One of my favorite street foods in Mumbai is the ‘Vada Paav’ or the poor man’s burger which is made with potatoes and chick pea flour. Vada Paav is as basic to Mumbai as cheese burger is to America. It is the most ubiquitous street food in Mumbai and you can find it almost at every street corner, at railway stations, near temples, next to parks and of course outside schools and colleges and offices. I am sure every Mumbai-ite will have a favorite joint that they solemnly swear by that makes the best ones in town! I do too! Whenever I visit Mumbai, I absolutely have got to have the vada paav from our local street corner vendor in the suburb of Chembur whose dry garlic chutney powder is the ultimate – the bomb! My dad indulges me by going out to get a parcel (vadapaav wrapped in newspaper) for me !
Thankfully I am married to a Mumbai-ite too who shares my passion for Vada paav and so we end up making it quite often in our kitchen:) This time I went one step ahead and decided to make the Paav (bread rolls) also at home. Omg! The home made rolls came out so perfect – very much like the freshly baked Paav you get in the streets of Mumbai.
So much better than the store bought burger buns or dinner rolls. Nothing like having hot potato vadas stuffed inside freshly baked rolls! And with the 3 different chutneys – red chili garlic chutney, green coriander chutney and tamarind date chutney slathered generously on them – I was in heaven!
Linking to Throwback Thursdays. Also Linking to Fiesta Friday where 2 of my favorite co-bloggers – Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook and Apsara @ Eating Well Diary are co-hosting this week. Cheers!
Recipe for green chutney:
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 green chillies
- 1 tbsp peanuts (or roasted chana dal)
- 1 tbsp grated coconut(optional)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 2-3 tbsp water
Add all ingredients to food processor and blend to get smooth paste.
Recipe for dry garlic chutney:
- 8-10 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup coconut grated
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp peanuts, roasted
- 4 dry red chillies
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 tiny (penny size ) piece of tamarind
- 1/2 tsp salt
Dry roast separately the garlic, the coconut and the sesame seeds until brown.
Transfer all ingredients to a food processor/dry grinder and blend till coarse.
Recipe for tamarind date chutney:
- 1/2 cup dates
- 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
- quarter size piece of tamarind (pit removed) soaked in 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tsp cumin powder
Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until you get a smooth puree
Thank you! You’ve made my day! I now have chutney recipes. The dry coconut one especially!!
that’s my favorite one actually!
soooo yummy & spicy….i love vada pao…
yes isn’t it so irresistible? thx for stopping by 🙂
Every Mumbaikar’s staple diet. I love them too!:)
Yes Mumbaikars cannot live without it. I miss not being able to walk down the street and grab a vada paav! 🙁 thx for stopping by!
I don’t know that I’ve ever tried these, but they look wonderful! I love potatoes and I love chickpeas, so I’m sure I’d scarf these down in a flash. Yum!
yes I am sure you’ll love them especially if you love anything potato! 🙂
Hi Indu, have never heard of these but they look and sound wonderful. Your Paav look so good. Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday.
You are welcome Quinn! Yes these are so tasty!
I am so glad to be introduced to this and I’m wondering how it is I’ve never heard of them!! You’ve been holding back, lol! I can see that this will be a bit of a labor of love, but I’m pinning for a rainy day when I can make it all!
Thanks for sharing this with us on Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
Hi Mollie, you can get ready made chutneys from any Indian store/grocers. And you could also get fresh dinner buns from a bakery that way you don’t have to make it all! 🙂
🙂 If I were at home I’d just make a day of it and have a blast, but currently at my folk’s helping them out a bit…I don’t have the time so I appreciate the shortcuts. I do like the idea of making the chutneys, especially.
yes short cuts are good every now and then. Have fun with your folks.!
Wow! The burgers look so good! I have never heard of this before, but it sounds interesting. I love to try this kind of burger one day. The bread rolls look so pretty good, too. 🙂 Thanks for being here, Indu. It is so lovely to see you. x
Hey Jhuls yes so good to see you too! yes I hope you get to try this someday..I am sure you will love it ! Hope you are having a good weekend!
I could eat Indian street food every day!!! love it 🙂
Me too! They have all the components to tickle your palate – spicy, tangy and crispy 🙂
Perfect!!!
Awesome!! ☺
it makes you hungry right? 🙂
Indu, you made ALL this from scratch for a meal? A super woman you are! Thanks for bringing this yummy combination to Fiesta Fridays, dear.
Ha Ha Apsara, well my husband helped me too with frying the vadas etc. Since my RA settled in last year I do have to rely on lot of help from him and the kids. But since cooking is what gives me immense pleasure and makes my pains go away, I continue to do what I can! You are such a perfect co-host! 🙂
Street food is often some of the best food! I have never had anything like this, but it looks wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing at Throwback Thursday!
You are welcome Carlee! Yes nothing like street food to get your palate excited!
Yup! Nothing can beat a good Vada Pav. I am but a couple of kms away from Chembur. Give me a shout when you are here next. 🙂
Oh really Aruna? Yes I will surely let you know. Will be coming this summer maybe in July. This time though I am planning to spend more time in Kerala since I want to take ayurvedic treatment for my arthritis. But I will definitely let you know when I am in Mumbai. Will be great if we could actually meet!!! 🙂
I look forward to meeting you. BTW, if you want a good Ayurvedic Doctor in Mumbai let me know. He helped my mom with her arthritis and is very good.
Yes I would like to get the information from you. thanks. Is it ok if I pvt msg you on FB?
Yup
Absolutely