Pav bhaji recipe with video & step by step photos – A delicious blend of mix veggies cooked in butter & spices, served with soft butter tasted buns. Pav is an Indian bread and bhaji is mashed vegetables cooked with spice powder. This post will guide you to make the easiest & best pav bhaji that tastes delicious and flavorful.
If you are new to this dish, here is more info
What is pav bhaji?
Pav bhaji is a popular Indian street food that consists of a spicy mix vegetable mash & soft buns. Usually pav bhaji is served with a generous amount of butter topped along with some fresh chopped onions & lemon juice. The butter toasted pav are eaten along with the veggie mash or bhaji.
Apart from pav bhaji, Masala pav, Sev puri, Aloo tikki, Dahi vada, Pani puri, Batata vada, samosa and vada pav and are some of the popular street foods from mumbai.
Usually the street side bhaji is made with more potatoes & onions. Veggies like cauliflower, capsicum & peas are used in little quantities or even skipped.
Street stalls selling mumbai pav bhaji often avoid cauliflower as it turns out to be expensive for them. But while making it at home, it is good to use it as the flavor of bhaji turns out excellent. You can adjust the amount of veggies to suit your taste and liking.
There are many pav bhaji masala powders available in the market which can be used instantly. Each one differs in the flavor and taste. But the basic ingredients almost remain the same. Only the quantity of ingredients change. So you can chose the one you like.
I like my homemade masala powders so I make my own pav bhaji masala powder at home. You can find the link in the recipe card below. I have shared it here in brief.
Make pav bhaji masala
You can also make pav bhaji masala powder by dry roasting the following ingredients. Powder them in a spice jar and use as needed in this recipe.
2 tbsps coriander seeds
1 black cardamom
1 tbsp cumin or jeera
1 tsp pepper corn
1/2 tbsp fennel seeds
3 red chilies
1 inch cinnamon
3 to 4 cloves
1/2 tbsp amchur
For more street foods check
Sandwich recipes
Pakora recipes
Papdi chaat
Gobi manchurian
Pav bhaji recipe
Pav bhaji recipe | How to make pav bhaji
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
Ingredients to make bhaji for pav bhaji
- 1 cup potatoes diced or 3 medium or 2 large
- ½ to ¾ cup green peas or matar
- ½ to 1 cup cauliflower or gobi florets
- ½ cup capsicum (bell pepper) chopped
- 2 tablespoon butter ( or oil)
- 2 medium onions (¾ cup finely chopped )
- 1 green chili (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste or chopped
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chili powder less spicy kind or red chili paste as needed
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric or haldi
- 1 tablespoon pavbhaji masala powder (use more if needed)
- 1 large tomato or 2 medium chopped
- ¾ teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves, optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Ingredients for toasting pav
- 4 to 6 Pav (buns) (dinner rolls)
- 1 tablespoon butter for toasting pav
- ½ teaspoon pav bhaji masala powder
Ingredients to garnish pav bhaji
- 1 Lemon wedges
- 2 tablespoon onions Chopped
- 2 tablespoon Coriander leaves
- 1 tablespoon butter
How to make the recipe
Preparation for pav bhaji
- Add ½ to 1 cup cauliflower florets, 1 cup cubed potatoes and ½ to ¾ cup peas to a pot or pressure cooker.
- Pour water to partially cover them and cook until soft or tender.
- If cooking in cooker, let it whistle twice. When the pressure releases open the lid and mash them well.
Making bhaji
- Add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil to a pan and heat up.
- Next add ¾ cup finely chopped onions and fry till they turn translucent.
- Then add 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste and 1 chopped green chili.
- Fry till it becomes fragrant.
- Next add ½ cup capsicums & saute for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add 1 large chopped tomato and ½ tsp salt.
- Fry till tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
- Next add ½ to ¾ teaspoon chili powder and 1 tablespoon pav bhaji masala powder.
- Mix and fry for another 2 minutes or until the raw smell of the mixture goes away.
- Add boiled & mashed veggies.
- Pour water just enough to bring to a consistency.
- Cook for 3 to 5 mins until the bhaji thickens.
- Add ¾ tsp kasuri methi if using and cook until it reaches a desired consistency.
How to make pav bhaji
- Slit the pav buns horizontally leaving one edge intact.
- Heat butter on a pan. Open the buns and sprinkle some pav bhaji masala on the butter.
- Place the pav & toast them for a min or two.
- Garnish with onions, butter and lemon wedges. Serve pav bhaji hot or warm.
Video
Video of pav bhaji recipe
NUTRITION (estimation only)
Notes
If you are a beginner or new to Indian cooking, I highly suggest you to check the supporting step by step photos for best results. Step by step photos with description available below after the recipe card.
Preparation
1. Add potatoes, cauliflower, and peas to a pressure cooker or a pot. Add water just enough to cover them partially. You can also use carrots if you like.
2. Pressure cook for 1 to 2 whistles on a medium flame.
3. When the pressure goes off, open the lid. Veggies should be soft cooked. Mash them well.
How to make pav bhaji recipe at home
4. Heat butter or oil in a pan. Butter tastes best.
5. Add onions & fry till they turn translucent.
6. Add ginger garlic paste and green chilli. Fry until it smells good. Take care not to burn.
7. Add bell pepper. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
8. Add chopped tomatoes and salt. Fry till tomatoes turn mushy, soft and pulpy.
9. Add chilli powder and paav bhaji masala powder.
10. Mix well and fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
11. Add the boiled & mashed veggies. Add water as needed and stir.
12. Mix well and simmer for a while to bring out the flavor of masala. You can add kasuri methi if you like.
13. When it reaches the desired consistency, add chopped coriander leaves. switch off. Add some lemon juice.
14. Slit the pav horizontally leaving one edge intact. Heat butter on a tawa. Add little masala powder.
15. Place the pav on the butter and toast for 1 to 2 mins.
Garnish with coriander leaves, lemon wedges and chopped onions. Top with butter on hot bhaji. Serve pav bhaji with some butter topped and onion.
Smita Das says
By seeing the step by step process with photos it’s very much easier to learn a new dish.
swasthi says
Yes do try it!
Sam says
Hi, thanks for the detailed information, easy enough for a beginner to follow!!
swasthi says
You are welcome!
Hope you enjoy it
Nilima says
Hello Swasthi.
I love your recipes.
I tried out the pav bhaji recipe..it turned out fantastic with the taste but the colour was not that great.
Please advise.
Thank you.
swasthi says
Hi Nilima
You are welcome! Thank you. Glad to know. Yes it may be different as it depends on the red chilies used in the masala powder. Next time soak some red chilies in hot water and make a fine paste. Use this instead of the chilli powder. I use the byadgi red chilli powder.Hope this helps
Rama says
I enjoy ur recipes. I cook them with great confidence. Thank u
swasthi says
Hi Rama,
You are welcome. Glad the recipes are helpful. Thank you!
Mary Saldanha says
Hi Swasthi, I used to make Pav Bhaji in a differet style….But tonight I am going to try your receipe and will surely get back to you…Thanks
swasthi says
Hi Mary,
You are welcome! Hope you like it!
Arti says
Hi Swati,
Thank you for sharing such simple n yummy recipe. I want to make this for a party for 12 People, can I scale the quantity for triple for all the ingredients you mentioned? Please clarify
swasthi says
Hi Arti,
You are welcome! Yes you can triple.
Herman Joseph says
Hello Swasthi,
Continuing on my previous comment I forgot to mention that I used the same water from the pressure cooker which was used to pressure cook the vege’s and hopefully have not lost out on the nutrients. I also added a little bit of thickened cream as mine came out a bit spicy.
Thanks once again
swasthi says
Hi Harman Joseph
You are welcome! Yes that’s a good idea to use the same water used to cook the veggies.Thank you so much for trying!
Herman Joseph says
Hello Swasthi,
I have tried this recipe and has come out super yum. I also added additional vege’ reddish and beetroot which I had seen on vah chef.
Thanks for posting your recipe.
swasthi says
Hello Herman,
Glad you liked it! Thank you!
Narayan H Pande says
Yes mam, basically my father he was really very good @cooking,during my childhood i used 2 help him, later i developed interest in cooking, i joined as apprentice 2 a hotel in pune,1976, i worked in this line for abt 7-8 yrs & left, i would like 2 restart
swasthi says
Hello Sir,
Glad to know you. Wishing you the best!
Sp says
I made your pav bhaji. It tastes awesome. What is the best way to reheat the Bhaji? In microwave or stove. I see it turns too think and needs some water after refrigerating. Can I add water or will it alter the taste? TIA
swasthi says
Hi Sp,
Thanks for trying. Yes it turns out thick after refrigerating. You can add some water and bring it to a rolling boil on the stove. You can also keep the bowl of bhaji directly in a cooker and pressure cook for 1 whistle. It comes out perfect.Hope this helps.
Gita Das says
Your pav vajhi recipe is so delicious. I made it yesterday by following your instructions and feel it is amazing. My 7 years old son has loved this very much.
swasthi says
Hi Gita,
Thank you! So glad you all liked it!
🙂
Geeta chettri says
Really I love this recipe, thanks.
swasthi says
Hi Geeta,
You are welcome! Glad you like it!
Rekha says
I enjoy your newsletter, South Indian recepies and lots of information. I am Gujarati lived and grew up in Bombay. Love South Indian foods. Now I have been living in USA for last 53 years have not made much of above. My mouth is watering to have them. You have made it easy and simple not need expertis. It is scary
to attempt but I will try with needed necessary pots/pans and other stuff. Wish me luck. Nutritionly can potato, butter etc can be tamed down, since body gets old too. Thank you for allowing me to share.
swasthi says
Hello Rekha ji,
You are most welcome. Glad to know you! It is very easy to make. Yes you can reduce both butter and potatoes. Thank you so much for subscribing. Wishing you all the luck & Hope you enjoy!
🙂
Cleta D'souza says
I tried this recipe today and it was amazing… Everybody loved it at home.. I’m so glad I found your website.. Will try some more of your recipes next time
swasthi says
Hi Cleta D’souza,
Thank you so much!
Glad you liked it!
🙂
Neha Fatima says
Hiii swasthi Dii i tried ur recipies ur recipies were Awsome i wanna ask uh sm question about egg kurma if i dnt hv coconut milk r poppy seeds without dis ingredients does it like better r nt??
swasthi says
Hi Neha,
thank you! If you don’t have both coconut and poppy seeds, then blend together 10 cashews (kaju) with 4 tbsps yogurt or dahi to a smooth paste. Add another 4 tbsps of dahi to it and use in the kurma. Hope this helps.
Lakshmi says
Pav bhaji dish is looking great…and yummy…will try it and give feedback.
swasthi says
Thanks Lakshmi
Hope you like it.
Pratima says
Super
swasthi says
Thank you Pratima!
Shruti says
Hey Swasthi,
I made your pav bhaji for a small gathering. It turned out pretty good. Everyone loved it. Thanks a lot. You made our day special. I also subscribed your youtube channel.
swasthi says
Hi Shruti,
You are welcome. Glad everyone loved it! Thank you so much!
Loveleen says
You are amazing I love it
swasthi says
Thank you!
Glad you liked the Pav bhaji!
Pratibha says
Amazing recipe. I kinda liked the way you toasted the pav with masala. Tried it and turned out amazing 😉
swasthi says
Hi Pratibha
Glad you liked the pav bhaji! Thank you!
Lim says
Hi
I plan on making my this over the weekend. Can I use broccoli for cauliflower? If not what is the substitute. Cauliflower is not available in my place. TIA
swasthi says
Hi Lim,
No! Not broccoli. It will alter the taste. You can just skip it no problem. You can just make it with peas, potatoes and bell peppers. Hope you enjoy the pav bhaji.