Pau Bhaji (Mashed Vegetable Curry) with shallow fried bread rolls

Look tasty?!

Firstly, I have to apologise for not being on here for the last few days, unfortunately, work and kids always seem to keep me busy.

I also want to thank everyone for their support, you've kept me motivated to go on! with an impressive 900+ views on my page in one week of launching, I have to say I am gobsmacked that I have made so many people interested in Gujarati food, and from all over the world from USA to Australia and Europe.

Just a reminder that there is a facebook page, please have a look and join the group Bare Veggie

I also have a twitter page @bareveggie, so you can follow me on there.

As promised on my facebook page, here is the recipe for Pau Bhaji, simply translated to mean curry with bread.  Pau Bhaji originates from Mumbai, India and nowadays can be be readily bought as street food in India, its a very popular dish due to the simplicity and complex myriad of flavours it offers.

Here is a picture of how it is served in India at a local kiosk.  I remember going out with my family at 11.00pm and eating pau bhaji from a kiosk and I still remember how amazing it was, why is it that street food always tastes so good ?!



So, here is the recipe you have all been waiting for:

Preparation: 15 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Eating time: I like to enjoy all the spices in this dish so 20 mins!

Ingredients
5 Fresh Tomatoes (I like to use vine as the flavour is stronger) although if you are in a rush then you can use chopped tin tomatoes
200g Potatoes
300g Cauliflower
200g Peas (frozen is fine)
Handful of coriander
4 tbsp Sunflower oil
25g Butter
3 tsp of ready prepared pau bhaji masala (available at specialist Indian shops) OR you can use Garam Masala
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1.5 tsp Salt
3 Fresh Green Chillis or 1/2 tsp of red chilli powder
1/2 tsp Sugar
Splash of Lemon Juice

Method
Take the skin off the potatoes and cut roughly, cut the cauliflower into florets.  

Steam the potatoes, cauliflower and peas - in actual fact you can add any vegetables you want! aubergine, peppers, broccoli, carrots (I prefer to keep it simple!)

Whilst this is steaming,score the tomato skin and plunge into boiling water for 5 minutes. Peel off the skin and chop the tomatoes roughly and blend until smooth (I prefer to do this with a hand held blender) Obviously if you're using tin tomatoes you can skip this stage.

When the vegetables have been steamed, mash coarsely.

Heat the oil and butter in a pan on a medium heat, wait for it to sizzle and add the fresh or tin tomatoes.  Let this cook for 5 minutes.

Add all your spices (Pau Bhaji Masala or Garam Masala, Turmeric, Salt, 3 Fresh Green Chillis or 1/2 tsp of red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp Sugar and Lemon Juice) and the finely chopped coriander.

Let this simmer for 5 minutes

Next add the mashed vegetables and mix well over a low heat and cook for 10 minutes, and its done!

For the kids I add the chilli and masala after taking some out for them.  This dish is great as you can get loads of vegetables into kids and stuff they would probably turn their nose up at!

I like to make this in the morning if we are eating it in the evening as the spices develop further, making this dish taste divine.

For the bread rolls simply cut the rolls in half, spread margarine or butter and stick them on a frying pan until they are golden brown on both sides (for a healthier option you can toast the rolls instead).

This tastes even better if you sprinkle raw onion and fresh coriander on top.