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Masala Pav is one of India's most in-demand street foods. perfectly soft, buttery buns combine with a spicy vegetable filling.
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Comforting and vibrant, this snack can be enjoyed easily or even eaten as a quick meal. Filling and easy to make, Masala Pav will bring the great street food of India into your home. So, here we go!
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Let's begin by gathering your ingredients: 4 pavs or soft and slightly sweet buns, great for covering with masala filling.
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Start by melting 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pan on medium heat. The butter enriches the dish and helps saut the vegetables. Once butter is melted and bubbly, add in 1/2 cup chopped onions.
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Saut the onions until they turn translucent and slightly golden; that will usually take about 3-4 minutes. The aromatic scent of the onions will fill your kitchen and set the stage for the next ingredients coming in.
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Add to this skillet a cup of finely chopped tomatoes. Tomatoes will add moisture to this mixture but also provide a tangy sweetness which will balance the spices.
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Stir through and let the mixture cook for another 5-7 minutes, till the tomatoes soften and break down into a rich, thick sauce.
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As you cook, you can add in 1 finely chopped green chilli for a little zing - adjust to suit your tolerance. This is one ingredient that the dish might fall flat without.
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Once the tomatoes are soft, add capsicum. Stir in 11/2 cups chopped, crunchy, sweet bell peppers.
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Toss and cook for a final 3-4 minutes until the capsicum is cooked but still retains the brightness of its colour and texture. This is an important step in balancing a filling that is full of different textures.
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Add one teaspoon of ginger garlic paste to intensify the flavour. This spice mixture is used in Indian cooking and will add a warm, earthy flavour to the filling. Mix them well into the filling so that the ginger and garlic are also spread uniformly through it.
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Spice the filling with 11/2 to 1 Tsp red chilli powder after personal preference. Add 11/2 to 1 teaspoon of pav bhaji masala powder-the magic spice that gives it a flavour characteristic of this dish: full-bodied and robust. Don't forget to add salt to your taste so all flavours go hand in hand.
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Let the mixture cook for another 2 to 3 minutes after the spices have well incorporated. The flavours will mix well with this long cooking time.
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The aroma will also be irresistible at this point, making your kitchen smell of spices and nicely cooked vegetables.
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It is time to prepare the pavs when the filling is ready. Cut each of the four buns horizontally; don't cut all the way through.
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Now, take a separate pan and heat the butter. You can lightly toast the inner sides of the pavs until they become golden and crispy - another added texture and flavour.
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Now it's time to assemble the Masala Pav. Take a generous portion of this spicy vegetable filling and stuff it into each toasted bun. Press them down a bit so that the filling stays in place.
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Finally, squeeze the juice of 1 medium lemon over the stuffed pavs. The tang of citrus does great justice and enhances the flavour profile. Finally, garnish with a handful of finely chopped coriander leaves for a refreshing finish.
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Serve the Masala Pav piping hot, topped with some extra lemon wedges and green chutney to make the perfect combination.
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Masala Pav is a perfect dish to serve during gatherings or casual family dinners- crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and full of flavours and textures in every bite.
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Warm, buttery buns filled with spicy vegetables- a sure winner in the world of Masala Pav. Enjoy this scrumptious dish, which soon becomes your house's headliner!