Vada Pav, often referred to as the “Indian burger,” is a popular street food originating from Mumbai, India. It consists of a spicy potato fritter (vada) nestled within a soft bun (pav) spread with flavorful chutneys like tangy tamarind and zesty green chutney. The potato filling is seasoned with aromatic spices like mustard seeds, turmeric, and green chilies, giving it a deliciously satisfying kick. This handheld snack packs a punch of flavors and textures, making it a favorite grab-and-go option loved by many for its spicy, savory goodness.
Here’s a recipe to make this flavorful snack:
Ingredients:
For the potato filling:
- 4-5 medium-sized potatoes, boiled and mashed
- 1-2 green chilies, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
- A few curry leaves, finely chopped
- Salt to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons oil
For the batter:
- 1 cup gram flour (besan)
- A pinch of baking soda
- Salt to taste
- Water (as needed to make a thick batter)
Other ingredients:
- 6-8 pav (small dinner rolls)
- Green chutney
- Tamarind chutney
- Garlic chutney (optional)
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions:
- Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds. Once they splutter, add asafoetida, curry leaves, green chilies, and ginger-garlic paste. Sauté for a minute.
- Add turmeric powder and mashed potatoes. Mix well and cook for a few minutes. Season with salt. Set aside to cool.
- In a bowl, mix gram flour, salt, baking soda, and water to make a thick batter without lumps. The consistency should coat the back of a spoon.
- Take each pav and slice it horizontally, but not all the way through. Apply green chutney on one side and tamarind chutney on the other. Optionally, spread garlic chutney for an extra kick.
- Make small balls from the potato mixture and flatten them slightly to make patties.
- Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Dip each potato patty in the gram flour batter and carefully slide it into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown. Remove and drain excess oil on a paper towel.
- Place the fried potato vada inside the prepared pav.
Serve hot with more chutney on the side and enjoy the deliciousness of homemade vada pav!
Note: Adjust the spiciness by adding more or fewer green chilies according to your taste preference. Additionally, you can also add some finely chopped coriander leaves to the potato mixture for added flavor.
