Paw Bhaji (A lip-smacking Marathi/Gujarati delicacy of spicy mixed vegetables and bread)

History: Pav bhaji (Marathi: पाव भाजी, also transliterated as pao bhaji and pau bhaji) is a fast food dish native to Maharashtrians and is popular in most metropolitan areas in India, particularly in the Maharashtrian city of Mumbai & Pune. Pav in Marathi means bread, the word Marathi borrowed from portuguese pão (lit., "bread"). Bhaji is a term for a curry and vegetable dish. Pav bhaji consists of the bhaji (a potato-based curry) and the pav, garnished with coriander and chopped onions. Pav is high in carbohydrates and fats (if served with butter), while bhaji, the vegetable-based curry portion, is high in carbohydrates.

Ingredients

1. Paw (Bread Rolls)
2. Butter - 4 tbsp
3. Potatoes - boiled and mashed - 1 & 1/2 cup
4. Green Peas - boiled - 1/2 cup
5. Cauliflower - boiled and chopped - 1/2 cup
6. Onions - chopped - 1 cup
7. Green Capsicum (bell pepper) - chopped 2 & 1/2 cup
8. Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
9. Salt to taste
10. Dry red chillies - 3-4
11. Garlic cloves - 4-6
12. Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
13. Coriander leaves - chopped - 2 tbsp
14. Oil - 2 tbsp
15. Paw bhaji masala - 1 & 1/2 tbsp. The paw bhaji masala can be bought from the market or can be prepared as:

    50 grams red chili, 50 grams coriander seeds,

    25 grams cumin seeds, 25 grams black pepper,

    25 grams cinnamon, 25 grams clove,

    4-5 black cardamom, 25 grams dry mango powder,

    10 grams fennel seeds, 1 tbsp. turmeric powder.

    Roast all the ingredients separately. When cool, grind it. Shift them and mix dry mango powder, turmeric powder and fill in the bottle.

Process: Dip the dry red chillies in warm water and make a paste with the garlic. Heat oil and add onions, capsicum and saute for 2 minutes. Put in the chilli-garlic paste - continue sauting. When the onions turns a bit soft add the tomatoes - saute. When the oil separates add the red chilli powder, paw bhaji masala, salt and fry for a while. Next add all the boiled vegetables and blend. Mash the entire blend with a masher while still in the pan. Add 1/2 cup water if required. Cook for a while and add lemon juice and coriander leaves and dollops of the butter. Garnish with coriander leaves. The paw is to be halved from the middle, buttered and roasted on a tawa. Calorie conscious people and plain toast the bread and have it with the bhaji (mixed vegetable)