Vada Pav | Vada Pav recipe ( Mumbai Style)

 

Vada pav is a popular street food from Mumbai, India that has captured the hearts and taste buds of people all over the country. It consists of a deep-fried potato patty (called vada) sandwiched between two slices of bread (called pav) that are slathered with chutney and spices. If you're a fan of this delicious snack and want to make it at home, here's a step-by-step guide to help you out. 

Ingredients:

For the vada:

4 medium-sized potatoes

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tbsp chopped ginger

2-3 green chilies, chopped

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp red chili powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

Salt, to taste

Oil, for frying

For the batter:

1 cup besan (gram flour)

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp red chili powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Salt, to taste

Water, as needed

For the chutney:

1/2 cup coriander leaves

1/2 cup mint leaves

2-3 green chilies

1 tsp lemon juice

Salt, to taste

For assembling:

8 pav buns

Butter, as needed

Pro tips:

Use fresh ingredients: The key to a delicious vada pav is using fresh and high-quality ingredients. Make sure that your potatoes are fresh and firm, and your spices are not past their expiry date.

Boil the potatoes correctly: The potatoes should be boiled until they are soft but not mushy. Overcooked potatoes will not hold their shape and result in a soggy vada.

Prepare the batter correctly: The batter should not be too thick or too thin. It should be of a coating consistency, similar to a pancake batter. If the batter is too thick, the vada will be hard, and if it is too thin, it will not coat the vada properly.

Fry the vada on medium heat: The vada should be fried on medium heat, as frying on high heat will result in a burnt exterior and an undercooked interior.

How To Make Vada Pav

Step-by-step guide:

• Boil the potatoes until they are soft but not mushy. Peel and mash them, and set aside.

• In a pan, heat some oil and add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. When they start to splutter, add chopped ginger and green chilies. Saute for a minute.

• Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt, and saute for a few seconds.

• Add the mashed potatoes and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the spices are well combined. Let the mixture cool down.

• Meanwhile, prepare the batter. In a bowl, mix together besan, turmeric powder, red chili powder, baking soda, salt, and enough water to make a smooth batter.

• Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Take a small portion of the potato mixture, shape it into a ball, and dip it in the batter.

• Gently drop the coated ball into the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Repeat the process for the remaining vadas.

• To make the chutney, blend together coriander leaves, mint leaves, green chilies, lemon juice, and salt until smooth.

• Cut the pav buns horizontally into half. Apply some butter and chutney on both sides

• Place a vada on one half of the pav and cover it with the other half.

• Serve hot with some more chutney on the side.

• That's it! Your delicious vada pav is now ready to be enjoyed. 

Here are some additional tips that will help you make the perfect vada pav every time:

• You can add some grated coconut or chopped onions to the potato mixture for added flavor.

• To make the vada crispier, you can add a tablespoon of rice flour to the batter.

• You can also use bread crumbs to coat the vada instead of the besan batter.

• To make the chutney spicier, add more green chilies or some red chili powder.

• If you want to make the vada pav healthier, you can bake or air fry the vadas instead of deep-frying them.

In conclusion, vada pav is a delicious and satisfying snack that is loved by people all over the country. By following this step-by-step guide and using the pro tips mentioned above, you can make the perfect vada pav in the comfort of your own home. So, what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try and let us know how it turned out for you.