Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji is such an easy and tasty dish which even kids will eat without fuss and mothers can be happy that they fed a whole bowl of veggies to their kiddos.I try not to use the ready made masalas much which are available in abundance wherever you look. I tried hard to find a pav bhaji recipe which does not use the Everest/MDH Pav bhaji masala. Alas! Even Sanjeev Kapoor makes pav bhaji with ready made pav bhaji masala. So, I resigned myself to using store bought pav bhaji masala. If anyone knows how to make home made pav bhaji mala, Please let me know. The recipe is usually found on the packet and mine is not that much different.

Pav Bhaji

Ingredients :

Pav Bread or Burger Buns
2 Medium Potatoes
1 Small Cauliflower
2 Capsicums
2 Midium Carrots
10 Green Beans
1/2 Cup Green Peas
2 Medium Tomotoes

1 Handfuls of Coriander leaves

1 medium onion

1 Tsp Ginger Garlic Paste

1/4 Tsp Red Chilli powder

2 Tomatoes

1 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp butter 
2 Tbsp Everest/MDH Pav Bhaji Masala
1 Lime cut it into small pieces
1 Diced onions for serving

Salt to taste

 

Method :

Cook Potatoes,Cauliflower,Carrots,Green beans,Green peas,1 Capsicum with water in a pressure cooker till 3 Whistles.

 

Dice 1 capsicum into small pieces and fry in a tbsp oil and keep it aside.

In the remaining oil,add butter, put cut onions ,saute till translucent.Add ginger garlic paste and saute till couple of minutes.Add pav bhaji masala ,red chilli powder and saute till oil separates. Now add tomatoes and cook. Once tomatoes are well cooked, add all the vegetables and mash well. Add salt and cook well till the masala blends well into the vegetables.Add the fried capsicum and coriander leaves on top of it.

In a pan,spread a little butter on the pav/buns and toast the buns well.

Serve the Pav and Bhaji sprinkled with diced onions and Lime pieces.

Snacks - Aloo Gajar chops

I was at a loss for vegetarian snack which would appeal to children for my son's birthday party. So, last minute I came up with this snack which is healthy and kids loved it. This can be baked in oven to make it healthier and also can add some more soft veggies to this.

Aloo Gajar Chops
Ingredients :
2 Big Aloo
1 Carrot
2 Bread slices
1/4 Tsp Red chilli powder
1/4 Tsp Jeera powder
a pinch of turmeric Powder
Salt to taste

Oil for frying

Boil Aloo and Carrot in water and drain when done. Lightly damp the bread with water and add to the vegetables and mash it. Mix in Red chilli powder, Jeera Powder , Salt and make elongated chops.

Frying  : Fry the chops on medium heat slowly taking care not to break them. Touch only once to turn them.

Bake in the Oven : You can also bake them in oven. Spread them in baking tray , sprinkle two Tbsp of oil on them and let them bake for 30 mins at 450 degrees till they are crisp.

Both the versions tasted good. Serve with with any chutney or sauce.