Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1.Wash and Prepare Vegetables

   Thoroughly wash the potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and coriander leaves with fresh water.

2. 2.Boil the Potatoes

   In a large pot, add water, the washed potatoes, and a generous amount of crystal salt. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are soft and fully cooked.

3. 3.Chop and Grind

   While the potatoes are boiling, finely chop the tomatoes. Once the potatoes are cooked, peel the skin and mash them thoroughly. Grind the chopped tomatoes into a smooth puree using a stone grinder or blender.

4. 4.Prepare the Spices

   In a pan over a fire, dry roast a mix of whole spices including cinnamon, bay leaves, cloves, cumin, star anise, cardamom, and black pepper. Once aromatic, grind them into a fine garam masala powder. Separately, grind soaked dried red chilies into a smooth paste.

5. 5.Start Cooking the Bhaji

   Place a large tawa over the fire. Add several large blocks of butter and let them melt. Add cumin seeds and allow them to splutter.

6. 6.Sauté Vegetables

   Add a large quantity of finely chopped onions to the melted butter and sauté until they become soft. Then, add finely chopped carrots, capsicum, and green peas. Mix well and continue to sauté.

7. 7.Combine Ingredients

   Add the hand-ground ginger-garlic paste and mix. Follow with the mashed potatoes and the tomato puree. Combine everything on the tawa.

8. 8.Add Spices and Mash

   Add the hand-ground chili paste, hand-ground garam masala, chaat masala, and crystal salt to the mixture. Using potato mashers, thoroughly mix and mash all the ingredients together until it forms a cohesive, thick bhaji.

9. 9.Garnish and Finish

   Add freshly chopped coriander leaves to the bhaji. Make a well in the center, add another block of butter, let it melt, and mix it into the bhaji for extra richness.

10. 10.Toast the Pav

    In the pool of melted butter in the center of the tawa, place sliced pav buns. Toast them on both sides until golden, ensuring they soak up the butter and some of the surrounding masala.

11. 11.Assemble and Serve

    Once the pav is toasted, place a scoop of the bhaji between the two halves of the pav. Serve hot.