18 June 2011

Vada Paav / Indian Vegetable Burger

The popular tea time snack of Maharashtra - the vada pav or I should say the famous Mumbai road side snack. The Mumbai Veggie Burger complete with toppings and a soft square bun (paav).
It is no more the 'poor man's food'.

Potoato Vada is sandwiched between the buns and topped with cilantro peanut sauce and roasted garlic spice blend.  Truly a mouthwatering snack !

It is a long process to prepare them but the end result is worthy of the effort, I should say. And didn't manage to get the real paav so managed it with buns :( . Anyways I am happy with the result. Enjoy!

So here is my first try at Maharashtrian Cuisine.






Vadaa Paav/ Fried Potato Sandwiches


Printable Recipe


INGREDIENTS


For the roasted garlic spice blend


1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup raw peanuts
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
6 medium cloves thinly sliced
1 teaspoon coarse / sea salt ( add as per your taste)


For the cilantro peanut sauce/ chutney


1/2 cup cilantro leaves
2 tablespoon shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon salt( add as per taste)
3 green chillies ( the original recipe says 6-8 but I find that too hot so add as per your spice level)


For the garlic potatoes


450 gm potatoes boiled and mashed
1/2 cup frozen peas (no need to thaw it)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 cup cilantro
1/4 cup curry leaves
3 green chillies
4 cloves
2 slice ginger(1 1/2 inch long)


For the batter


1/2 cup  chickpea flour
1/2 cup rice flour
2 tablespoon cornflour
1/2  teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon Kosher or sea salt


10 small, paavs






METHOD


Roast the peanuts over medium heat in a small skillet for about 2 - 4 minutes. Roast till the nutty smell comes and the nuts turn reddish brown.Transfer half of the peanuts to a plate to cool. Put the other half in a blender jar and keep aside.

In the same skillet add the coriander, cumin, chillies and sesame seeds and roast. The spices have to turn reddish brown ( 1-3 minutes). Add this mixture to the peanuts on the plate.

Add the garlic to the remaining oil in the skillet and cook stirring occasionally until they are sunny brown in colour. Spread the garlic over the spices on the plate. Let it cool completely.

To make the cilantro sauce or chutney -  pile in the cilantro, coconut, salt, chillies, ¼ cup water to the peanuts in the blender . Blend well. Transfer to a bowl. Add 2 tablespoon water to the blender and swish it again to remove any remaining sauce. Stir well.

To make the roasted garlic spice blend transfer the spices on the plate to the blender and powder it. Make sure the spices are cooled well before powdering else it may become slightly cakey.



To prepare the patties combine the potatoes, peas, salt and turmeric in a bowl. Combine the cilantro, curry leaves, chillies, garlic, ginger in a food processor and mince. Add this to the potato mixture to make a slightly yellow green dough.

To make the batter, mix the two flours, corn flour, salt and turmeric in a bowl. Pour in warm water to make a smooth thick batter.  You will need about 3/4 - 1 cup water.

Divide the dough into 16 portions. Shape it into round balls and press a bit in between your palms to make ½ inch thick patty. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a wok.


Line a large plate with paper towels and keep ready.

When the oil is ready, dip a patty into the batter and carefully slide it into the oil. Fry them until they are golden brown. Fry 3-4 patties at a time and remove them with a slotted spatula.

For assembly of the sandwich slice open the paav, spread the cilantro sauce, place the patties, sprinkle the garlic spice blend and close the bun and serve.



 Tips:

The spice blend and cilantro sauce can be made even up to 2 days in advance.

The sauce can be refrigerated until ready to use.

The spice blend can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or room temperature up to a week.

A pinch of baking soda in the batter can make the patties more crisp.

If you are using iodized salt then reduce the quantity.


29 comments:

  1. Looks super delicious ...am craving for some now

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  2. Seriously am drooling over that irresistible vada paav, my fav anytime,beautiful clicks..

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  3. hai thanks for ur comments inmy blog. pav looks yummy n nice clicks too

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  4. This is one of my fav street food.. I have never made it myself but enjoy this at nearby cafeteria...you have made this nicely..I love the recipe..saving this.
    The pictures are very bright and attractive...making the vada pavs look even so more inviting.

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  5. wow dats a visual treat...i am a vada pav fan and love the way u presented

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  6. Congratulations on all your awards and thank you so much for sharing with me :)

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  7. Your pics are really beautiful, they made my mouth water!

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  8. Lovely Pics. Mouthwatering and is making me hungry right now.

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  9. Congrats on your awards dear..mouthwatering..love it

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  10. tempting pav Rinku...wish to taste rite now.. Congrats on ur awards, wishing many more to come..thx for sharing with me, happy to receive it from u.

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  11. Wow Rinku! U have brought back so many memories of the vada pav for me! I used to have one daily in the evening when I waited for my train at the Bandra station, ofcourse all that stopped when I quit my job, I should have one now...monsoons & vada pav! Mmmm

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  12. adipoli........really tempting.......nd thanx for the award..........

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  13. congrats on your awrds..n a yummy burger too..

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  14. That looks delicious. I'm totally craving it after seing your wonderful recipe n pics :)
    Congrtas on the well deserved award n thanks a lot for the share, you are a sweetheart :)
    US Masala

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  15. hi rinky, i came to visit you to say congrats for getting the wonderful awards from ambreen.
    She gave the awards to me too. You do have a great blog . Have a nice day

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  16. Congrats on all ur awards dear..you truly deserve them..
    Vada Pav looks perfect and mouthwatering..and your pics are making me hungry.

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  17. Wow,u did a lot of work for making this..hats off to u !! I feel like having it with a hot cup of tea!

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  18. Looks mouth watering. I absolutely love it and cherished it almost every other day during my stay in Mumbai :)

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  19. This is a super-delicious snack...love it anytime!

    Vegetarian Cultural Creatives

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  20. Beautiful presentation..nice clicks..looks so yumm!!

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  21. Woww.. am drooling over these yummy vada pavs :D And congrats on your awards :D

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  22. I have been looking for spice blend recipe for long, because I have tasted it in restaurants, and liked it a lot, but had no idea how to make it. Thanks!

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  23. Sweetie, congrats again on your awards!! Each one of them well deserved for an incredible food blogger like you! I'm sooo touched that you shared your happiness with me too. Luv ya!

    You know, even when I have an option of a mac burger and a vada pav, I usually opt for the vada pav....I'm that crazy about this Indian burger..:) Gorgeous shots!

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  24. Beautiful pictures! thanks for sending it for the event!..

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