Pav bhaji

What you need

For Pav

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 cup milk,warmed for a min. in microwave
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
2 1/2 tbsp yeast
3 tbsp olive oil

For Bhaji

1 cauliflower, washed and cut into florets
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 medium potato,peeled and diced into cubes
1 medium carrot,diced
4 tomatoes,cubed
1 green pepper,finely chopped
1 large onion,finely chopped
1 inch ginger,peeled and grated
6 garlic cloves,grated
2 tbsp kasuri methi,crushed
1/4 cup cilantro,finely chopped
juice of a lemon
4 tbsp Everest pav bhaji masala
4 tbsp kashmiri chili powder
2 tbsp coriander-cumin powder
4 tbsp oil
4 tbsp butter
1 tbsp ghee
salt to taste

Butter to roast pav while serving


What you need to do

For the pav:

• In a large plate,take 3 cups of flour,salt,sugar,and yeast and mix well.
• Make a well in the middle and add the warm milk.
• Make a dough and knead it for 10 mins.Use the left over flour if the dough is very sticky.
• Now add the olive oil and again knead the dough for 5 more mins until it absorbs all the oil.
• Cover and let the dough rest for 1 hr.
• After an hour,the dough must have risen.Punch it down and knead the dough for a min.
• Grease a square cake tin with oil.Shape dough in balls and place them 1 inch apart in the cake tin.Brush the top of these balls with oil.Cover and let it rise for 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 deg F and place the oven rack at the lowest position.(closer to the heating source).Place the cake tin and bake for 20-22 mins.
• Remove from the oven.Brush the pavs with oil.Cover and let it sit aside for 15 mins.

For the Bhaji

• In a pressure cooker,heat 2 tbsp oil and add 1 tbsp pav bhaji masala and 1 tsp salt and mix.
• Add potato,peas,tomatoes,carrots,and cauliflower florets and give it a good mix and saute for a min.
• Add 1 cup water and pressure cook for 4 whistles.Once the pressure cooker is cooled,open and mash the ingredients with a potato masher.
• In a kadhai,heat 2 tbsp of oil and 4 tbsp butter.Add the onion,ginger,garlic,and green pepper and cook on high flame for 3-4 mins.
• Now add 3 tbsp pav bhaji masala,coriander-cumin powder,2 tbsp cilantro,kasuri methi,kashmiri chili powder,salt and cook for 2 mins.
• Add 1/4 cup water and bring it to a boil.Add the mashed vegetables and combine well.Let it cook for 2-3 mins.At this stage use the potato masher to mash everything again.
• Add water and adjust the consistency.Bring it to a boil.
• Finally,add ghee,lemon juice,and cilantro and mix well.

Tip:Taste best if pav bhaji is prepared atleast 2 hours before serving.

When ready to serve:

Cut the pavs in the middle(horizontally).Heat the tawa and add 1 tsp butter and roast the pav until light golden.Similarly,prepare all the pavs and serve with hot bhaji,lemon wedge,and some finely chopped onion.