Street food is the second most common thing in India after Bollywood movies. Maybe another blog on that later! We have such a variety available on the streets that they seem more scrumptious and mouth-watering than taking the trouble to go to a restaurant, being polite, asking for a menu and ordering in a prim and proper manner. Instead standing at street vendor stalls, with little disposable plates or wrapped up sandwiches in paper is the norm and taste we love to have. Totally irresistible ! Sometimes there is pani puri trickling down as you push the big puris in your mouth, at other times you have to be messy with your hands or your mouth as you eat double-decker chutney and vegetable sandwiches or gobble that yummy dosa with chutneys. From kala khatta golas to bhel puris, pani puris, fried chicken and baida rotis……one thing that is popular, healthy, filling and cheap is our very favorite : Vada pav ( Vada = potato fritter and pav = bread)

This is something I shall share with you today. So you can make it easily in your kitchens. Here goes: Boil 3-4 medium sized potatoes and mash them well. On a low flame, take 1 tsp oil, add cumin seeds ( zeera), mustard ( rai), haldi powder ( turmeric) red chili powder, coriander powder, salt and lastly add finely chopped ginger ( 2 tbsp).Put flame off. Add the mixture to the mashed potatoes and mix well. Make patties of these flat and round and keep aside. Make a batter of gram flour mixed with water, salt, 1/4 tsp red chilli powder, 1/4 tsp of garam masala powder . Dip the patties prepared and fry them on shallow fry and medium flame but till crispy and well done.

The interesting ingredient of vada pav is the chutney. You make them with love and they turn out the best.

Chutney 1 ( Green Chutney) Blend a bunch of coriander ( washed well) with 2 green chillies, 1 tsp cumin powder, salt and 1-2 flakes of garlic. This should be a fine paste. 1/4 tsp of lemon juice can be added too.

Chutney 2 (Red Chutney) Blend 3-4 pods of garlic along with 2 tbsp of roasted peanuts, 4-6 dried red chillies and 2 tbsp of coconut grated. When ground well, add 2 tbsp of olive oil or any oil and salt to taste.

Vada Pav: Take the pav ( its a special Mumbai baked bun, not easily available everywhere…but search for it) Cut open, add Red chutney to one side and a good spread of green chutney on the other. Place the fried patty in between and serve with fried green chillies. Its surely heaven;y when the spices hit your palate. Do take it with tea….to get that extra kick !