Vada Pav

Vada Pav

The craze for vada pav dates back to school days, it brings back lots of nostalgic memories of running to the near by vada pav stall(gadi) with Rs. 2/- and hogging the vadapav as if there was no tomorrow. Any small challange with my brother and it would be for Vada pav, gone are those days but not the craze for bombay vada pav. After have stayed in the gulf for almost a decade , I really missed this snack until i started making it in my own kitchen , which was a regular during the 2 plus decades that I spent in mumbai . Making the vada was relatively simple for me but innitially since we  never got the mumbai pav easily near my house, so decided to make it at home it self(now we do get the bombay pav here easily) so i do not make pav at home any longer. the recepie for the pav i used here is an exact from chief Varevah from youtube but i halved the measures to reduce the quantity . Pav may not have come perfect as i was trying for the first time ever and it needs more practice . So i suggest that friends simply make the vada and chutney at home and buy pav which is an easier option unless you really game to spend few hrs more in the kitchen. I have also use ready to use garlic chutney which is a mix of slow fried garlic with red chili powder, roasted coconut and the powder of fried bhajiya Batter , which gives a kick start to the vada pavs.

 



Ingredients:-

For Pav:-

1. 3cups Maida (approxi)
2. 1/2 cup warm water
3. 2-3 spoons oil
4. 11/2 tsp yeast
5. half tsp salt
6. half tsp sugar

Method:-

1. Proof Yeast( add to warm water , not hot and add salt sugar and let it sit for 10mins to bu buble up)
2. Mix lightly and add maida ,little by little.
3. Add oil n keep kneeding
4. Make a dough n kneed well for 15 mins or so.
5. Apply oil on the dough and cover with clicng wrap and let it rest for 2 hrs (until it rises and becomes double)
6. Punch the dough back.
7. Make smooth balls and keep them near each other but not touchingin a oven proof tray.
8. Cover with cling wrap.
9. Let it Rise for another hour or so .
10. Bake in a pre heated convection oven at 200 degrees for about 20 mins or until done. 

For vada:-

Inner Stuffing mix:-

1. 5-6 large potatoes Boiled n smashed
2. 2Green chillies chopped finely
3. 1/2 teaspoon Ginger chopped
4. 2 table spoon corriander leaves chopped
5. pinch of haldi powder(optional)
6. 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds , 2 springs curry leaves, 1/4 teaspoon urad dal and pinch of hing for seasoning
7. Salt to taste

Outer batter Mix:-

1. Gramflour 3cups (roughly)
2. 1 spoon hot Oil
3. 1/4 tsp Ajwain(Owa Seeds)
4. 3/4 tsp Red Chilli powder( or more/less as per taste)
5. pinch of hing
6. Salt as per taste
7. Water to combine(roughly 1n 1/2 cup , or just enough to make a thick batter but yet dripping consistancy)

Method:-

1. Mix all the ingredients for batter n make a smooth thick yet dripping consastancy batter and keep aside.
2. Make the seasoning ready by heating 1 spoon oil in puting the seasong ingredients and letting them splutter.
3. Smash green chillis and ginger in a mortar pestal.
4. Mix all ingredients including salt and seasoning along with the potato crumble to form a well mixed dough.
5. Make small balls with the potato (size of a big lemon)
6. Heat oil in a kadi ( about little more than half way mark in the frying vessel , not more not less else oil can spill while frying n if its less , the deep pry will not come out well).
7.  Dip the potato balls in the batter and deep fry once oil has reached smoking point.
8. Remove on paper towels

Assemble the Vada Pav:-

1. Slice Cut pav in the center till the back  and open it up .
2. Put some Garlic  chutney (either store bought like i did or by making it using finely chopped garlic fried in hit oil till crispy along with dry roasted n crushed grated coconut scrappings , salt, redchilli powder and then powdered along with the left overs batter fried after making potato vada)
3. Add some tamarind chutney or sweet chutney( grinding dates,tamarind, red chili powder, salt and jagry) and green corriander chutney. (If available).
4. Few Chopped onion and then the Vada.
5. Close it and simply start feasting .