Vada pav – Indian version of burger, must be one of the most loved street foods. Vada is a spicy potato mixture with a coating of gram flour, deep fried in oil. Pav is a special kind of soft bread, almost square in shape. V and I are great fans of this absolutely yummy dish from our college days in Belgaum. Somehow I was always hesitant to try vada pav as I was not too sure. I thought it had a very elaborate procedure. Finally yesterday I made it. I had invited few of our friends for a small vada pav party. It became an instant hit.
The chutneys for this were very easy to make. I made all the three chutneys even though the green chutney and the red garlic chutney are the most frequently used ones. Sweet chutney is not always a part of it. But I remember eating it in Belgaum. It suited very well for our party because many of us cannot take very hot food and the red and green chutneys are quite hot. I went with my instincts and few other chaats I have made in the past, since when I searched in the internet, there were so many different recipes for all these chutneys.
Check out different versions of this vada - batata vada, batata vada with raw onion.
I am sending this to DK’s potato feast and Sia’s Ode to potato events.
Vada stuffing:
3 cups boiled, peeled and mashed potatoes (that is about 4 big potatoes)
1/2 tea spn cumin seeds
1/2 tea spn mustard seeds
4-5 curry leaves
1/2 tea spn ginger garlic paste
2 green chilies
3-4 strands coriander leaves
1/2 cup chopped onion
A pinch turmeric
Oil
Salt
Method:
Heat a little oil and add mustard, cumin seeds. When it starts popping, add curry leaves, green chilies, ginger garlic paste, onions and fry till onions turn translucent. Add the potatoes, turmeric, salt and mix well. If there are any big pieces of potatoes, add a little water and close and cook for few minutes, then mash and mixed well.
Add chopped coriander leaves and mix. Let it cool a bit.
Vada coating:
1/2 cup gram flour (besan)
1 tbl spn rice flour (added for crispiness)
1/2 tea spn chili powder
Salt
Method:
Mix all the above ingredients with water to make a smooth paste. As soon as water it added to the flours, it starts becoming lumps, so mix it with hand to remove lumps or use a egg whisk. Do not make it too thin, the coating does not hold on to the stuffing it is too thin.
Making vadas:
Heat oil for deep frying.
Make a ping-pong ball sized round from the stuffing. Dip the ball into the coating batter and deep fry in hot oil. Take out on a paper towel.
Green chutney:
9-10 strands coriander leaves
Few mint leaves (optional, I didn’t use it)
3 green chilies
1″ piece ginger (optional)
Salt
Method:
Grind all to a smooth paste. Do not make too watery.
Red chutney:
1 cup dried coconut (or dessicated coconut)
2 tbl spns chili powder
1 tea spn chopped garlic
1/4 tea spn tamarind extract or 1-2 pieces of tamarind (optional, added for tanginess)
Salt
Method:
Dry roast coconut and tamarind till it turns slightly brownish. Grind together with all other ingredients. This is dry powder, so do not add water. It can be stored in air tight containers for about a month.
Sweet chutney :
5-6 dates(khajoor)
1/2 tea spn tamarind extract or about 4-5 pieces of tamarind
1/2 tea spn jaggery(optional, added only if sweetness of dates is not enough)
Salt
Method:
Soak dates in warm water for about 30mins. Take out seeds (better yet, use seedless dates). Grind with all other ingredients.
Making vada pav:
Take a pav (I used Savory butter rolls from King’s Hawaiian, which are slightly smaller than the actual pav). Cut open the rolls horizontally, taking care one end is still connected.
Apply three chutneys to pav as desired.
Slightly press the vada to flatten it.
Keep it on one half of the pav and cover with other half. Slightly press down.
Serves : 4-5
Preparation time : 40mins
PS: I have mentioned the amount of chilies according to my taste. Make changes to suit your taste. Even though in actual vada pav, one end of pav is kept intact, I have cut it into two for taking pictures because the pav was too small.
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71 Responses to Vada pav
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superb.. looks yummy .. recalling my good old days in mumbai.. print it now.. willa ask my wife who havent even heard about it.. hope its as it loks in the snap above,
superb.. looks yummy .. recalling my good old days in mumbai.. print it now.. willa ask my wife who havent even heard about it.. hope its as it looks in the snap above,
thanks…..i am a great fan of vada pav…….i will ask my mother to prepare for me exactly as u said…
[...] you want to make a Vada Pav at home, here is a Vada Pav recipe by Shilpa. Remember the street-side sandwich wallah? However much I tried, I could never make sandwiches this [...]
Hit the spot, especially during this cold, extended snow storm here on the East Coast! Thanks a ton – great recipe and brought back lovely memories of college days in Bombay.
hi, thanxs for recipe, as i remembered pune, n joshi vada pav wala, really staying in bolivia, south america, i really miss pune, india.
good old Pune, never will forget the most delicious joshi wada pav………..miss pune, miss wada pav……….NZ
Hi Simple recipe but a great delight to eat, thanx a ton for your lavish explainations and description………
Awesome recipie. Made it for first time and it rocked.
Dear All,
I Like Vadapavu.
Most delicious food in Maharashtra.
Kindly send us how to make vadapav recipe. and give me the incredients detailes.
Awaiting your urgent replay.
Br,
Renjith
renjithpillaimvk@gmail.com
00967- 713 457 827
i liked the spices used in your version of vada pav and thanks for taking pain for typing all three chatnies .wonderfull.
very yummy.
looks yummy!!!
Very tasty! yummy!
I will sure try this to my husband who havent heard of it…..
Thanks
I had some leftover mashed potatoes from our Thanksgiving dinner. I stir fried the spices and aromatics and then added them to my potatoes. I followed your recipe and we absolutely loved it. It was our first time trying it. I didn’t have time to make all the chutneys though I am sure they would make it even better. Flying solo, the taste of the potato and spices was outstanding.
wow yummy
hmmmm….yummy….I will prepare for my wife who hasnt heard abt it…thx for the recipe….remembered my old days in Mira Road…Mumbai…
Awsome !!!!
Many Thanks to remind the days.. where we ussed to have Vada Pav in Mumbai anjd Pune..
I just tried and everyone here appreciate this..
Thank to you ..
Keep posting such typical Gavrani Recipe.. hope we all will prefer the same
Thanks once again..
Ravi Patil
gud one…i tried it..tasted delicious..
i made it exactly by following the instructions written here. my hubby and 1 of his colleague tasted it. they said its delicious and that colleague even asked me how to prepare it. i told them about this site.
really thankyou.. it made very easy for me to try new things
wow……..it looks so yummy…….i’m sure going to ask my mummy to make it.