Pav Bhaji is a popular and flavourful Indian street food dish that originated in Mumbai but is now enjoyed throughout the country and beyond. It comprises a vegetable-based gravy (bhaji) typically made from potatoes, cauliflower, green peas, carrots, and other vegetables. The bhaji is seasoned with a special blend of spices known as
“Pav Bhaji masala, ” giving the dish its distinct taste and aroma.
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This one-pot recipe is typically served with soft buttered buns called “pav,” which are toasted on a griddle. The pav is served alongside the bhaji and is meant to be dipped or scooped into the flavorful curry. Combining the spicy, tangy and hot bhaji bhaji with the soft buttery pav creates a delicious contrast of flavours and textures.
About Instant Pot Pav Bhaji
Mumbai is known for its variety of food. Starting from Vada Pav to Tawa Pulao, many dishes have won our hearts. One such popular Indian street food dish is Mumbai Pav Bhaji. Topped with crunchy onions, this delicious mixture of vegetables is a favourite for people of all ages. The authentic taste can be found when street vendors make this dish. I believe the key ingredient is their special pav bhaji masala and AMUL butter. Here, we are trying to replicate it in the electric pressure cooker right in our kitchen.
Pav Bhaji is a beloved, popular street food and has become a favourite in homes and restaurants. It’s a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a snack, a light meal, or even a party dish. Its vibrant flavours, combined with the softness of the pav, make it a delightful culinary experience.
The Instant Pot has revolutionized home cooking, providing convenience, speed, and consistent results. With its ability to pressure cook, sauté, and simmer all in one device, the Instant Pot is a game-changer for Indian dishes like Pav Bhaji, which require slow-cooking and infusing spices. Its sealed environment locks in flavours and reduces cooking time, making it the perfect tool for a dish that typically simmers for hours.
Instant Pot Pav Bhaji is a convenient way to make this delicious dish without spending too much time on the stove. The Instant Pot helps expedite cooking while ensuring the flavours meld together beautifully.
With the advent of the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker , whipping up a delectable batch of Pav Bhaji has never been easier. Today, let’s see how to make this one-pot dish, the Instant Pot Pav Bhaji, that impresses your taste buds.
How to make Pav Bhaji in Instant Pot?
Turn on the Instant Pot and select the Saute mode. Heat butter in the pot. Once the butter melts, add chopped onions. Sauté until they turn translucent.
Add ginger garlic paste, and sauté for another minute. Now, add bell pepper and sauté for a couple of minutes.
Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they soften. Next, add pav bhaji masala, Kashmiri chilli powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Sauté for a minute.
Add the vegetables. Mix well.
Finally, add water. Give everything a good mix. Close the Instant Pot lid and set it to “Pressure Cook” mode for 7 minutes.
Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid of the instant pot and use a potato masher to mash the cooked veggies until they’re well combined and slightly chunky. Adjust the consistency by adding more water if needed.
Turn on the “Sauté” mode again and let the pav bhaji simmer for a few more minutes, stirring occasionally. Top the Bhaji with coriander leaves and butter.
Toast the pav buns with a little butter on a griddle or skillet.
Serve the hot Mumbai Pav Bhaji with buttered, golden brown, toasted pav buns, chopped coriander leaves, and a lemon wedge on the side. A generous squeeze of lime while serving adds a great taste to the Pav bhaji.
Enjoy your delicious homemade Instant Pot Pav Bhaji recipe. Pav Bhaji is best enjoyed piping hot. Serve it immediately after preparing for the most satisfying experience.
Tips to make the best Pav Bhaji in Instant Pot
Pav bhaji Masala is a special spice blend made exclusively for this dish. It’s the blend of spices that truly sets Pav Bhaji apart. So, use a good-quality Pav Bhaji masala to add that signature taste to your dish. You can use fresh homemade masala or a good quality store-bought masala. You get the masala in all popular Indian Grocery Stores.
Adjust the spice level according to your taste. Start with less red chili powder and add more if required.
Tomato puree or tomato paste can be added in place of chopped fresh tomatoes.
Don’t overcook the vegetables in the Instant Pot. Follow the recommended cooking time to maintain the texture and flavour of the veggies.
Use a potato masher or the back of a spoon to mash the vegetables to your desired consistency. Some prefer a smoother texture, while others like it a bit chunky.
After pressure cooking, let the Pav Bhaji simmer in the Instant Pot on the sauté function. This allows the flavours to meld and intensify.
Don’t skimp on the butter at the end. Its the best part of this dish. The richness of butter is essential for that authentic Pav Bhaji flavour.
Toast the pav buns with a bit of butter until they are golden and crisp. The buttery pav buns are the perfect accompaniment to the flavorful Pav Bhaji. This is the best way to serve the Buns with the piping hot Bhaji.
Serve with a wedge of lemon for those who enjoy an extra tangy kick.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! You can customize the vegetables based on your preferences and what’s available. Common vegetables include potatoes, cauliflower, peas, carrots, and green bell peppers. You can add green beans, sweet potatoes, paneer, beetroot, other varieties of bell pepper and bottle gourd, too.
Yes, you can make traditional Pav Bhaji on the stovetop as well. Follow a similar process of cooking the vegetables in a pressure cooker, preparing the masala, and serving it with toasted pav.
You can serve them with regular bread slices, soft dinner rolls, bread rolls, burger buns or the Pav buns we get in Indian Stores. You can also serve the Bhaji along with Plain Rice, Ghee Rice, Peas Pulao or Tawa Pulao.
Yes, you can make the bhaji ahead of time and reheat it when needed. However, the pav is best toasted fresh before serving for the best taste and texture.
Get creative with toppings! Chopped onions, cilantro, and a dollop of butter are classic choices, but you can also add grated cheese, chopped green bell pepper, or even some crunchy sev (crispy chickpea flour noodles) on top.
Adding lots of butter is the highlight of this dish. You can skip the butter if you cannot consume it. Make the Bhaji Masala using regular oil. Alternatively, you can use vegan butter if you are a vegan.
Allow the masala to come to room temperature. Store it in an air-tight container and refrigerate it for up to a week.
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Recipe Card
How to make Instant Pot Pav Bhaji
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon Butter
- 1 Red Onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- 2 Tomato finely chopped
- 1 Green Bell Pepper
- 4 cups Vegetables (peeled potatoes & beetroot, carrot, green peas, cauliflower) chopped
- 1 cup Water
- Salt as needed
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- ½ tablespoon Kashmiri Chilli Powder
- 1 tablespoon Red Chilli Powder
To Garnish
- ¼ cup Coriander Leaves
- 1 small Onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
To toast the Pav Buns
- 12 Pav Buns
- 2 tablespoon Butter
Instructions
- Turn on the Instant Pot and select the "Sauté" mode. Heat 2 tablespoon butter in the pot. Add chopped onions. Sauté until they turn translucent.
- Add ginger garlic paste, and sauté for another minute. Now, add bell pepper and sauté for a couple of minutes.
- Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they soften. Next, add pav bhaji masala, Kashmiri chilli powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Sauté for a minute. Add the vegetables and mix well.
- Finally, add water. Give everything a good mix. Close the Instant Pot lid and set it to "Pressure Cook" mode for 7 minutes.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid and use a potato masher to mash the vegetables until they're well combined and slightly chunky. Adjust the consistency by adding more water if needed.
- Turn on the "Sauté" mode again and let the pav bhaji simmer for a few more minutes, stirring occasionally. Top the Bhaji with coriander leaves and 1 tablespoon butter.
- Bhaji is ready to be served.
- Toast the pav buns with butter on a griddle or skillet.
- Serve the hot pav bhaji with buttered pav buns. Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves, chopped onion, and some lemon juice. Enjoy your delicious homemade Instant Pot Pav Bhaji recipe.