Chembur Post Office – Vada Pav

By Vanita, August 19, 2013

It’s been raining in Bangalore for nearly a week and I got nostalgic about my childhood days in Mumbai. The charcoal roasted corn, steaming hot vada pav near Chembur post office, sugar cane juice, Canon Pav Bhaji, Elco Market Pani Puri, Gurukripa Samosa et all… I currently live in Bangalore in a neighbourhood where there are many local chat shops and I hate to say it publicly – I hate their chat! Sunday afternoon, I managed all day without cooking with leftovers, so decided to make batata wada since I didn’t find great tasting Pav’s here! A street snack savoured by any Mumbaikar!! Sandhya Rao, this is in favour of you 🙂

Recipe: Makes a dozen

Batata mixture

 

• 4 large potatoes, cooked in pressure cookers and mashed
• 1/2 onion chopped finely
• 2-3 garlic pods
• 3-4 finely chopped green chillies
• 1 inch ginger finely grated
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp jeera (cumin seeds)
• A bit of hing (asafoetida)
• Curry leaves
• A bit of Turmeric powder
• Coriander to garnish
• Salt to taste
• Oil

For the batter:

• 1 cup Gram flour
• 1 tbsp Rice flour
• 2 tsp chilli powder
• Salt
• Some water

1. For the batata mixture, heat oil is a pan and add the mustard and jeera allowing it to crackle. Then add, chillies, garlic, ginger, curry leaves, hing, coriander. Once roasted add turmeric powder. Add salt and add this to the mashed potato and bind together. Make lemon size balls and keep aside.
2. For the batter: Mix all the dry ingredients together with water (add little by little) to form a batter. (see image). It should not be runny though!
3. Heat oil in a pan and fry till golden brown.
4. Serve hot with fired green chillies.