Monday, November 25, 2019

Mumbai Street Style Pav Bhaji Recipe | Easy Homemade Pav Bhaji


Pav Bhaji is one of India's most popular street foods, especially famous in Mumbai. This delicious vegetarian dish consists of a flavorful, buttery mashed vegetable curry called bhaji, served with soft pav bread toasted in butter.

This homemade Pav Bhaji recipe is prepared with potatoes, carrots, green peas, tomatoes, onions, and aromatic Indian spices. It is a delicious option for lunch, dinner, or an evening snack.

Ingredients

For the Bhaji (Vegetable Curry)

  • Oil – as required

  • Onion – 1 cup, finely chopped

  • Tomato – ½ cup, chopped

  • Green peas – ½ cup, boiled

  • Carrot – 1, boiled

  • Potato – 1, boiled

  • Ginger-garlic paste – ½ teaspoon

  • Turmeric powder – ½ teaspoon

  • Red chili powder – ½ teaspoon

  • Coriander powder – ½ teaspoon

  • Pav bhaji masala – 1 teaspoon

  • Salt – to taste

  • Butter – from the total 2 teaspoons

  • Fresh coriander leaves – ½ bunch, chopped

  • Water – as required

  • Lemon juice – 1 teaspoon

For the Butter-Toasted Pav

  • Pav bread – 2 pieces

  • Butter – from the total 2 teaspoons

How to Make Mumbai Street Style Pav Bhaji

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

Boil the potato, carrot, and green peas until soft.

Peel the boiled potato and cut it into pieces. Chop the carrot into small pieces.

Finely chop the onions, tomatoes, and coriander leaves. Keep everything ready before cooking.

Step 2: Sauté the Onions

Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.

Add the chopped onions and a little salt.

Sauté until the onions soften and turn lightly golden.

Step 3: Add Ginger-Garlic Paste and Spices

Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté briefly until the raw aroma disappears.

Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder.

Stir well, then add the chopped tomatoes.

Cook for 2–3 minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to soften.

Step 4: Add the Boiled Vegetables

Add the boiled green peas and carrot to the pan.

Pour in a little water and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add the boiled potato pieces and cook for 2–3 minutes, mixing everything well.

Step 5: Mash the Bhaji

Using a potato masher, mash the vegetables directly in the pan until they form a thick, slightly smooth mixture.

Add pav bhaji masala and mix thoroughly.

If the bhaji is too thick, add a little water to adjust its consistency.

Let the mixture simmer briefly so the spices blend with the vegetables.

Step 6: Finish with Butter and Coriander

Add butter and freshly chopped coriander leaves.

Mix well and turn off the heat.

Your homemade vegetable bhaji is ready!

Step 7: Toast the Pav Bread

Heat a tawa or flat pan over medium heat.

Add a little butter and place the pav bread on the tawa.

Toast the pav on both sides until lightly golden and buttery.

Step 8: Serve Hot

Transfer the hot bhaji to a serving plate.

Drizzle lemon juice over the bhaji just before serving.

Serve with warm, butter-toasted pav bread.

Enjoy your homemade Mumbai-style Pav Bhaji!

Tips for Delicious Pav Bhaji

  • Boil vegetables until soft: This makes them easier to mash and creates a smoother bhaji.

  • Mash thoroughly: A well-mashed vegetable mixture gives Pav Bhaji its familiar texture.

  • Use pav bhaji masala: This spice blend gives the dish its distinctive flavor.

  • Adjust the consistency: Add water gradually to keep the bhaji thick but scoopable.

  • Add butter toward the end: This gives the bhaji a richer taste.

  • Serve immediately: Pav Bhaji tastes best when the bhaji is hot and the pav is freshly toasted.

What to Serve with Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji tastes delicious with butter-toasted pav, chopped onions, lemon wedges, and fresh coriander leaves.

It makes a satisfying vegetarian meal for family dinners, weekend lunches, or evening snacks.

Happy Cooking! ❤️

VivahaBhojaNambhu

Monday, November 4, 2019

Homemade Crispy Jalebi Recipe | Traditional Indian Sweet




Jalebi is a popular Indian sweet known for its crispy, golden spirals soaked in delicious sugar syrup. It is enjoyed during festivals, celebrations, and special occasions.

This homemade jalebi recipe uses a traditionally fermented batter made with all-purpose flour, curd, and cornflour. The jalebis are fried until golden and dipped in sweet syrup for a crispy outside and juicy inside.

Ingredients

For the Jalebi Batter

  • Maida (all-purpose flour) – 100 grams

  • Cornflour (cornstarch) – 30 grams

  • Curd (plain yogurt) – 1 cup

  • Saffron – 2 strands

  • Warm milk – a little, for soaking saffron

  • Water – as required to adjust batter consistency

For the Sugar Syrup

  • Sugar or jaggery – 1 cup

  • Water – as required

  • Lemon juice – a few drops, up to 1 teaspoon if needed

For Frying

  • Oil – as required for deep frying

How to Make Crispy Jalebi at Home

Step 1: Prepare the Jalebi Batter

In a mixing bowl, add the curd and whisk until smooth.

Add the maida and cornflour. Mix thoroughly to make a smooth batter without lumps.

Soak the saffron strands in a little warm milk and add them to the batter.

Add water gradually, only if required, until the batter reaches a smooth, thick but pipeable consistency.

Step 2: Ferment the Batter

Cover the bowl and leave the batter to ferment for approximately 24 hours in a suitable warm place.

The batter should develop a slightly tangy aroma. Fermentation time may vary depending on room temperature.

After fermentation, stir gently and check the consistency. The batter should flow smoothly when piped without being too watery.

Step 3: Prepare the Sugar Syrup

Add 1 cup of sugar or jaggery to a saucepan with enough water to dissolve it.

Heat the mixture, stirring until dissolved, and cook until it reaches a light one-thread consistency.

Add a few drops of lemon juice to help reduce sugar crystallization.

Keep the syrup warm while preparing the jalebis.

Step 4: Shape and Fry the Jalebis

Heat oil in a wide frying pan over medium-low heat.

Transfer the fermented batter into a jalebi-making bottle or piping bag with a small opening.

Carefully pipe the batter into the hot oil in circular spiral shapes.

Fry until the jalebis become golden and crispy, turning them as needed.

Maintain a steady oil temperature so the jalebis cook evenly without burning.

Step 5: Soak the Jalebis in Sugar Syrup

Remove the fried jalebis from the oil and allow excess oil to drain.

Immediately transfer them into the warm sugar syrup.

Let them soak for approximately one minute, then remove and arrange on a serving plate.

Step 6: Serve

Serve your homemade crispy jalebis warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy these delicious Indian sweets during festivals, family celebrations, or whenever you crave something sweet!

Tips for Perfect Crispy Jalebi

  • Batter consistency: Keep the batter thick enough to hold its spiral shape when piped.

  • Fermentation: Allow the batter to ferment properly for a traditional slightly tangy flavor.

  • Oil temperature: Avoid excessively hot oil, which can brown the jalebis before they become crispy.

  • Sugar syrup: Keep the syrup warm, not boiling, while soaking the jalebis.

  • Lemon juice: A few drops help prevent the sugar syrup from crystallizing.

  • Serving: Jalebis taste especially delicious when freshly prepared.

Sugar vs. Jaggery Jalebi

You can prepare this recipe using either sugar or jaggery.

Sugar syrup gives jalebi its familiar traditional sweetness and appearance, while jaggery syrup offers a deeper, caramel-like flavor and a darker color.

Happy Cooking! ❤️

VivahaBhojaNambhu

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