Mumbai Street Vada Pav Recipe

Vada Pav is a popular and iconic street food from Mumbai, India. It’s often referred to as the Indian burger and consists of a spicy, crispy potato fritter (vada) sandwiched in a soft pav typically served with chutneys and fried green chilies.

Vada Pav offers a burst of savory, tangy, and spicy notes in every bite. It’s a quintessential taste of Mumbai’s vibrant street food culture, loved for its simplicity and irresistible flavor.

Ingredients

For the Vada

1. 4 medium potatoes, peeled and boiled
2. 1 tablespoon oil
3. 1 handful Curry leaves
4. 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
5. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
6. 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
7. 1 teaspoon coriander powder
8. 1 teaspoon garam masala
9. 1 teaspoon ginger, chopped
10. 1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
11. 1 tablespoon Onion, chopped
12. 1 green chili, finely chopped
13. 2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves, chopped
14.  Salt to taste

For the Batter

1.  1 cup besan (gram flour)
2.  1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
3.  1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
4.  1/2 teaspoon baking soda
5. Salt to taste
6.  Water (as needed to make a thick batter)

For Assembling

1. Pav (bread rolls), sliced
2. Green chutney
3. Fried green chilies

Method

For the Vada

1. Mash the boiled potatoes in a bowl.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Once they start to splutter, add curry leaves.
3. Add chopped onion , ginger and garlic and cook for a few minutes.
4. Add the turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder. Sauté for a minute.
5. Add the mashed potatoes, garam masala, green chili ,coriander leaves, and salt. Mix well and cook for a few minutes until the mixture is well combined and slightly dry.
6. Let the potato mixture cool. Once cool, shape into small balls or patties.

Prepare the Batter:

1. In a bowl, combine besan, turmeric powder, red chili powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Gradually add water to form a thick batter.

Fry the Vada:

1. Heat oil in a deep pan for frying. Crispy a few besan batter to form boondi like shape.
2. Dip each potato ball into the batter, coating it evenly.
3. Fry in hot oil until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Assemble the Vada Pav

1. Slice the pav in half but keep them joined at one side.
2. Spread green chutney and fried gram flour masala on the inside of the pav.
3. Place a hot vada inside the pav.
4.  Add fried green chilies and chopped onions on top.

Serve the vada pav immediately while it’s hot and crispy, with extra chutneys and fried chilies on the side if desired.

Additionally best enjoy with masala tea.

Enjoy the delicious taste of Vada Pav—a true street food classic that brings a burst of flavor in every bite!