Mumbai Masala Pav is a beloved street food from Mumbai, consisting of sliced Ladi Pav filled with a savoury mix of buttery, spiced onions, tomatoes, and green peppers. Traditionally made with Ladi Pav, this dish can also be prepared with any type of soft, fluffy bread roll.
Mumbai Pav, or Ladi Pav, is a distinctive bread from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The name ‘Ladi Pav’ comes from the arrangement of the buns in rows (ladis) as they are baked in large pans. In Hindi, ‘Pav’ signifies a quarter or ¼ᵗʰ and also ‘feet’. The Portuguese introduced this bread, and originally, bakers would knead the dough with their feet, hence the name ‘pav’ or ‘pao’.
The Masala Pav recipe originates from Mumbai’s beloved street food, ‘Pav Bhaji’. This is my version of Masala Pav as there are numerous variations, some using potatoes in the masala. In my version, I typically use a base of onions, tomatoes, and green peppers. Moreover, it is incredibly simple to prepare masala pav at home, especially when you have pav readily available. Topped with finely chopped onions, fresh coriander, it is a delicious snack on the move!
Like pav bhaji, I cook the masala on a flat iron pan, which gives a more authentic flavour to the dish. However, you can make the masala in a regular pan too.
At the same time having grown up in Mumbai, this dish is my personal favourite. It is perfect for those times when we are short on time but craving the spicy, buttery flavours of garlic and pav bhaji masala.
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