Pav Bhaji for iftar...

You all might be knowing that holy month of Ramadan has started and so is fasting. There are so many things that I love about this month, I love getting up early mornings for sehri, fasting the whole day and breaking the fast in evenings with our favorite snacks or else calling our friends and family for iftar party and most importantly reciting the quran. 

This is the month where we will learn to be more self disciplined, self controlled, sacrifice and giving zakat to the poor and needy.

On the first day of fasting I prepared our favorite dish. I know this will be very heavy for an empty stomach to have, but since I cannot resist any chat dishes, I thought of making this on the first day for iftar. This is my first attempt in making pav bhaji and was successful and tasted just like what we get from stalls outside.

I made the pav bhaji masala powder and added that to the bhaji and it was perfect. I thought of making the pav, but time didn’t permit me so ended up with store bought pav. This is a perfect tea time snack and will be loved by all.The bhaji is very healthy and nutritious, as we use all kinds of vegetables in it. I love the butter smell in both the pav as well as in the bhaji. 

We can also add capsicum and cauliflower. As my husband doesn’t like some of the veggies, I didn’t add. Later on serve it with lots of coriander leaves and chopped onions.
Once the veggies are boiled and mashed, your yummy pav bhaji is ready within minutes.

Ingredients:
Pav bhaji masala powder:

1. Coriander powder- 2 tbsp
2. Cumin powder- 1 tbsp
3. Cloves- 2 nos
4. Cinnamon stick- 1 small stick
5. Cardamom- 2nos
6. Black peppercorns- 1 tbsp
7. Red chilli powder- 2tsp
8. Turmeric powder- ½ tbsp

Method:

• Dry roast all the ingredients and grind it to a fine powder. Keep it aside.

Ingredients for bhaji:

1. Potatoes (boiled and mashed)- 2nos
2. Onions (chopped)- 2 nos
3. Ginger and garlic paste- 1tbsp
4. Carrots (cubed)- 2nos
5. Beans (chopped)- 10nos
6. Green chillies (chopped)- 2nos
7. Turmeric powder- ½ tsp
8. Red chilli powder- 1 tsp
9. Pav bhaji masala- 2tbsp
10. Tomatoes (chopped)- 2 nos
11. Salt- as per taste
12. Lemon Juice- 1 tbsp
13. Butter (at room temp)- 1tbsp
14. Oil- 2tbsp
15. Coriander leaves- 1 bunch
16. Pav bread (toasted with butter)- 4-5 nos

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add the chopped onions. Fry till translucent. In this add the ginger and garlic paste and green chillies.
2. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder and the prepared pav bhaji masala. Mix well.
3. Add the boiled and mashed vegetables along with chopped tomatoes and keep it on high flame for 5 min.
4. Then lower the flame and cook for about 10- 15 min, till all the gravy is thickened.
5. Once the gravy is thickened add the salt and switch off the flame. At last add the lemon juice and butter and mix well.
6. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve this along with chopped onions and butter roasted pav on a lovely evening.

I am sending this to Joy from fasting to feasting and also to Hyderabad ramadan food festival.