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Masala pav
Spiced buttered bread buns
Masala pav: soft pav buns toasted in butter with a spicy onion, tomato and pav bhaji masala
Masala pav comes from the pav bhaji stalls of Mumbai, where cooks use the last of the spicy bhaji base to fry split buns on the tawa as a quick evening snack. Here the masala is made fresh: onion, pepper and tomato cooked down in butter with chilli, garlic and pav bhaji masala, then the buns are pressed into it until they soak it up and turn crisp at the edges. It is a fast tea-time snack and a children's favourite with a glass of buttermilk. The usual mistake is putting the buns into a wet, half-cooked masala, which makes them soggy instead of toasty. Chef's tip: cook the masala until it is jammy and clings to the spoon before you add the pav.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 8 pav bunssplit in half sideways, still joined at one side
- 1 ¾ oz butter
- 1 onionlarge, finely chopped
- ½ green pepper (capsicum)finely chopped
- 3 cloves garliccrushed
- 2 tomatoesmedium, finely chopped
- 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
- 2 tsp pav bhaji masala
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 tbsp fresh corianderfinely chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Melt 1 ¼ oz butter in a wide frying pan or tawa over a medium heat. Fry 1 onion and ½ green pepper (capsicum) until soft and starting to colour, about 4 minutes.
4 minStep 2: Add 3 cloves garlic and fry for 30 seconds, then add 2 tomatoes, 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder, 2 tsp pav bhaji masala and ½ tsp salt. Cook, mashing with the spatula, until the tomato has melted into a thick, jammy masala that clings to the spoon, about 4 minutes.
4 minStep 3: Stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp fresh coriander, then push the masala to one side of the pan.
Step 4: Open 8 pav buns like books. Working in batches, spread a spoonful of masala inside each one, close it, then press both outsides into the masala left in the pan.
Step 5: Add the remaining ½ oz butter to the pan and toast the buns for about 1 minute on each side, pressing down, until crisp and speckled red.
2 minStep 6: Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tbsp fresh coriander and serve hot, two buns per person.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does masala pav take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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