The ever eternal Pav Bhaji

This is the recipe one never gets tired of and it can never go wrong in any kitchen.  I personally feel that the small nuances enhances the taste of any particular dish.  And especially, this bhaji is incomplete without cauliflower, carrots,beans, capsicum and peas to name a few.  These veggies have to be present and cannot be substituted with anything else.  Again, the pav, if freshly baked, does wonders.

During my young days, we had different sources of acquiring butter. One was the traditional method where my mom used to accumulate cream and once a week, butter was churned in a mixer. There used to be a 'Nambisan butter' which used to top up the deficit of the home made. And special occasions like Pav bhaji calls for only Amul butter. Till today, for Pav to be toasted, I prefer Amul butter (although I get Danish Lurpak) and the slight crispiness and the brown crunchy taste is mind blowing. I prefer to make the bhaji simple and not very 'Masaladhar'.

Here goes my version
Ingredients:

Potatoes - 6 nos
Tomatoes - 2 big finely chopped
Carrots - 2 nos chopped
Onion - 1 big finely chopped
Capsicum - 1/2 cup chopped
Beans - 1/2 cup chopped
Peas - 1/4 cup
Cauliflower- 1/2 cauliflower into florets
Coriander leaves - 4 tbsp finely chopped
Ginger - 1 tsp finely chopped
Jeera - 1 tsp
Pav bhaji masala - 3 tsp (I used MDH Pav bhaji masala)
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Red chilly powder - 3/4 tsp
Lemon - 2 nos.
Amul Butter

Boil potatoes, peel and keep it aside.  Cook carrots, beans, cauliflower,capsicum and keep aside.  Boil peas separately.

In a kadai, add one tablespoon butter, add jeera and the finely chopped onions. Saute it well and then add finely chopped ginger, Pav bhaji masala, turmeric powder, red chilly powder and stir well till the masalas are blended and then add the finely chopped tomatoes and allow it to cook well.  Now, add the cooked potatoes,beans,carrots capsicum and cauliflower. Add salt and mash the veggies well.  Once it is mashed, add water to bring it to bhaji consistency.  Now add the boiled peas and mix well.  If the peas is boiled alongwith other veggies, it will be mashed and will not be visible.

Now garnish with very finely chopped coriander leaves and the bhaji is all set to hold hands with the mighty pav.  Squeeze the juice of two lemons or as per taste before serving.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is one thing more exasperating than a wife who can cook and won't, and  a wife who can't cook and will. ~Robert Frost