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Pav Bhaji is so appetising that the thought of it can bring water to the mouth. Since the introduction of bread culture in India by Portuguese sailors, Indians have embraced the concept so effectively that one can find numerous dishes made with bread across the country. One of those delicacies is the beloved Pav Bhaji.
The word “Pav” is derived from the Portuguese word “Pao” meaning “Bread”. The origin of pav bhaji can be traced back to the 1850s when it was especially invented for textile workers in Mumbai. Back in the day, textile workers had to go through a severe workload which required a heavy meal diet that provided energy to the body for longer durations. Therefore, looking at this situation, a vendor created the dish by cleverly combining components from various menu items. Pav replaced roti or rice, and the various curries that typically accompanied Indian bread or rice were combined into a single spicy concoction, now known as "bhaji."
Pav Bhaji, being a simple, cheap, easy-to-prepare, light and nutritious meal, quickly gained popularity across the city and is now one of the most famous foods to try in Mumbai. This dish is so versatile that it can be prepared with regional and seasonal veggies all year long.
Apart from the original recipe, several variations of pav bhaji have been made across the nation and have been transformed into many forms, from bhaji pulao to pav bhaji pasta. Today, this article will take one through 7 of those delicious recipes along with the traditional recipe.
1) Traditional Pav Bhaji
A delectable, nutritious blend of vegetables seasoned with spices and served with buttery pav, this dish is one of the essential winter meals that one needs to make this season. Start by cooking a medley of mashed vegetables with spices like pav bhaji masala. Simmer until the flavours meld. In a separate pan, butter-toast pav. Serve the flavourful vegetable bhaji with pav, garnished with fresh coriander, chopped onions, and a dash of lemon juice. Enjoy this iconic Indian street food at home!
2) Pav Bhaji Fondue
This dish is an innovative touch to simple pav bhaji that is completely fit for parties and get-togethers. In it, the traditional bhaji is converted into a spicy dip that is served with roasted skewered pav. Prepare this dish by making the traditional bhaji with all the instructions above and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, blend the mixture, creating a thick dip-like consistency and serve it with roasted pav.
3) Bhaji pulao
This tasty rice pulao can be easily made with leftover bhaji. It is a delicious and flavorful one-pot meal dish that is suitable for any time of the day. Start by sautéing onions, capsicum, and tomatoes in butter. Add turmeric, Kashmiri red chilli powder, leftover pav bhaji masala, and mix. Mix leftover pav bhaji, cooked rice, and salt. Cook covered for 5-7 mins. Garnish with coriander and roasted cashews and serve hot with raita.
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4) Chinese Pav Bhaji
This recipe is a delectable combination of Chinese flavours in pav bhaji. It is perfect to tantalise the taste buds with savoury and spicy flavours of iconic Chinese recipes fused harmoniously into bhaji. To make this, saute all characteristic veggies of bhaji and add some vinegar and soy sauce for Chinese flavour. Top this bhaji with fried noodles and enjoy.
5) Pav Bhaji Pasta
This recipe is one of the most innovative variations that can be made with the bhaji. For preparing pasta in bhaji, create traditional bhaji and add a dash of oregano, chilli flakes, milk, cheese, and basil. Combine it well and add cooked fusilli pasta to the cooked masala. Transfer this into a baking bowl and cover with cheese and breadcrumbs then bake it until the top looks golden. Pav Bhaji Pasta is ready to be served hot!
6) Paneer Pav Bhaji
Those who can't decide between pav bhaji and paneer should try this fusion of paneer pav bhaji. Prepare this by just combining scrambled paneer with finely mashed bhaji. Add some milk or cream to create an enhancing richness of shahi paneer in the dish, which also makes the dish less spicy.
7) Pav Bhaji Pizza
When talking about bread and masala, why would anyone forget the iconic pizza? The fusion of pav bhaji and pizza is a match made in heaven. To make this creative Indo-Italian fusion dish, roll out the pizza dough and spread pav bhaji masala on top, along with all pizza toppings such as onions, olives, and capsicum. Spread grated cheese on top and cook until the crust is golden. This is an anytime snack which can be made in a healthy way by replacing all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour or millet-based flour.
Image Credit: Freepik
Just like the diversity of the Nation, its dishes also show various colours of a diverse spectrum. Pav Bhaji, being one of the most relished street foods, captures the essence of India's culinary vibrancy. Try these pav bhaji variations at home and head to our websites for more such interesting articles.
