Unlike other street-food fare such as, say sev puri or gol guppay,pav bhaji is more of a meal than a snack. The dish’s name, which literally translates to bread and vegetable, is deceptive — it sounds like something which belongs on a food pyramid rather than the chatpata [spicy] affair it really is. Who knew that something as humdrum as boiled vegetables can be elevated with a little bit of desi flair and spices?

Nothing beats tucking into a plate of sizzling pav bhaji on a cool night at a dhaba [roadside eatery] or food street but, unlike the je ne sais quoi of other chatpata favourites such as chaat, some of the pizzazz and comforting nostalgia of pav bhaji can be recreated at home.

Pav Bhaji

While store-bought pav bhajimasala is an option, using a spice blend made from scratch elevates the dish. I usually make a big batch of masala ahead of time (just double or triple the quantity given for the spice recipe), so there is always some on hand.

This is the ideal dish to make if you need something in a jiffy and the spice mix is on hand — just throw all the ingredients in a pressure cooker and go about your day.

A comforting street-food elevates humdrum vegetables with desi flair and spices…

Ingredients

For the pav bhajimasala

1 tablespoon saunf [fennel seeds] 2 tablespoon sabut dhania [coriander seeds] 2 tablespoon zeera [cumin seeds] 1 tablespoon javitri [mace] 8-10 laung [cloves] 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 2 barri elaichi [black cardamom] 4 elaichi [green cardamom] 1 jaiphal [nutmeg] 1-2 daar chini [cinnamon sticks], about two-inch each 2-3 chakriphool [star anise] 5-6 Kashmiri dry red chillies 2 tablespoon amchur [dry mango powder] (optional)

For the bhaji

1 onion, finely chopped 3 medium potatoes, diced 1 cauliflower floret, chopped 1 carrot, diced 2-3 tomatoes, chopped ½ cup green peas ½ capsicum/bell pepper, diced 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste 1 tablespoon zeera [cumin seeds] 2 teaspoon or to-tastesalt 1 teaspoon haldi [turmeric] powder 1 teaspoon red chilli powder 2-3 tablespoons pav bhajimasala powder 1-2 tablespoons, unsalted butter 1 tablespoon of oil

For the pav

6-8 pav or burger buns Unsalted butter, as needed Pav bhajimasala, as needed

Method

1. Make the pav bhajimasala. Dry roast all the whole spices on a tawa or griddle. Add the spices in a grinder and blend into a powder. Fold in the amchur powder (if using) into the spice mix. Set aside in an airtight glass jar.

2. Chop the vegetables and set aside. In a big pot, add two to three cups of water and one teaspoon or to-tastesalt. Add the chopped potatoes, carrots and cauliflower. Bring to a boil. Add the peas. Cover the pot and cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until the vegetables can be mashed with a fork. Set aside.

3. In a separate pot, melt one tablespoon of butter and heat the oil. Add the zeera and ginger-garlic paste and stir. Then sauté the onions. Add the tomatoes, and one teaspoon or to-taste salt and a tablespoon of the pav bhaji masala. Stir well. Cook for five to 10 minutes.

4. Add the bell peppers. Cook for five to 10 minutes more. Add the mashed vegetables boiled earlier. Add a tablespoon or more of the pav bhaji powder and the rest of the spices. Stir well. Add around half to one cup of water until it covers the vegetables. Add another tablespoon of butter. Put on lid and cook on medium heat.

5. Continue cooking, stirring and mashing occasionally, until the vegetables resemble a thick paste. Taste seasoning and add any more salt, chilli powder or pav bhajimasala if needed. When paste forms, the pav bhaji is ready. Sprinkle with chopped coriander.

6. Heat a tawa or griddle pan. Melt butter on it and sprinkle with pav bhajimasala. Toast the cut side of the pav/buns. Press down on the buns so that the butter and spices are absorbed. You can toast the other side in the same manner if desired.

7. Serve the hot bhaji in a bowl along with the freshly-toasted pav/buns and lemon wedges.

Published in Dawn, EOS, August 3rd, 2025