Masala Pav Recipe / Indian Street Food

About Masala Pav

Masala Pav is a delectable popular street food in India especially in Mumbai, Maharashtra. This dish was created in the 1850s by textile mill workers in Mumbai. They had very short lunch breaks & required simple, easy, quick to prepare, inexpensive nutritious food and Masala Pav met all these requirements. Staple food like roti (Indian flat bread) or rice were replaced with pav (baked buns very similar to burger buns) and the curries were replaced with spicy tangy vegetable masala consisting of vegetables. It was also a popular late-night street food. Gradually it became a popular Indian street fast food that is loved by people of all age groups.

This dish is prepared by toasting pav buns in butter & then layering with a tangy and spicy masala made with onion, green bell pepper, tomato, ginger, garlic, green chillies, lemon juice & a few spices particularly pav bhaji masala. It is one of the most popular roadside snacks of Mumbai, Maharashtra & is prepared by making vegetable masala on a large griddle (tava) and then toasting ladi pav in butter and vegetable masala. Cutting masala pav is also served in which toasted pav is cut into small pieces & mixed with veggie masala.

Masala pav is very similar to pav bhaji but it is quick and easy to prepare masala pav. Just chop the veggies and cook with spices, then slit the pav bread, toast and top with veggie mixture – 15 minutes recipe but the taste is amazing.

Masala Pav is also a variation of burger. It can be prepared with burger buns. No veg / non-veg patty / cottage cheese / chicken / egg is required, just toast burger buns & fill veggie mixture that’s all you need to do. Butter can be replaced with cooking oil though it tastes best if cooked in butter. Masala pav can be toasted in the same pan / griddle in which masala (veggie mixture) has been cooked. These can also be made in a grilling pan / electric griller.

Masala pav is best for bachelors, hostellers, working males / females as they can enjoy a filling & healthy meal without much effort. It can be enjoyed in breakfast, in tiffin as well as evening snack. You can relish it with green chutney / tomato ketchup.

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Ingredients for Masala Pav (4 servings)

For Veggie Masala:-

Cooking oil – 2 table spoon

Butter – 2 table spoon

Onion – 1 big (finely chopped)

Green chilli – 2-3 (finely chopped)

Ginger – 1 table spoon (finely chopped)

Garlic – 2 table spoon (finely chopped)

Tomato – 2 big (finely chopped)

Green bell pepper – 1 small (finely chopped)

Kashmiri red chilli powder – 1 tea spoon

Coriander powder (dhaniya) – 1 tea spoon

Turmeric powder (haldi) – ¼ tea spoon

Garam masala powder – ½ tea spoon

Pav bhaji masala – 2 tea spoon

Chaat masala – 1 tea spoon

Salt – 1 tea spoon

Dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) – 1 table spoon

Water – ¼ cup

Coriander leaves (finely chopped)

Lemon juice – 1 table spoon

For making Masala Pav:-

Pav – 4 buns

Butter – 8 tea spoon

Kashmiri red chilli powder – 1 tea spoon

Pav bhaji masala - tea spoon

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Do remember cooking is an art not a science.

Quantity of ingredients needs to be altered as per the local taste and your personal preferences.

Follow the steps carefully to get the best results.

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How to make Masala Pav

Step 1 Preparation of Masala

Heat a pan on medium flame. Add 2 table spoon cooking oil & 2 table spoon of butter. As the butter melts, add finely chopped onion, green chillies, ginger & garlic. Cook on medium flame till onions are translucent. Then add finely chopped tomatoes & cook on medium flame till slightly soft. Now add finely chopped capsicum (green bell pepper) & saute for a minute. Then add spices – red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, pav bhaji masala, chaat masala & salt. Cook the spices. Also add a little water & cook until dry. Turn off the flame. Garnish with coriander leaves / cilantro & add some lemon juice.

Step 2 Toasting & making Masala Pav

Cut the pav in 2 halves. Heat a pan (normal / grilling) on medium flame. Add 2 tea spoon butter, a little bit of red chilli powder & pav bhaji masala. Toast from inner side, then flip and toast from outer side. Spread a generous layer of veggie masala on both pieces, then cover the lower piece with top piece. Toast from sides also & enjoy Masala Pav.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tips for making perfect Masala Pav

Before adding butter a little amount of oil should be added as butter contains salt and may burn.

Vegetables like red & yellow bell pepper, boiled potato etc. can also be used.

Some cheese can also be added.

Chop the vegetables fine. Veggies can be mashed with a potato masher at the time of cooking.

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