Wada Pav / Vada Pav

Wada Pav is a popular Maharashtrian snack. It is very common in Pune and Mumbai. Batata (potato) wada is placed between the two halves of pav and served with garlic chutney and deep fried green chillies. Potato stuffing is dipped in gram flour batter and deep fried, which is called wada. 

Wada pav can be served for breakfast or as an evening tea time snack. I wouldn't mind call it an Indian burger.

Here goes the recipe for the same.

Measurement: 1 cup= 180 ml
Makes: 10

Ingredients:
For Wada:

1. Potato stuffing
2. Batter for covering
3. Oil - for deep frying

For the Stuffing:

1. Potatoes (boiled & peeled) - 6 medium
2. Garlic (crushed) - 10 cloves
3. Ginger (grated) - 1/2 tsp
4. Green chillies (crushed) - 2 to 3
5. Curry leaves - 6
6. Coriander leaves (chopped) - 1 tbsp
7. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
8. Asafoetida - 1/8 tsp
9. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
10. Oil - 1 1/2 tbsp
11. Salt to taste

For the Batter:

1. Besan (gram flour) - 1 to1 1 /4 cup
2. Water - 1 to 1 1/4 cup
3. Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
4. Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
5. Salt to taste

For Serving:

1. Pav - 10
2. Dry garlic chutney - 5 tbsp approx
3. Green chillies (deep fried and salted) - 10

Procedure:

For the Stuffing:

• Dice potatoes and slightly mash them.
• Sprinkle salt over mashed potatoes.
• Heat oil in a tempering pan and add mustard seeds, let them crackle. Put off the flame.
• Add all the ingredients except coriander leaves. Put on the flame and stir fry for 2 seconds.
• Pour the tempering over mashed potatoes, add coriander leaves and mix well.
• Divide the mixture into 10 balls of equal size.
• Slightly flatten the balls with the help of your palms and keep aside.

For the Batter:

• Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and make a smooth batter. (You may use a wire whisk for mixing)

For making Wada:

• Heat oil in a deep frying pan.
• Dip the potato ball into the batter and drop it into the frying pan. Deep fry on medium flame. Turn the side. Deep fry till it turns golden brown. 
• Place on an absorbent paper.
• Repeat the procedure for remaining wadas. 

For Serving:

• Slice the pav into halves.
• Spread 1 1/2 tsp dry garlic chutney on one half of the pav.
• Place the wada over it and then the other half of pav on top.
• Serve with green chillies.

Tip:

• You may avoid garlic while preparing wadas.
• Green chutney may also be used for spreading on the pav.

There is one special serving and that is Cheese Wada Pav, which I prepared to suit my taste. After placing the wada over the sliced pav, grated cheese, onion and corriander leaves should be sprinkled. Dry garlic chutney may be avoided and tomato ketchup can be used. 

For Cheese wada pav you need:

• Wada pav - 2
• Processed cheese (grated) - as per your requirement
• Onion (chopped) - 1 small
• Coriander leaves (chopped) - 1/2 tsp

Cheese Wada Pav