Mumbai, a city of dreams, a city that never sleeps, a city always on a move. For over two decades before I moved to its sister city Pune I grew up in Mumbai. I was a part of the crowd that moves through the city in pursuit of their goals, day in and day out through the local trains.
A life of a Mumbaikar can be described in three words- locals, street food and beaches. DNA of a Mumbai dweller is altered by these three aspects so much so that they would crave for these missing elements as they move to other city. Though Pune has offered me what Mumbai could never – peace and calmness, I often miss the maddening energy and fervor that is now a part of culture of Mumbai.
The element that I crave for the most is street food. The distasteful imitations of Mumbai Street food is attempted and offered in every city of India but none of it can come closer to the dishes that is offered in the city of Mumbai. Often dishes like Bombay Sandwich, Bombay Pav-Bhaji, Bombay Tawa Pulao and Bombay Vada Pava are offered on the menu but all these dishes fall short of expectations. Sometimes I wonder if they just sell the regular dishes with a prefix “Bombay” attached to its name- a poor attempt at deception. Having tasted the original street food dishes in Mumbai, I seldom do try these dishes in other cities, unless the place comes highly recommended.
The most common street food that one can find in every corner of Mumbai, of course after Vada Pav is Pav Bhaji. The kind of proliferation these two dishes enjoy in Mumbai’s street foodscape is unmatchable. The presence of Pav Bhaji can be felt at every lane and every corner of Mumbai streets. Another item that has become equally popular and which is often termed as a derivative of Pav Bhaji is –Tawa Pulao.
Tawa is referred to a large iron griddle that is often used to prepare Pav Bhaji and this Pulao. This large equipment used in making the recipe adds to the excitement that can be felt witnessing the making of these dishes. The sizzle of butter can be heard as it melts on the tawa and this sight tickles your taste buds before the hot preparation is served to you in a plate. As the name indicates, tawa pulao is a rice preparation and is made on a large iron tawa. Rice that is added to this preparation is in cooked form, which makes this recipe as an ideal choice for utilizing the leftover rice.
The veggies that are added to the preparation are similar to what goes into making of Pav Bhaji. However unlike Pav Bhaji, veggies are not mashed but added in its boiled form. Pav Bhaji masala is another ingredient that adds to the taste of the recipe. We have a recipe for making Pav Bhaji Masala at home available for you. The fresh masala adds greatly to the taste and the aroma of final preparation.
Make this recipe at home and enjoy the taste of street food of Mumbai in your kitchen.
If you love rice preparations, do check our section of rice preparations
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 3-4
- 1 cup long grain Basmati rice (We have used cooked rice for the recipe. Leftover rice can also be used)
- 100 grams onions sliced into lengths
- 200 grams tomatoes finely chopped
- 100 grams capsicum cut into cubes
- 70 grams carrot cut into cubes
- 50 grams frozen or fresh shelled green peas
- 50 grams cauliflower florets
- 50 grams frozen or fresh shelled green peas
- 50 grams cauliflower florets
- ½ cup fresh coriander leaves (cilantro)
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tsp red chili powder(less spicy)
- 1 and ½ tbsp pav bhaji masala powder
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 2 tbsp butter
- Cooking Oil
- Salt
- Heat 1 litre water in a pan. Add ½ tsp salt and allow water to boil.Add potatoes, french beans and cauliflower.We will let veggies cook for 7-8 mins.
- After 2 mins of cooking add diced carrots.After 8 mins, turn off the flame. Remove veggies from water and spread in a plate.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil on an iron griddle.A non stick pan can be used instead.Put 2 tbsp butter.Allow the butter to melt.
- Add cumin seeds.When cumin seeds begin to splutter, add sliced onions.Onions must become soft.
- After 2-3 mins, add ginger-garlic paste.Fry to get rid of raw smell.
- Now add chopped capsicum. Capsicum must be completely cooked. Add 2-3 tbsp water while cooking capsicum.
- Capsicum becomes soft in 6-7 mins.Add chopped tomatoes.Cook until tomatoes become soft and mushy.Cover and cook tomatoes on medium heat.
- Tomatoes become soft in about 8 mins.Add turmeric powder,red chili powder,pav bhaji masala,salt to taste. Bhunao.
- You can add water as required for Bhunao.Bhunao for 4-5 mins.
- Now add frozen green peas,steamed veggies,cilantro.Mix.
- Veggies are cooked for 3-4 mins.Add cooked rice.Mix rice and veggies.
- Turn off the heat.Add lime juice and chopped cilantro.Mix.Tawa Pulao can now be served.
- Mumbai's street food tawa pulao is ready
Click here to watch recipe video
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