The Mumbai Street Food Secret Hiding in a Small Spice Tin

[ShanayaSpices]

This is because there is a good reason why the taste of pav bhaji remains constant whether you eat it from a street stall in Mumbai or cook it yourself thousands of miles away — and that good reason is pav bhaji masala. In fact, this single spice mix is the very soul of the dish!

What Makes This Blend Different

The pav bhaji masala is not trying to hide its identity. It is sour and spicy with a strong flavor of earthiness that results from a few unique ingredients found in no other Indian spice blend:

• Dried mango powder or amchur for sourness
• Coriander and cumin for the base
• Red chillies for color and spiciness
• Fennel seeds to provide subtle sweetness
• The black salt, which makes it distinctively tasty and gives it the street-food flavor

It is actually the black salt which makes it distinctive. It is the black salt that imparts that distinct pungent taste to pav bhaji.

How the Dish Actually Comes Together

If you have never cooked pav bhaji before, then the recipe isn’t as complicated as it sounds. All you are really doing is mashing up a bunch of vegetables with butter and letting the masala do its thing.

• Make a mixture of boiled and mashed potatoes, cauliflower, peas, and carrots
• Sauté onions, tomatoes, and capsicum using plenty of butter
• Add the pav bhaji masala into it and allow it to be cooked until the rawness of spices goes away

Combine everything on the stovetop, using some water to make it thick enough for scooping.

• Top off your meal with some knob of butter, for that’s a must.

It is best served with a side of some soft pav which has been slightly toasted, with some lime and finely chopped onions added to the dish.

It's Not Just for Bhaji

Remember that this masala is not for just one dish- pav bhaji. It works great with various other recipes too, like a veg sandwich, grilled corn, soups, and even pasta. You can use this masala to make dishes for your breakfast, lunch, or any snacks. If you like having its sharp flavor and spicy taste, you can use a pinch to garnish any dish. 

Bringing Mumbai to Your Kitchen

With a good pav bhaji masala ready at hand, the recipe is sure to become one of those dependable weeknight recipes that always deliver comfort, indulgence, and satisfaction.

Shanaya Indian Spices creates its own blend of pav bhaji masala most authentically. It keeps that distinctive tangy and rich taste within. Shanaya Spices is an Indian spices online shop selling packaged whole, powdered, and blended masalas in the US. 

Ref URL:

http://shanayaspices.pbworks.com/w/page/164763282/pav_bhaji_masala