Description: A very popular Indian street food also known as Indian burger or Bombay burger originates from Maharashtra or Marathi cuisine. This snack is prepared mainly with pav (plain bread roll) and batata vada (potato patty/fritter) stuffing and is served with fried green chillies, hot garlic and coriander chutneys. Vada pav has become a very staple on-the-go diet which was invented by Ashok Vaidya in 1966. He used to own a fast food stall outside a very busy and crowded railway station in Mumbai and it was his unique idea to curb the hunger of ever-moving commuters by serving them a quick vada pav so they could eat on the go. Vada pav reminds me of my childhood days and I make sure I enjoy those when I am in my hometown in India. However on occasions I do make them at home.

Ingredients:

For potato mixture:

• 2-3 medium boiled and mashed potatoes
• 1 inch ginger
• 2-3 cloves grated/crushed garlic
• 1 finely chopped chilli
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• a pinch of hing/asafoetida
• few curry leaves
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tsp lemon juice.

For batter:

• 3/4 cup gram flour/chickpea flour/besan
• 1 tbsp rice flour
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup water
• oil for deep frying

Other ingredients:

• 6 plain bread rolls/pav
• 4-5 tsp dry garlic chutney
• 3 tsp tamarind chutney (optional)
• 6 tsp green (coriander-mint) chutney
• 6 fried green chillies.