Pav Bhaji Masala is a popular street food of Mumbai. Mumbai Pav Bhaji Street Style is a spicy mix of veggies served with buttery pavs. Full of flavours, Pav Bhaji Masala recipe is a simple and filling dish, easy to cook.
Mumbai’s iconic street food, Pav Bhaji, needs no introduction — but here’s one that will make your readers hungry! Imagine a smoky hot griddle, a generous slab of butter melting into bright orange bhaji, the aroma of spices hitting your senses, and soft pav buns being toasted to golden perfection.
✅ What is Pav Bhaji?
Pav Bhaji is a popular Indian street food consisting of a spicy mashed vegetable curry (bhaji) served with fluffy buttered bread rolls (pav).
Originating in Mumbai, it was originally developed as a quick meal for mill workers. Over time, this humble dish evolved into a beloved culinary icon served in homes, restaurants, and street stalls across India.
Pav Bhaji Masala Recipe:
One of everyone’s favourite Street Food – Pav Bhaji is a colourful medley of spicy and lightly mashed vegetables topped with fresh coriander and lemon juice and served with warm buttery buns!
- To make Pav Bhaji Masala, firstly wash and peel the potatoes. Then cut them into cubes. Also wash and finely chop green beans, capsicum cauliflower and coriander leaves. Peel, wash and chop carrots and onions.
- Next take the chopped potatoes, green beans, peas, cauliflower and carrots in a pressure cooker. Pour sufficient water and pressure cook the veggies until tender. Then drain the water and lightly mash the boiled vegetables with the back of a ladle.
- Meanwhile, peel ginger and garlic. Then grind them to paste with green chillies.
- Now heat oil in a frying pan. Put in the finely chopped onions and sauté over medium-high heat till they soften and turn slightly brown.
- Then put in the ground chilli-ginger-garlic paste and saute for a couple of minutes.
- Next add the chopped tomatoes and stir well. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes over medium heat till they turn mushy and oil starts oozing from the sides.
- Now tip in the chopped bell peppers and sauté for about a minute.
- Then mix in the cooked veggies to this tomato-onion mixture. Combine all the ingredients and let the veggies simmer for about 2-3 minutes on low heat. Use the back of a ladle to mash veggies.
- Now season with salt, turmeric powder, black salt, chilli powder and pav bhaji masala and mix well. Then pour in a cup of water and simmer for 4-5 minutes until all the spices are well blended.
- Finally remove and sprinkle fresh lemon juice. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
- Then slice the pavs into two horizontally. Smear softened butter to each side of the pav.
- Heat a pan and toast the pavs until a lovely golden brown.
- Serve the toasted Pavs with piping hot Bhaji with a topping of finely chopped onions and fresh coriander.
If you love bold flavors, explore more of my Street Food Recipes for quick and delicious snack ideas, like this unique Chinese Bhel
🍽️ Serving Suggestions for Pav Bhaji
Serve hot with:
✅ Butter-toasted pav
✅ A dollop of extra butter on top
✅ Finely chopped onions
✅ Lemon wedges
✅ Fresh coriander
✅ A side of pickled green chilies (optional but authentic!)
For a restaurant-style touch, serve in a steel plate with compartments.
🔄 Variations for Pav Bhaji
- Cheese Pav Bhaji: Add grated cheese on top.
- Khada Pav Bhaji: Keep vegetables slightly chunky instead of fully mashed.
- Paneer Pav Bhaji: Add sautéed paneer cubes.
- Jain Pav Bhaji: Skip onions, garlic & potatoes; use raw banana instead.
- Butter Pav Bhaji: Increase the amount of butter for a richer, street-style version.
💡 Tips for Perfect Pav Bhaji
✅ Use a large tawa for the best street-style smoky flavor.
✅ Don’t skip butter — it’s the soul of Mumbai pav bhaji.
✅ Mash continuously for smooth, hotel-style texture.
✅ Add Kashmiri chilli powder for color without excessive heat.
✅ Simmer long enough — longer cooking enhances flavor.
✅ Toast the pav with pav bhaji masala for an irresistible aroma.
⭐ You Might Also Love
- 🍳 Anda Bhurji – A spicy, street-style scrambled eggs delight that comes together in minutes!
- 🥪 Green Chutney Sandwich – Fresh, minty, and perfect for a quick snack or tiffin box treat.
- 🥔 Alu Kabli – A tangy Kolkata-style street snack loaded with spices, potatoes, and flavor!
Buttery Pavs With Mixed Vegetable Bhaji Recipe below:
Pav Bhaji Recipe
Ingredients
- Potatoes - 2 medium, peeled and diced
- Cauliflower - 1 cup, chopped
- Peas – ½ cup, shelled
- Green beans – ½ cup, chopped
- Carrots – ½ cup, chopped
- Capsicum – ½ cup, chopped
- Tomatoes – 2 cups, chopped
- Onions – 1 cup, chopped
- Coriander leaves – ¼ cup, chopped
- Oil - 2 tbsp
- Butter - 2 tbsp
- Green Chillies – 2 chopped
- Ginger - 1 tbsp finely sliced
- Garlic – 8-10 pods
- Pav Bhaji Masala – 1 ½ tbsp
- Red chilli powder – ½ tsp
- Turmeric – ½ tsp
- Black salt – ½ tsp
- Salt to taste
- Lemon juice - 1 tsp
- Pavs buns – 6
- Water – 1 cup
Instructions
- Peel and cube the potatoes. Finely chop the cauliflower, beans, capsicum, carrots, onions and coriander leaves.
- Boil potatoes, beans, cauliflower, peas, and carrots till tender. Drain the vegetables and lightly mash them with the back of a spoon.
- Grind ginger, garlic and green chillies.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add chopped onions and sauté till they turn a light brown.
- Add the ginger-garlic-chilli paste and fry for 1-2 minutes.
- Tip in the chopped tomatoes, stir well and cook covered for 2-3 minutes till they turn soft and oil starts leaving the sides. Add the chopped capsicums and sauté for 1 minute.
- Add the boiled and lightly mashed vegetables to the tomato mixture. Combine well and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Press with back of a spoon to mash vegetables.
- Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, black salt, pav bhaji masala and salt and mix well. Add a cup of water and cook for 4-5 minutes till all the masalas are well blended.
- Remove and sprinkle lemon juice and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
- Slice the pavs into 2 horizontally. Apply butter to each side and pan fry the pavs until golden brown.
- Serve toasted Pavs with hot Bhaji topped with chopped onions and coriander.
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