Vada-Pav (Mumbai street food)

Famous street food of Mumbai or Maharashtra state . Its fame is because of its affordability and the fact that it is very filling. It is like a saviour for many people who sometimes survive the day on this low-cost, filling yet mouth watering snack.  A tasty filling of mashed potatoes and spices covered with a batter of gram flour and water. These potato roundels are deep fried till a perfect golden brown. Served with a bread bun , locally called as 'Pav' , Sweet date and tamarind chutney and Spicy garlic chutney for the extra Zing. I yet have to come across a person who does not like this. Presenting here my simple recipe for the famous Vada-pav.

INGREDIENTS :

FOR THE FILLING :

4 med sized potatoes Boiled and mashed (Thin skin ones work best)

2 inches of ginger

12 cloves of garlic

Few Curry leaves 

2 Tbsp Oil

a Pinch of Hing/asafoetida

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

6 to 8 green chillies .

Juice of 1 lemon

salt to taste 

METHOD FOR THE FILLING :

1. Boil and mash the Potatoes and keep aside.

2. In a kadai heat the oil .

3. Add the hing and turmeric powder and stir a bit.

4. Make a paste of chillies, ginger and garlic and curry leaves (without adding any water)

5. Add this to the oil and saute a little. 

6. Keep covered on a low flame for a min or so .

7. Now add mashed potato, lemon juice , salt to taste and mix well for a minute or two. Take care not to mash too much as the potatoes might release some water and the mixture becomes sticky then.

8. Your filling is now ready for use .

INGREDIENTS FOR THE COVERING :

Besan or gram flour 2 Bowl 

Rice flour 3 Tbsp

Baking soda  1 tsp 

Salt to taste 

pinch of Hing powder/asafoetida

pinch of turmeric power

1 to 2 tsp red chilli powder (Adjust as per taste)

Ajwain or carrom seeds 1/2 tsp (Always use some with Besan/gramflour as they ease in digestion)

water 

Mix all the dry ingredients .

Add water little at a time so as to make a thick batter .

Mix well so as to break any lumps . Make a smooth paste.

MAKING OF THE VADAS :

1. Wet your palms. Take a little of the potato filling and make small rounds balls of it. Keep all such round balls ready in a plate for frying.

2. Heat oil in a kadai or wok for deep frying the wadas.

3. Take each potato roundel , dip it in the batter/covering and gently slide it in the hot oil.

4. Deep fry on a medium flame till the vadas are nice and golden brown on all sides.

5. Drain on an absorbent paper .

6. Serve HOT with bread buns (Pav) or just like that (If you want to omit the bread), sweet tamarind and dates chutney and/or spicy garlic chutney.

7. Enjoy with a nice hot cup of tea or coffee.