Pav baaji is our family favorite but we have it only once or twice in a year. The various veggies and the strong pav-baaji masala were treats but not so frequent. I had my first pav-baaji at my friend’s place almost 10 years back.
When we moved to Chennai a decade ago our family tasted them in Hot chips. Hardly 3-4 times all these years. But after me getting in to the blogging world I startEd making the baaji at home and we would buy the readymade pav buns to mop it off.
Last week my sis wanted to have them as we visited the near by Food World super market. I grabbed 2 packs of pav buns and a pack of MTR Pav baaji masala. Somehow the Eastern masala was strong to our taste buds. The MTR pack had the baaji recipe at the back of the pack so I bought all the required veggies too. When I paid the bill at the counter at th right time my younger one started running around taking my mind out of the billing person (note here. the side effect in the end). I somehow managed to grab the bag and the little one and came out of the shop.
After coming home safely put in the bag in the kitchen cupboard and went to complete the chores for the end of the day (feeding the kids, setting up the bed, boling milk etc) and by the time I went to bed I was hardly able to hold open my eyelids.
The next day morning I invited my brother and sis-in-law for the evening pav party. By 5 in the evening I started preparing the baaji and the lovley smell filled the entire house. It was really soothing for that cold evening. When everybody gathered I started off to toast the pav buns and then started to realize the side effect. The buns were not there. I had missed them in the counter itself which I realized very late. Off came my brother to my rescue and he said he would roam around and find be some buns in the nearby super markets. Everywhere it was out of stock and in one place he was so wild and called me up and asked if he could buy it from the pav-baaji vendor 
I said no and he saldy returned back. My Amma gave a wonderful idea. Why not make crispy dosas and have them with this baaji ?
Everybody agreed and we all had a real treat I should say. The baaji tasted even better with crispy dosas. I made some spongy soft ones for myself as I am not fond of crispy ones and they too tasted heavenly. Somehow I managed to take the pic of the lonely baaj without his ideal pair but he’s happy with his new friend the dosa
Pav Baaji
Ingredients:
Potatoes – 250 gm
Cauliflower florets – 200 gms
Tomatos – 250 gm
Onion (medium sized) – 2
Ginger arlic paste – 1 tea spoon
Green peas (cooked) – 100 gm
Capsicum diced – 50 gm
MTR Pav baaji masala – 2 teaspoon
Chilli powder – 1/2 teaspoon
Salt – as per taste
Corainder leaves chopped – 2 T spoon
Butter – 50 gm
Peanut oil – 50 gm
How to make it?
Boil, cool, peel and mash the potatoes. Cook the cauliflower florets in boiling water with salt for 3 mins and drain and reserve. Chop the onions and tomatoes and reserve.
In a thick bottomed skilltet melt the butter and add the oil. Once it is hot add the ginger garlic paste and the onions. Saute them till the onions turn translucent and add the tomatoes. Cook till the tomatoes are soft and skins starts peeling off. Now add the cooked green peas, mashed potatoes, chilli powder, salt, MTR pav baaji masala and mix well. Add enough water to make it to your desired consistency. Check for salt and heat and adjust at this point. Once this comes to a boil add the par boiled cauliflower florets. Check for salt again and adjust. Using a masher or a thich spoon mash the vegetables as they cook. Its easy but keep on doing this till you get the dsired consistency. Once you reach the point as the entire gravy is apt to mop with the buns switch off the stove and sprinkle the coriander leaves and cover it. Let it sit for few mins to get the flavours blend well.
Serve with butter-toasted pav buns or with Crisy dosas! They were wonderful!
