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Pav bhaji with buttered toasted rolls and onion garnish

Spiced mashed vegetable curry with buttered bread rolls

Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji

40 minEasy

Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

25 min

Total Time

40 min

Servings

4

4 cups bhaji plus 8 pav

Difficulty

Easy

Cost

Budget

$

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Pav Bhaji

Spiced mashed vegetable curry with buttered bread rolls

A Mumbai street food legend—a thick, buttery mash of mixed vegetables heavily spiced with pav bhaji masala, served with soft, butter-toasted bread rolls.

15m

Prep Time

25m

Cook Time

40m

Total Time

4

Servings

Easy

Difficulty

Budget $

Cost

Indian CuisineMain CourseSnackVegetarian
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

July 23, 2024(Updated April 13, 2026)

Pav bhaji is Mumbai on a plate—a riotously spiced mash of vegetables drenched in butter, scooped up with soft, toasted bread rolls. It is messy, indulgent, and completely irresistible street food.

Why This Recipe Works

Mashing the vegetables together with butter and spices creates a unified, intensely flavored curry. Generous butter is non-negotiable—it is what makes pav bhaji pav bhaji.

Ingredients

  • 3 potatoes, 1 cup cauliflower, 1/2 cup peas, 1 carrot—all boiled and mashed
  • 2 onions finely chopped, 2 tomatoes pureed
  • 3 tbsp pav bhaji masala
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 8 soft bread rolls (pav)
  • Lemon, cilantro, and raw onion for serving

Instructions

  1. 1

    Heat 2 tbsp butter, sauté onions until soft, add tomato puree and cook until oil separates.

  2. 2

    Add pav bhaji masala, chili powder, and salt; cook 2 minutes until fragrant.

  3. 3

    Add all mashed vegetables and 1/2 cup water; mash vigorously with a flat masher while cooking.

  4. 4

    Cook 10 minutes, mashing continuously, until thick and well-combined; add remaining butter.

  5. 5

    Toast pav with butter on a griddle; serve bhaji topped with cilantro, onion, and lemon wedge.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • Serve with warm naan bread or basmati rice

  • Top with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime

  • Pair with a cooling cucumber raita on the side

  • Arrange on a platter for easy sharing at your next gathering

Substitutions

Pav bhaji masalaGaram masala plus extra cumin and coriander

Not identical but a workable substitute

Pav (bread rolls)Brioche buns or soft dinner rolls

Toast generously with butter

FlavorPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Garam Masala

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the spice blend matters

A better spice blend gives the recipe more rounded flavor without making you buy ten separate jars first.

This is often the pantry shortcut that makes the result taste more complete.

  • Adds warmer depth quickly
  • Useful across curries, lentils, and vegetable dishes

If you are cooking Indian food more than once, garam masala is a practical pantry anchor.

Shop garam masala for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • Mash aggressively on the griddle—the more you mash, the better the texture.

  • Add a generous amount of butter; this is not the dish for restraint.

Storage

Bhaji refrigerates well for 3 days. Reheat with extra butter.

Reheating

Warm on stovetop with a splash of water and a pat of butter.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (40mg) · 4 servings

Calories380
LowModerateHigh

A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein8g
Carbohydrates48g
Fat18g
Fiber680mg
Sugar5g
Sodium8g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pav bhaji masala?
A specific spice blend for this dish with coriander, cumin, fennel, and other spices. Available at Indian stores.
Can I use regular bread?
Soft dinner rolls or brioche buns are the closest substitute for pav.

Explore More

More Indian RecipesMore Main CourseMore SnackVegetarian RecipesStovetop Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.

View all recipes →

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