Vada Pav

 Here's a simple recipe for Vada Pav, the popular street food from Maharashtra:

Ingredients:

For the Vada:

4-5 medium-sized potatoes, boiled and mashed

1/2 cup gram flour (besan)

1/4 cup rice flour

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp red chili powder

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

A pinch of asafoetida (hing)

1/2 inch ginger, grated

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

1-2 green chilies, finely chopped

1 tbsp oil

A few curry leaves, chopped

Salt to taste

Oil for deep frying

For the Pav:

8 pav buns

2 tbsp butter

1/4 cup dry garlic chutney (made by grinding together dry coconut, garlic, and red chili powder)

For Serving:

Tamarind chutney

Green chutney

Fried green chilies (optional)

Instructions:

Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once they start to crackle, add asafoetida, minced garlic, grated ginger, and chopped green chilies. Saute for a minute.

Add curry leaves and mashed potatoes. Mix well.

Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt. Mix until well combined. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool.

Once the potato mixture is cooled, shape it into small balls or patties and keep aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together gram flour, rice flour, a pinch of turmeric, and a pinch of salt. Add water gradually to make a thick, smooth batter.

Heat oil for deep frying in a pan over medium heat.

Dip each potato ball or patty into the gram flour batter, ensuring it is coated evenly.

Carefully drop the coated potato ball or patty into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy. Remove from oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.

To assemble the Vada Pav, slit the pav buns horizontally, but not all the way through.

Apply a little butter and dry garlic chutney on the inner sides of the pav buns.

Place a hot vada in the center of the bun and press it gently.

Serve hot with tamarind chutney, green chutney, and fried green chilies (if using) on the side.

Enjoy the delicious and flavorful Vada Pav, a popular street food from Maharashtra!