Deliciously Spicy and Flavorful: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Authentic Maharashtrian Vada Pav.

 

Vada Pav is a popular Maharashtrian street food snack that consists of a spiced potato fritter (vada) served inside a bun (pav) along with chutney and fried green chilies. Here's a step-by-step method to make authentic Maharashtrian Vada Pav:

Ingredients:

For the Potato Vada:

4 large potatoes, boiled and mashed

1 tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1/2 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)

1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste

2-3 green chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)

A few curry leaves, chopped

Salt to taste

2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves

For the Batter:

1 cup gram flour (besan)

A pinch of baking soda

A pinch of turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Water, as needed

Other Ingredients:

8 pav buns (small bread rolls)

Green chutney

Tamarind chutney

Oil for deep frying

Optional:

Fried green chilies (for serving)

Instructions:

Prepare the Potato Mixture:

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds, and let them splutter.

Add chopped green chilies, curry leaves, and ginger-garlic paste. Saute for a minute or until the raw smell disappears.

Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt. Mix well.

Add the boiled and mashed potatoes. Mix everything together until the spices are well incorporated.

Add chopped coriander leaves and mix. Allow the mixture to cool down a bit.

Shape the Potato Vadas:

Divide the potato mixture into equal-sized balls and flatten them to form patties (vadas). Ensure the patties are not too thick, as they need to cook evenly.

Prepare the Batter:

In a mixing bowl, take gram flour (besan) and add a pinch of baking soda, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix well.

Gradually add water while stirring to form a smooth batter. The batter should be thick enough to coat the vadas.

Deep Fry the Vadas:

Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat.

Dip each potato vada into the gram flour batter, ensuring it is coated evenly.

Carefully drop the coated vadas into the hot oil and fry until they turn golden brown and crispy on all sides.

Remove the fried vadas from the oil and place them on paper towels to absorb any excess oil.

Assemble the Vada Pav:

Slit the pav buns horizontally, but not all the way through.

Apply green chutney on one side of the bun and tamarind chutney on the other side.

Place a hot vada in the center of the bun.

Optionally, you can also serve fried green chilies alongside the vada pav.

Your delicious Maharashtrian Vada Pav is now ready to be served! Enjoy this flavorful and popular street food snack with friends and family