Mumbai Pav Bhaji is a popular street food that offers a flavorful comfort food perfect for days you need a bit of a pick me up. This popular Indian fast food features a hearty blend of veggies and warm flavor from a blend of aromatic spice. You and your family will love this cozy dish and you’ll feel good about cooking it. It’s the perfect way to get more veggies into your diet or into your kids’ mouths!
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This recipe has been updated with new content, Instant Pot plus stove top recipe, step by step pictures and video in October 2018.
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What is Pav Bhaji?
This mouthwatering dish is a delicious, flavorful Indian fast food. It is one of our family’s favorite Mumbai street foods. We eat it just about every other week because it is packed full of flavors and is a great way to sneak in some extra veggies for the kids.
The dish is a vegetable curry filled with spices and flavor. You serve it with either store bought or homemade pav or you could make your own homemade dinner rolls to serve with it.
Pav Bhaji Ingredients
This recipe is packed full of flavor. You’ll need the following ingredients:
- melted butter or oil - use oil if you want to make it vegan
- garlic cloves - crushed. Use a garlic press to make it easier
- fresh ginger - grated. Use a microplane grater for best results.
- onion - diced
- tomato paste
- tomatoes - chopped
- Pav Bhaji Masala
- potatoes - diced
- bell pepper - diced
- cauliflower - grated
- beets - diced (how to cook beets)
- peas - fresh, frozen, or canned works
- chilis - optional to add some heat to the curry
- water - prevents the Instant Pot from burning and allows the pot to come up to pressure
- salt to taste - you can omit it if you are trying to reduce the amount of sodium you eat
Cilantro, lemon wedges, and onions add extra flavor as a garnish. Plus you’ll also want pav or dinner rolls to serve with it.
What is Pav Bhaji Masala
Pav bhaji masala is an Indian spice blend. It often contains red chilis, coriander seeds, cloves, fennel seeds, cinnamon, cumin seeds, mango powder, and cardamom. You should be able to find pav bhaji masala online or at a local Indian grocery stores. Check out our complete guide to Indian spices here.
How to make Pav Bhaji
Though using an Instant Pot makes it easier, you can make this without it.
- Start by peeling and chopping the potatoes and cauliflower into small pieces. Add the cauliflower, potatoes, and peas to a pot of water and add just enough to cover the veggies. Cook on high heat until the potatoes and cauliflower are tender.
- Drain the water and set the veggies aside. In another large pot, melt the butter or heat up the oil over medium high heat. Once it is hot, add in the ginger and crush the garlic into it. Allow the garlic and ginger to cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until they start to become fragrant.
- When the garlic and ginger are ready, add in the onions and saute them until they start to turn golden brown. Once they are brown, add in the tomato paste and fresh tomatoes and cook until the butter or oil begin to separate from the rest of the mixture. This takes about 10 minutes.
- Next add in the spices and cook for a 1 to 2 minutes or until it becomes fragrant. Add in the cooked veggies and add a small amount of water (1/2 to 3/4 cup) to the pot. Use a potato masher to crush the veggies up and cook for 2 to 5 minutes or until the bhaji has thickened. Add salt to taste.
- Garnish with lemon, cilantro, and onions. Serve with pav, dinner rolls, or other bread.
How to make Pav Bhaji in an Instant Pot
It is easy to make this recipe using your Instant Pot or pressure cooker for a one-pot meal.
- To start, peel and chop the potatoes and then dice the onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, and beets. Next, grate the cauliflower and ginger. Finally, peel the garlic cloves.
- Set the Instant Pot to Saute and melt the butter or heat up the oil. Once it is hot, add in the ginger and crush the garlic into the butter or oil. Allow the garlic and ginger to cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until they start to become fragrant.
- Add in the onions and cook them until they are golden brown and fragrant.When the onions are browned, mix in the tomato paste and fresh tomatoes. Cook the mixture until the butter or oil starts to separate.
- Cancel saute mode. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot. Make sure to get rid of any stuck on food to help avoid getting the burn notice from the Instant Pot.
- Dump in the rest of the ingredients. Stir all the ingredients and be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot again to remove any lingering stuck on food.
- Close the lid on the Instant Pot. Set the vent to sealing and pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Carefully remove the lid when the pressure is released. Use a potato masher to mash up the bhaji or you could leave as is. Serve the bhaji in bowls and garnish with cilantro, onions, and lemon.
Is Pav Bhaji healthy?
It uses a lot of butter. It is a comfort food. You could make it a bit healthier by reducing the amount of butter you use. It does have lots of wholesome vegetables that provide nutrients you need. So it is not as bad for you as eating some kinds of fast food.
Can I make it vegan?
Yes! You can make it vegan very easily. Instead of using butter, use oil instead. The rest of the ingredients are vegan friendly.
How to serve Pav Bhaji?
Pav bhaji is best when you serve with homemade dinner rolls or pav. Bread is a great way to soak up all the curry and makes the meal more filling.
What kind of breads can I serve with bhaji?
You can use several different breads. We often use dinner rolls, pav, or buns. You could use nearly any soft bread that is not sliced to serve with the bhaji if you don’t have pav on hand.
Can I make this Instant Pot Pav Bhaji recipe ahead of time?
Yes! You can make the bhaji ahead of time. You can make it a day ahead or can make it over the weekend and serve it for a midweek lunch or dinner for the family. It is best served fresh with warm pav or dinner rolls fresh from the oven.
How do I store and reheat pav bhaji?
Once you have finished cooking the bhaji, allow it to cool complete. Once it is cool, spoon it into a sealable container and place in the refrigerator. You can store it for about 4 to 5 days.
If you want to freeze it, you can follow the same steps as above but be sure to use a freezer safe container. Or you could use a sealable freezer bag. You can store it in the freezer for about 6 months.
When you are ready to serve, you can reheat in a microwave or on the stove top. Before reheating frozen bhaji, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Made this Pav Bhaji recipe?
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More street food recipes
Pav Bhaji Recipe Instant Pot + Stove Top
Mumbai style Pav Bhaji, a lipsmackingly delicious mashup of spicy potatoes and veggies served with dinner rolls. A quick fix loaded with lots of veggies and flavors.
Ingredients
For Bhaji
- butter / oil 8 tbsp
- fresh garlic cloves 14, crushed
- fresh ginger 1 tbsp , grated
- onion 1 large , diced
- canned tomato paste 4 oz.
- tomatoes 3, chopped
- 2 tablespoon Pav Bhaji Masala
- potatoes 4, diced
- bell pepper 1, diced
- cauliflower 1/2 cup, cut or grated
- beets, 1/8 cup diced
- green peas 1/2 cup
- water, 3 cups (approx. 700 ml)
- chilies 2-3 optional
- Salt to taste
For Garnishing
- onion 1/4 cup , diced
- cilantro 1/2 cup , chopped
- lemons 3, wedged
- 2 dinner rolls or pav
Instructions
Instant Pot Pav Bhaji Recipe
- Prepare the ingredients - Peel and chop the potatoes. Dice the onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and beets. Cut or grate the cauliflower and ginger. Peel the garlic. Gather the butter or oil, salt, tomato paste, chilies, water and Pav Bhaji Masala.
- Saute - Using the Saute function, melt the butter or heat the oil. Once hot, add ginger & garlic and cook for a couple minutes. Throw in the onions and cook until golden brown. This would take approximately 7 minutes. Then add tomato sauce and fresh tomatoes and cook until the butter / oil separates. This will take another 10 minutes. Scrape of any food stuck at the bottom of the pot.
- Dump remaining ingredients - Now add the Pav Bhaji Masala, and whatever veggies you are using like potatoes, bell peppers, beets, cauliflower, peas along with salt and water. Stir and be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot once again so no food is stuck or else you could get a burn notice.
- Pressure Cook - Cover the lid, seal the vent and pressure on high for 10 minutes, followed by quickly releasing the pressure once the time goes off.
- Mash it up & Serve - Using a hand masher, mash up the cooked bhaji or enjoy it as is. Garnish with cilantro, onions and lemon and serve with Pav.
Stove Top Pressure Cooker Pav Bhaji Recipe
- Follow step 1 and 2 from Instant Pot Recipe.
- While you are sauteing the vegetables on the other hand pressure cook remaining veggies along with salt and water.
- Now add Pav Bhaji masala to the sauteed onion and tomato sauce and cook for a couple minutes.
- Then add the pressure cooked ingredients to the sauteed mixture of onions and tomatoes. Mix thoroughly and bring it to bubble.
- Garnish and serve.
Stove Top Pan Pav Bhaji Recipe
- Start by peeling and chopping the potatoes and cauliflower into small pieces.
- Add the cauliflower, potatoes, and peas to a pot of water and add just enough to cover the veggies. Cook on high heat until the potatoes and cauliflower are tender.
- Drain the water and set the veggies aside. In another large pot, melt the butter or heat up the oil over medium high heat.
- Once it is hot, add in the ginger and crush the garlic into it. Allow the garlic and ginger to cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until they start to become fragrant.
- When the garlic and ginger are ready, add in the onions and saute them until they start to turn golden brown.
- Once they are brown, add in the tomato paste and fresh tomatoes and cook until the butter or oil begin to separate from the rest of the mixture. This takes about 10 minutes.
- Next add in the Pav Bhaji Masala and cook for a 1 to 2 minutes or until it becomes fragrant. A
- dd in the cooked veggies and add a small amount of water (1/2 to 3/4 cup) to the pot.
- Use a potato masher to crush the veggies up and cook for 2 to 5 minutes or until the bhaji has thickened. Add salt to taste.
- Garnish with lemon, cilantro, and onions. Serve with pav, dinner rolls, or other bread.
Notes
- I typically make a large batch and freeze half of it. Comes handy when time is crunched.
- Reduce proportions by half if making it for 4 people.
- Some like their Bhaji runny while other like it thick. Water proportion here is for in between consistency.
- You can completely skip canned tomato paste if you like, however this will affect the taste and colorof the Bhaji. If doing so make sure to substitute Tomato paste with fresh juicy tomatoes.
- For Vegan alternatives, add vegan butter or oil.
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Scarlet says
I love being introduced to new things so thanks for this pav bhaji recipe! I love that it is full of veggies and looks so healthy!
jack says
This pav bhaji recipe looks amazing and is packed with flavours and so fresh!
Dannii says
I haven't heard of this before, but it looks amazing. Anything with loads of garlic and ginger in is good with me.
Pam says
I love a dish that's packed with flavor and also full of nutrition. This one checks those boxes nicely!
Neha Mheta says
Looks so delicious ! well explained. My favorite dish.
Aloh Che says
Amazing and tasteful recipe girl. Definitely would give this a try ASAP.
nbosken says
I love Indian food, but have never attempted it at home. I could definitely use this to try making some recipes at home! It looks wonderful!
Monidipa Dutta (@MonidipaDutta51) says
I love pav bhaji like any thing. Mumbai made me fall in love with it, but I have never of the pot thing. I will pass on this recipe to my relatives.
Preet says
I love finding a new recipe to try. I’m always so scared I am going to mess it up somehow. This looks easy enough for me though. Thanks!
Julie says
I love all the different variations you can make with this dish. And it’s spicy too? Yum!
oxfordmomma says
This looks so good! I also really love that you added serving suggestions. Sometimes it's so hard to figure out what to serve with a new recipe.
Lorilea says
I am always looking for new pot meals!! This looks like one to try!
Catherine Santiago Jose says
Amazing food with really a great side dish. Looks very yummy and delicious to eat, will definitely try this at home. Thank you for sharing this incredible recipe from country.
Chelle Dizon says
I always love learning easy to make Instant Pot recipes just like this. I haven’t heard if this Instant Pot Pav Bhaji but It sounds really appetizing.
Sophia says
I love the Instant pot it can do amazing things can't it. This recipe looks great.
Dennis K. Littley says
Your Instant Pot Pav Bhaji looks colorful and delicious! Oh I'd love to give this one a try. The Instant Pot sounds like it's a pretty useful thing to have.
Jasmine - LoveLifeLaughMotherhood says
i dont think i've ever tried pav bhaji. but it looks really good!
ChelseaMamma says
I love indian food although not been brave enough to cook from scratch - this looks amazing though
Yeah Lifestyle says
This dish sounds so flavourful and delicious! I really must get an Instant Pot, it would make mealtimes a lot easier and a lot more interesting.
Sara Welch says
I love colorful food, and this is no exception! Adding to my recipe list; thanks for sharing!
AlwaysCarryOn.com says
What a great recipe - so easy to follow, and sounds delicious! Will definitely have to give this a go :) x
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Yup it's easy peasy, nothing fancy. all you need is one seasoning and the rest our veggies. Hope you get around trying it.
Joanna says
Your recipe made me so hungry! I do love Indian food but I have never had pav bhaji before. Interesting fact that you add beetroot for the color. I'll remember that.
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Joanna, if you love Indian food, then this is a must-try. Hopefully it will tantalize your tastebuds.
annick says
i love indian food! nothing better than a warm hearty indian dish on a cold day ❤️
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Annick,
It's perfect for this kind of weather. A warm heart bowl of lipsmackingly delicious veggies served with warm dinner rolls.
Alexandra Bunker says
We love Indian food in our little household and this looks absolutely delicious. I'm saving this for our Friday meal :)
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
If you love Indian food Alexander, then you have to try Pav Bhaji. It's a very popular street food from India and is everyone's favorite. So I hope you consider making it.
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says
Oh delicious - I am so excited to try this soon. I can imagine it tastes absolutely delicious :)
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Go for it Alexandra, you won't be disappointed at all.
Bethany Stout says
This looks amazing. A lot of great information also, I love learning about other cultures and their foods. I will def. be trying this out. Thanks for sharing
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Thanks Bethany, Hope you get around try it, it's a very popular dish from India and is everyone's favorite for a reason.
Chad says
oh i love love love pav bhaji! I had it a few years ago and have been wanting to cook it since. I can't wait to try it, thank you so so much.
Chad
http://www.mosaicslab.com
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Chad,
Oh really! there you go, hope you try it and share your review with us.
Elizabeth Weitz says
Wow! This looks absolutely divine! Such a unique and fun dish!
Anvita says
It’s a very popular dish from Mumbai, India. Hope you consider trying it.
simplyvegetarian777 says
I am so trying this recipe. Had no idea that there are so many Pav Bhaji recipe variations. Super
Soniya Saluja says
Go for it Sonal, you won’t be disappointed at all. Would love your review after you try it.
Xoxo
edytahannas says
This looks like such a flavorful dish. I'd like you to serve it for me now. I'm so hungry! I guess I'll be making it soon :)
Soniya Saluja says
Sure thing. It’s a popualr street food from the streets of Mumbai. When you try it, it’s hard not to like it. Hope you like it.
Jillian says
This looks so tasty! Just in time for upcoming Game Day!
kim says
What a delicious recipe! Loving the flavors in this one!
Soniya Saluja says
Yup, its a bomb of flavors of sure.
Stacie says
I've never heard of pav bhaji before, but I can't wait to make it! All those ingredients sound so good.
Soniya Saluja says
It’s a popular street food from Mumbai. Hope you get around trying it.
Morgan Eisenberg says
Pav Bhaji Pizza??? BRB, going to the grocery store for ingredients.
Soniya Saluja says
Oh ya, i often make that for my son. When we eat Pav bhaji he will want his Pav Bhaji Pizza.
Dannii says
We are loving our instant pot at the moment and this is something new for us to try too. Love the colour!
Soniya Saluja says
Go for it Dannii, it’s hard not to fall jn love with this one. Sure to tabtalize your tastebuds.
Kerri Wigle says
This looks amazing! I NEED an instant pot.
Ani Jethwa says
Hi this is a great idea. I have tried it too but have one concern. How much water do you add to veggies in IP? Thanks!
Christina Holmes says
I love indian food!! I actually had this dish at a party that was thrown by a friend of mine. So flavorful!
Nichole says
My husband would love this chili! He loves Indian spices and we have an Indian market closeby, so I'll need to look for those chilis!
Joan says
This is my kind of meal, looks super delicious.Why do I have to be on a diet?
Mary Bostow says
O God! What a great recipe! I want to try it immediately! Looks very tasty! Yes, this is the perfect recipe for me. THANK YOU!
Stephanie says
I've never heard of Pav Bhaji but if it involves buttery, garlicky, and spicy then I'm all in. What a yummy dish that I would love to try.
DeliciousLittleBites says
I have just recently discovered my love of indian food, other than curry, so I am super excited to try this recipe! I am a potato addict!
Lucy Parissi says
I love Pav Bhaji and your description of it as a mash-up of vegetables. It's seriously tasty and a great way to use up leftover veggies from the fridge.
Jessica Formicola says
I love Instant Pot meals! This looks incredible!