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Pav bhaji or pao bhaji is a specialty Indian dish with origins in Mumbai. The word "pao" comes from the Portuguese word "pão" meaning bread and bhaji means a curry and vegetable mix. The serving of pav bhaji consists of the bhaji (a potato based curry) and the pav (bread) garnished with coriander and chopped onions. It is a meat-less dish and is high in carbohydrates and calories. It can be high in fat content if served with butter, as it is typically done. The flour used for pav and peas used in bhaji provide proteins in the serving.

To make bhaji, potatoes are boiled and mashed on a flat pan called a tava, and made into a thick gravy after frying with diced tomatoes, green peas, capsicums (green pepper) and other vegetables like cauliflower. A special blend of spices called the pav bhaji masala is added to this thick gravy. The gravy is then allowed to simmer on the pan for a few minutes and is served hot in a flat dish with a tablespoon of butter on top.

Pav Bhaji being prepared on iron tava

The pav (bread) is roasted on the same pan with an ample amount of butter and masala. The Bhaji is garnished with diced onion and a slice of lemon and served with the pav.

Due to low cost, easy availability and nutritional value, it can be consumed as a part (or sole meal) of breakfast, lunch or dinner meal. This is particularly true for individuals in western parts of India. Here pav bhaji is available on hand-pulled carts popularly known as Pav bhaji ki Gaadi. It is also available in almost all local food-stalls and restaurants. The connection of pav bhaji is to western India is similar to that of pizza to Italy and hot dog to USA.

The origins of pav bahji can be traced to the local poor community of Mumbai. They could not afford to buy fresh vegetables and so they would wait until the vegetable market had closed and would collect any vegetables lying around the street. They made the "bhaji" from this.

Initially, it remained as the food of the street people. The dish was then patronized extensively by the upcoming Mumbai underworld. This resulted in the dish finding its way into restaurants and spreading over Central Mumbai and other areas.

The best place to eat Pao Bhaji in Mumbai is at Shiv Saagar, located in Juhu and Vile Parle. Shiv Saagar serve an endless list of varieties of pao bhaji including: Shiv Saagar Special, Cheese Pau Bhaji and even Jain Pau Bhaji. Shiv Saagar is very well known place in Mumbai and very popular amongst the locals.

In popular culture, the Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has played the role of a Pav Bhaji vendor in Vaastav: The Reality.

• Traditional Pav Bhaji Recipe And Pav Making Technique.