Pav Bhaji | The Curry Man

A Temporary Historical past of Pav Bhaji

Like so many nice Indian road meals dishes, pav bhaji was born out of necessity.

Within the 1850s, throughout the textile mill increase in Mumbai (then Bombay), employees wanted a fast, sizzling meal they may eat throughout brief breaks. Distributors began mashing up leftover greens and cooking them with butter, onions, and spices on giant flat griddles. They paired this with pav, Portuguese-inspired bread rolls launched to India throughout colonial occasions. They’re actually simply hamburger buns.

The consequence was low cost, filling, and scrumptious. Over time, pav bhaji advanced right into a road meals favorite, spreading from mill employees to college students, households, and vacationers. In the present day, it’s present in each nook of India, from roadside stalls to upscale eating places, however it stays at its greatest when eaten on the road, with butter dripping down your fingers.