Vada pav is a vegetarian fast food dish native to the state of Maharashtra(India). The dish consists of a deep fried potato dumpling placed inside a bread bun (pav) sliced almost in half through the middle. It is generally accompanied with one or more chutneys and a green chilli pepper. Although it originated as cheap street food in Mumbai, it is now served in food stalls and restaurants across India. It is also called Bombay burger in keeping with its origins and its resemblance in physical form to a burger. It is the quickest and tastiest meal you can have in Mumbai – any time you are hungry, even in the middle of the night!

Supplies

For Batter :

Gram Flour (Besan) – 1 Cup

Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp

Salt – to taste

For Vada Filling :

Boiled Potatoes – 2 (Peeled and mashed)

Green Chillies – 2 (chopped)

Onion – 1 (small – chopped)

Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp

Salt – to taste

Chopped ginger and garlic – 1 tsp

Coriander Leaves – a handful (chopped)

Red Chilli Powder – to taste

Garam Masala Powder – ½ tsp

Coriander Powder – ½ tsp

Dry Mango Powder – ½ tsp

Oil – 1 tbsp

Mustard Seeds – ½ tsp

Cumin Seeds – ½ tsp

Asafoetida – a pinch

Curry Leaves – 4-5

Other Ingredients :

Dry Garlic Chutney

Coriander or Mint Chutney

Sweet Tamarind Chutney

Oil – to deep fry

Pav

Step 1: Make Batter

In a bowl add gram flour, salt, turmeric powder and make coating consistency batter by adding water.

Step 2: Making Potato Mixture

Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. When they crackle add asafoetida and curry leaves.

Now add chopped ginger, garlic and onions. Saute it for few seconds. Add green chillies now.

Add turmeric powder, mashed potatoes, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder. Mix well.

Add dry mango powder, salt and chopped coriander into it. Mix well for a minute and turn off the heat. Keep it aside for sometime so that it cools down.

Step 3: Make Small Balls With the Potato Mixture

Divide the mixture into small balls.

Step 4: Deep Fry the Potato Mixture Balls

Heat oil in a wok (kadhai). Dip the balls into gram flour batter and deep fry them till they turn golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper.

Step 5: Assembling of Vada Pav

Slice the pav into half. Spread tamarind chutney and coriander or mint chutney on inner sides of pav. Now spread dry garlic chutney and stuff with vada