4 Simple Steps To Master The Art Of Making Vada Pav At Home

Vada pav is a popular Mumbai street food consisting of a spicy, deep-fried potato vada sandwiched between a soft, round pav. The vada is made from mashed spiced potatoes coated in a gram flour batter and fried until crispy. The pav is typically spread with green chutney and tamarind chutney, adding a tangy and spicy flavor to the sandwich. Often garnished with fried green chilies and sometimes served with additional chutneys, vada pav is cherished for its bold flavors and satisfying texture.

Here’s a simple recipe for vada pav:

1. Ingredients

For the Vada:

– 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
– 1 tsp mustard seeds
– 1 tsp cumin seeds
– 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
– 1/2 tsp red chili powder
– 1/2 tsp garam masala
– 1/2 tsp asafoetida (hing)
– 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
– Salt to taste
– 1 cup besan (gram flour)
– Water as needed
– Oil for frying

For the Pav:

– 6-8 pav or burger buns

For the Chutneys:

– Green chutney (coriander and mint)
– Tamarind chutney (sweet and tangy)

2. Instruction

Step 1- Prepare the Vada:

– Boil the potatoes until tender. Mash and set aside.
– Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and asafoetida.
– Add turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt. Stir briefly.
– Add the mashed potatoes and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
– Stir in chopped coriander leaves, then let the mixture cool. Shape into small balls.

Step 2- Make the Batter:

– Mix besan with a pinch of salt and water to form a thick batter.

Step 3- Fry the Vada:

– Heat oil in a pan for deep frying.
– Dip each potato ball into the besan batter, coat evenly, and fry until golden brown.
– Remove and drain on paper towels.

Step 4- Assemble the Vada Pav:

– Slice the pav buns and lightly toast them.
– Spread green chutney and tamarind chutney on the pav.
– Place a vada (fritter) between the pav halves.

Serve hot with extra chutneys and fried green chilies on the side. Enjoy your homemade vada pav!