Vada Pav-The Indian Burger

The Indian Burger! That would best describe the Vada-pav, it is  one of the most loved street food in India.
Vada is spicy mashed potatoes balls coated with a batter of gram flour, deep fried in oil. Pav is a soft, slightly squarish bread smeared with a hot and spicy garlic chutney, then the vada is tucked inside the slit bread and is served with fried green chilli on the side... mmmm... you take a big flavorful bite of the scrumptious vada pav then take a bite into the fried chilli... am salivating already :) Both hubby and I are great fans. He used to have this very often during his bachelor days in Pune (India) and often tells me about the famous road side vendor where he used to always eat it whenver he came back from work.
Made it yesterday evening and served him after he got back from work. I could tell he was pleasantly surprised as I got the expected big grin on his face for which I was waiting :) To top it all, it was raining which made for the perfect weather to have this roadside delicacy.

Here's it goes -


Ingredients:

For the vadas:

Potatoes ...............................  5 - 6 medium, boiled, peeled and mashed about 2 cups
Ginger garlic paste ...................  1 tsp
Green Chili ............................ 1 - 2 chopped
Mustard seeds ......................... 1 tsp
Oil ...................................... 2 tsp + for deep frying
Cilantro ................................ 2 tbsp
Curry leaves ........................... 4-5 leaves
Turmeric ............................... a pinch
Hing .................................... a pinch
Cashew ................................ few pieces chopped
Salt ..................................... to taste
Lemon Juice .......................... 1 tbsp or to taste

For the batter:

Besan (Chickpea Flour) ............... 3/4 cup
Rice Flour  .............................. 4 Tbsp
Asafoetida  ............................. a pinch
Salt ...................................... to taste
Turmeric ................................ 1/4 tsp
Baking Soda ............................. 1/4 tsp
Red Chili Powder....................... 1/2 tsp
Water ...................................  a little more than 1/2 cup



Method:


For Vada:

1. In a pan, heat oil. Add hing, mustard seeds, let it pop. Add curry leaves.

Add cashew, saute till light brown. Add ginger garlic paste and stir for 30 sec. Add potatoes, mix and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add in the cilantro and lemon juice and turn off the heat.

2. Allow to cool it a little bit. Form small balls (about 8) and keep aside.
3. Mix all ingredients for the batter in a separate mixing bowl and mix until smooth and lump-free.

4. Heat Oil in a pan on medium heat to deep fry vadas. Drop potato balls into the batter to completely coat them. Shake off excess batter and place them carefully in the hot oil, one at a time (not more 3 at a time).

5. Fry on all sides until light brown. 

6. Remove and drain on a paper towel.

For Garlic chutney:
In a small pan add a quarter tsp oil and 1 tsp chopped garlic and saute till light brown, add 1/2 cup dry coconut powder and 1/2 tsp sesame seeds and roast till it turns slightly brown. Mix in 1/4 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp red chilli powder and grind (I use my coffee grinder). This is a dry powder, so do not add water.
You may use other chutneys of your choice, mint, tamarind. (optional)

To assemble Vada Pav:

1. Slit each pav bread.
2. Spread mint chutney on one side and  garlic chutney on the other side.
3. Slighty flatten one vada and place on the bun.
4. Top with fried chilies or chopped onions.
5. Close the bun to form a burger. ENJOY!!!!


Notes:

1. For the fried green chilli, after frying the vadas add some slit green chiilies in the same hot oil, fry for a minute or two (be careful as it splutters a lot). Take out and sprinkle some salt.
2. The vadas can be had as an awesome appetizer by itself without the pav. They are also sometimes called,  Aloo Bonda or Batata Vada.


Linking this to- Hearth n' Soul