Olivia Carter
If you love Indian street food, then pav bhaji is a must-try dish. This mouthwatering delicacy is a popular street food in Mumbai and is loved by people of all ages. Traditionally, pav bhaji is made by slow-cooking a mixture of vegetables and spices on a griddle. However, you can also make this delicious dish in a pressure cooker for a quicker and hassle-free method. In this article, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of making pav bhaji in a pressure cooker.
Step 1: Prepare the vegetables
Start by preparing the vegetables for your pav bhaji. You will need potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, peas, and capsicum. Peel and chop the potatoes and carrots into small cubes. Cut the cauliflower into small florets. Rinse all the vegetables with water and keep them aside.
Step 2: Pressure cook the vegetables
In your pressure cooker, add the chopped vegetables along with water. Add salt to taste and close the lid of the pressure cooker. Cook the vegetables on medium heat for about 3-4 whistles or until they are soft and well-cooked. Once done, turn off the heat and let the pressure release naturally.
Step 3: Mash the vegetables
Open the lid of the pressure cooker and use a potato masher to gently mash the cooked vegetables. Mash them until you get a smooth and slightly chunky texture. You can also mash them coarsely if you prefer a chunkier pav bhaji.
Step 4: Prepare the spice mixture
In a separate pan, heat some oil or ghee. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter. Then, add finely chopped onions and cook until they turn golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté for a few seconds. Next, add finely chopped tomatoes and cook until they become soft and mushy. Now, add the pav bhaji masala, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and salt to taste. Mix well and cook for a minute.
Step 5: Combine the vegetables and spices
Add the mashed vegetables to the spice mixture in the pan. Mix well and cook for a few minutes on low heat. If the mixture appears dry, you can add some water to adjust the consistency. Cook until the pav bhaji is well combined and the flavors have melded together.
Now that your delicious pav bhaji is ready, serve it hot with buttered pav buns, sliced onions, lemon wedges, and a sprinkle of fresh coriander leaves. Enjoy this flavorful and satisfying dish with your family and friends!
Ingredients for Pav Bhaji
- 2 cups of diced vegetables (potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, peas)
- 1 large finely chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 3 to 4 medium-sized tomatoes, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 to 3 tablespoons of pav bhaji masala
- 1 tablespoon red chilli powder
- 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- Butter for cooking
- 8 to 10 pav buns, sliced
- Finely chopped coriander leaves for garnish
- Lemon wedges for serving
In addition to the above ingredients, you may also want to have some additional ingredients like chopped onions, lemon wedges, and butter for serving.
List of Ingredients
To make pav bhaji in a pressure cooker, you will need the following ingredients:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Potatoes | 4 medium-sized, boiled and mashed |
| Butter | 2 tablespoons |
| Onions | 2 medium-sized, finely chopped |
| Tomatoes | 3 medium-sized, finely chopped |
| Green Bell Peppers | 2 medium-sized, finely chopped |
| Green Peas | ½ cup |
| Carrots | ½ cup, boiled and mashed |
| Cauliflower | ½ cup, boiled and mashed |
| Pav Bhaji Masala | 2 tablespoons |
| Red Chilli Powder | 1 teaspoon |
| Turmeric Powder | ½ teaspoon |
| Cumin Powder | ½ teaspoon |
| Ginger-Garlic Paste | 1 tablespoon |
| Lemon Juice | 1 tablespoon |
| Salt | To taste |
| Butter | For serving |
| Cilantro | For garnishing |
| Pav (Indian Bread Rolls) | 6 |
Make sure you have all these ingredients before starting the recipe. It’s important to have everything prepared and ready to go, as the cooking process in a pressure cooker can be quick. Enjoy your homemade pav bhaji!
Preparation of Pav Bhaji
Preparing Pav Bhaji is a simple and straightforward process that can be done efficiently using a pressure cooker. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Start by chopping all the required vegetables such as potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, capsicum, and green peas.
- Wash the chopped vegetables thoroughly to remove any dirt or impurities.
- In a pressure cooker, heat some oil or ghee and add cumin seeds.
- Once the cumin seeds start crackling, add chopped onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté for a minute till the raw smell disappears.
- Next, add the chopped vegetables to the cooker and mix well.
- Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, pav bhaji masala, and mix all the spices with the vegetables.
- Cook for 1-2 minutes, allowing the spices to blend well with the vegetables.
- Add water to the cooker, close the lid, and pressure cook for about 4-5 whistles.
- Turn off the flame and let the pressure release naturally.
- Open the pressure cooker and use a masher to mash the cooked vegetables into a smooth mixture.
- Heat a pan and melt some butter in it. Add chopped onions and sauté until they become translucent.
- Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and mushy.
- Transfer the mashed vegetable mixture from the pressure cooker to the pan and mix well.
- Add some water, if required, to adjust the consistency of the bhaji.
- Cover the pan and simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend together.
- Meanwhile, slice the pav buns horizontally and toast them on a griddle with butter.
- Serve the hot and delicious Pav Bhaji with toasted buns, a dollop of butter, chopped onions, and a squeeze of lemon.
Enjoy the lip-smacking Pav Bhaji as a perfect street food snack or a delightful meal.
Step-by-step guide
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make Pav Bhaji in a pressure cooker:
- Heat oil in the pressure cooker on medium heat.
- Add the chopped onions and cook until they become translucent.
- Add the ginger-garlic paste and cook for a minute.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they become soft.
- Add the pav bhaji masala, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt to taste. Mix well.
- Add the mashed potatoes, chopped vegetables (green bell peppers, carrots, and green peas), and water. Mix well.
- Cover the pressure cooker with the lid and pressure cook for about 4-5 whistles.
- Once the pressure is released, open the lid and mix the bhaji well.
- Add butter and lemon juice to enhance the taste. Mix well.
- Take the pav buns and heat them on a tawa with butter.
- Serve the hot pav bhaji with the buttered pav buns, chopped onions, and lemon wedges.
Enjoy your homemade Pav Bhaji!
FAQ
What is Pav Bhaji?
Pav Bhaji is a popular Indian street food dish made with a mix of vegetables cooked in a spicy tomato-based gravy. It is typically served with buttered buns called “pav”.
Can I make Pav Bhaji in a pressure cooker?
Yes, you can make Pav Bhaji in a pressure cooker. It helps to cook the vegetables quickly and infuse the flavors together.
What ingredients do I need to make Pav Bhaji in a pressure cooker?
To make Pav Bhaji in a pressure cooker, you will need vegetables like potatoes, cauliflower, peas, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, along with spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, red chili powder. You will also need butter, pav buns, and lemon for serving.
How do I make Pav Bhaji in a pressure cooker?
To make Pav Bhaji in a pressure cooker, start by cooking the vegetables in the cooker with water. Once the vegetables are cooked, mash them with a potato masher. In a separate pan, heat butter and add cumin seeds, ginger garlic paste, and onions. Cook until the onions are translucent. Then, add tomatoes and spices and cook until the tomatoes are soft. Add the mashed vegetables to this mixture and cook for a few minutes. Serve hot with buttered pav buns.
Can I customize the spice level of Pav Bhaji?
Yes, you can adjust the spice level of Pav Bhaji according to your taste. You can add more or less red chili powder and other spices to make it spicier or milder.
