PAV BHAJI

I attempted Pavbhaji for the first time yesterday and it was a super hit.It came out very well.I took this recipe from a cooking manual and made some changes according to our tastebuds.

     Ingredients 

• 6 pavs (squarish soft buns )
• Butter to toast.

For Bhaji :

• 2 cups chopped mixed vegetables (beans, carrots, cauliflower, potato, beans )
• 1/2 cup shelled peas

To saute:

• 2 tsp. butter
• 2 onions chopped fine 
• 2 tomatoes chopped fine
• 1 capsicum chopped fine 
• 1 green chilly chopped finely
• 1/2 tsp. each ginger grated, garlic crushed ( G&G paste)
• 2 tsp. pavbhaji masala (i used MDH masala)
• 1/2 – 1  tsp. chilli powder (adjust)
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. sugar  (i added a pinch)
• salt to taste
• 1 cup water (use according to the thickness of the bhaji)
• juice of 1/2 lemon.

To Garnish :

• 1 tbsp. coriander chopped
• 1 onion chopped
• small pieces of lemon 
    

Method  of preparation:
For bhaji:

• Pressure cook mixed vegetables and peas till well done. 
• Mash them coarsely using a ladle after draining the water.
• Heat butter in a pan. Add  crushed ginger-garlic, capsicum, onion, tomatoes. 
• Fry for 2-3 minutes till very soft and mushy. Add pavbhaji masala, chilli powder, turmeric, salt, sugar and cooked vegetables. fry further 2-3 minutes.
• Bring to boil. Simmer till gravy is thick, stirring and mashing pieces with masala, in between. 
• Add lemon juice, stir. 
• Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

     For Pavs :

• Slit pavs horizontally leaving one edge attached. (To open like a book).
• Apply butter (as desired) and roast open on a tawa till hot and soft with the surface crisp on both sides.

     Serve hot with bhaji, a piece of lemon and chopped onion.
KITCHEN CLINIC:

Buns: A bun is a small, usually sweet bread. Commonly they are hand-sized or smaller, domed in shape with a flat bottom. It can also mean a savory bread roll similar to a bap or barmcake. Basic buns are usually made using flour, sugar, eggs, yeast and butter. "Bun" can also refer to a kind of filled dumpling, such as Chinese baozi. In West Yorkshire and certain parts of Northern England, cupcakes are referred to as buns. As yeast is used in preparing buns, i wish to mention some facts about yeast.Do read it !! yeast: Yeasts are eukaryotic microorganisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with about 1,500 species currently described; they dominate fungal diversity in the oceans. Most reproduce asexually by budding, although a few do so by binary fission. Yeasts are unicellular, although some species with yeast forms may become multicellular through the formation of a string of connected budding cells known as pseudohyphae, or false hyphae as seen in most molds. Yeast size can vary greatly depending on the species, typically measuring 3–4 µm in diameter, although some yeasts can reach over 40 µm. The yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used in baking and fermenting alcoholic beverages for thousands of years. It is also extremely important as a model organism in modern cell biology research, and is the most thoroughly researched eukaryotic microorganism. Researchers have used it to gather information into the biology of the eukaryotic cell and ultimately human biology. Other species of yeast, such as Candida albicans, are opportunistic pathogens and can cause infection in humans. Yeasts have recently been used to generate electricity in microbial fuel cells, and produce ethanol for the biofuel industry. uses: The useful physiological properties of yeast have led to their use in the field of biotechnology. Fermentation of sugars by yeast is the oldest and largest application of this technology. Many types of yeasts are used for making many foods: Baker's yeast in bread production, brewer's yeast in beer fermentation, yeast in wine fermentation and for xylitol production. Yeasts are also one of the most widely used model organisms for genetics and cell biology. Nutritional supplements Yeast is used in nutritional supplements popular with vegans and the health conscious, where it is often referred to as "nutritional yeast". It is a deactivated yeast, usually Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is an excellent source of protein and vitamins, especially the B-complex vitamins, whose functions are related to metabolism as well as other minerals and cofactors required for growth. It is also naturally low in fat and sodium. Some brands of nutritional yeast, though not all, are fortified with vitamin B12, which is produced separately from bacteria. Nutritional yeast, though it has a similar appearance to brewer's yeast, is very different and has a very different taste. Nutritional yeast has a nutty, cheesy, creamy flavor which makes it popular as an ingredient in cheese substitutes. It is often used by vegans in place of Parmesan cheese. Another popular use is as a topping for popcorn. It can also be used in mashed and fried potatoes, as well as putting it into scrambled eggs. It comes in the form of flakes, or as a yellow powder similar in texture to cornmeal, and can be found in the bulk aisle of most natural food stores. In Australia it is sometimes sold as "savory yeast flakes". Though "nutritional yeast" usually refers to commercial products, inadequately fed prisoners have used "home-grown" yeast to prevent vitamin deficiency.