Wada Pav (Mumbai street food style)

As soon as the climate gets cloudy and it starts to drizzle, the only thing that comes to our mind is hot, spicy, delicious wada pav! I know I have been trying to put up all healthy recipes but it is okay to have something fried and delicious to keep your motivational level high :) And I will exercise more on my bike :) :)

When it comes to wada pav, it has to be authentic, street food style. I am confident I do a good job at that. Speaking of street food style we like to make aloo bhajias (potato tempura) and kanda bhajiyas (onion tempura) too. Although wada pav is made everywhere in India but, this time I can vouch that Mumbai and anywhere in Maharashtra is the best place for it.

So what is Wada Pav? It is a deep fried ball made of mashed potatoes mixed with spices served in between bun/pav accompanied by varies chutnies and fried green chillies. Oh yes, fried green chillies, a must!!

So try making this soon before the summer sets in!
Rain filled clouds! :)

Boil 4 large potatoes , peal and mash them.

Add salt, lemon juice, ginger and green chilli paste to taste and freshly chopped cilantro.

Temper: Heat 1 tbsp. oil. add 1/2 tbsp urad dal/white lentils, 1/2 tbsp. mustard seeds. 4-5 finely chopped curry leaves, 1/2 tbsp. minced garlic(optional), 1/2 tsp. turmeric and pinch of hing/asoefotida.

Pour hot temper over mashed potatoes. Cool for a minute of two and mix well. 

Give it a taste test. It should taste spicy and lemony.
With the outer coating and the bun, the spice level reduces. So take in consideration other factors too.

To make chickpea flour/gram flour/ besan batter.

To 1 cup flour add 1/2 cup water and whisk well to form a lump free batter. Add another 1/4 cup water little at a time to form a smooth flowing batter.
Add salt, red chilli powder and pinch of turmeric.
I do not add soda bi carbonate to the batter. I also like my batter to be thin, and free flowing to make a thin covering around potato filling.

Make small mashed potato balls. Dip them well in chickpea flour batter and deep fry in hot oil.

Remove on an absorbent paper.
Slit green chillies with the knife and deep fry them. Sprinkle some salt over them.
Slitting them before frying is important.

Slit green chilies lengthwise, dip in chickpea flour batter and deep fry them.
Yum Yum!!

Serve with green chutney, sweet tamarind chutney and a must dry garlic chutney!

Wrap in a paper and enjoy street food style!  

It is a great picnic or sport/game snack! Just wrap individual wada pav in paper and see how you and your dish become 'A Star of the Day'!

My memories of India trip with my cousins.
On our way to Lonavala!

Wada pav at food court on Expressway to Pune.

At my favorite place, VT (now CST) Mumbai.

Look at the little stall at he back!

Early morning wada pav breakfast after a walk!

And more fun begins as it starts sprinkling!

Mini wada pavs for a party or game night.
Check out my Mumbai Pav Bread recipe:

Using the same pav recipe as above, I made mini pavs
36 pavs with one recipe.

Click here to check these cute chili picks.

Enjoy Mini Wada Pav!