash with a potato masher. Let the bhaji reduce and cook on medium heat.

5. Once the water is absorbed, add another cup of water and ½ teaspoon of salt, and repeat the mashing process. Ensure all the vegetables are fully cooked and mashed together.

6. Taste and adjust the salt if needed. You can add a cup of water if you prefer a runnier consistency; I used 3 cups of water.

7. Add butter, Kasuri methi, ½ tablespoon of garlic paste, and ¼ cup of chopped coriander leaves, stirring to combine. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until the butter has melted. Once melted, add lemon juice and the remaining coriander leaves, stirring to combine. Serve hot with chopped onions, lemon wedges, and toasted pav.

Final Words

Preparing Mumbai Special Pav Bhaji at home is a delightful and rewarding experience that brings the authentic flavors of Mumbai street food to your kitchen. With its blend of spices and vegetables, this recipe offers a rich and savory dish that is both nutritious and delicious. 

By following the steps and using fresh ingredients, and fresh Indian spices online you can recreate this beloved dish, ensuring every bite is bursting with the traditional taste that makes Pav Bhaji a favorite. Let’s enjoy the taste of Mumbai right at home!