Vada pav, alternatively spelt wada pao, is a vegetarian fast food dish native to the Indian state of Maharashtra. The dish consists of a deep fried potato dumpling placed inside a bread bun sliced almost in half through the middle. It is generally accompanied with one or more chutneys and a green chili pepper.

Ingredients:

For the vadas:

1 cup boiled and mashed potatoes

1/2 cup gram flour

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 green chilli, finely chopped

1/4 tsp asafoetida

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Oil for frying

For the pav:

6 pav buns, halved and toasted

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 green chilli, finely chopped

1/4 tsp asafoetida

Salt to taste

For the chutney:

1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander

1/2 cup chopped fresh mint

1/4 cup chopped fresh ginger

1 green chilli, finely chopped

1/4 tsp asafoetida

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 cup tamarind pulp

1/2 cup jaggery

Salt to taste

Method:

1. To make the vadas, mix together the mashed potatoes, gram flour, cumin seeds, green chilli, asafoetida, turmeric powder and salt in a bowl.

2. Wet your hands and shape the mixture into small vadas.

3. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat and fry the vadas for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and crisp.

4. To make the pav, mix together the butter, cumin seeds, green chilli, asafoetida and salt in a bowl.

5. Spread the butter mixture on the cut sides of the pav buns.

6. Grill or broil the pav for a few minutes until golden brown.

7. To make the chutney, mix together all the ingredients in a bowl.

8. Serve the vadas warm with the pav and chutney.