Vada Pav – India

Vada Pav Recipe

Vada Pav is a popular street food in India, especially in the state of Maharashtra. It consists of a spiced potato fritter (vada) sandwiched between a pav, a soft bread roll, and is often served with chutneys and fried green chili peppers. This delicious and spicy snack is a favorite among many and is relatively easy to prepare at home. Here’s a recipe to make authentic Vada Pav:

Ingredients:

For the Potato Filling (Vada):

• 4 large potatoes, boiled, peeled, and mashed
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 8-10 curry leaves, chopped
• 2-3 green chilies, finely chopped (adjust to your spice preference)
• 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
• 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp red chili powder (adjust to taste)
• Salt to taste
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

For the Batter:

• 1 cup gram flour (besan)
• A pinch of baking soda (optional)
• Salt to taste
• Water, as needed

For Assembling:

• 4 pav (soft bread rolls)
• Green chutney (made from cilantro and mint)
• Tamarind chutney
• Fried green chili peppers (optional)
• Butter or oil for toasting the pav

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Potato Filling (Vada):

• Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Allow them to splutter.
• Add chopped curry leaves, green chilies, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Sauté for a minute.
• Add turmeric powder and red chili powder. Stir well.
• Add the mashed potatoes and salt. Mix everything together and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Finally, add chopped coriander leaves and mix well. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool.

1. Prepare the Batter:

• In a mixing bowl, combine gram flour, a pinch of baking soda (if using), and salt.
• Gradually add water and whisk to make a smooth, thick batter. Ensure there are no lumps.

1. Shape and Fry the Vadas:

• Take a portion of the potato mixture and shape it into a round or oval patty.
• Heat oil for frying in a deep pan or kadai.
• Dip the potato patty into the gram flour batter, ensuring it’s well coated.
• Carefully place it in hot oil and fry until golden brown and crisp. Remove and drain excess oil on a paper towel.

1. Assemble the Vada Pav:

• Slice the pav horizontally without cutting all the way through.
• Spread green chutney on one side of the pav and tamarind chutney on the other.
• Place a hot vada in the center of the pav and press it gently.
• Optionally, you can add fried green chili peppers to the sandwich.
• Heat a little butter or oil in a pan and toast the assembled vada pav until it’s golden and crispy on the outside.

1. Serve Hot:

• Serve the vada pav immediately with extra chutney on the side.

Enjoy your homemade Vada Pav, a beloved Indian street food snack!