Skip to content

Vada Pav – Mumbai’s Iconic Street Food

Vada Pav, often called the Indian burger, is Mumbai’s most iconic street food. It consists of a spicy potato vada (fritter) stuffed inside a pav (bread roll), served with dry garlic chutney, green chutney, and fried chilies.

This humble yet flavorful snack is a symbol of Mumbai’s street food culture and a favorite of millions.

🥗 Health Benefits

  • ✅ Potatoes provide instant energy.
  • ✅ Homemade version is less oily and healthier.
  • ✅ Pav can be replaced with whole wheat buns for added fiber.

Vada Pav – Mumbai’s Iconic Street Food

Vada Pav, often called the Indian burger, is Mumbai’s most iconic street food. It consists of a spicy potato vada (fritter) stuffed inside a pav (bread roll), served with dry garlic chutney, green chutney, and fried chilies.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Indian, Indian street food, Maharashtrian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
For vada:
  • 3 medium potatoes boiled & mashed
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 6 –8 curry leaves
  • 2 green chilies chopped
  • 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • Salt to taste
For batter:
  • 1 cup besan gram flour
  • ½ tsp red chili powder
  • Water as needed
Others:
  • 6 pav bread rolls
  • Dry garlic chutney green chutney
  • Oil for frying

Method
 

Cooking Instructions
  1. Prepare stuffing: Heat oil, add mustard, curry leaves, green chilies, turmeric, and mashed potatoes. Mix well.
  2. Make batter: Mix besan, chili powder, salt, and water into a thick batter.
  3. Shape vadas: Form potato mixture into balls, dip in batter, and deep-fry until golden.
  4. Assemble: Slice pav, spread chutneys, place hot vada, and press gently.

Notes

🍽️ Serving Suggestions
  • Serve with fried green chilies for authentic taste.
  • Pairs well with cutting chai (Indian tea).
 
❓ FAQs
Q: Can I bake vadas instead of frying?
A: Yes, but they won’t be as crispy as deep-fried ones.
Q: What chutneys are essential?
A: Dry garlic chutney is the star; green chutney adds freshness.
Q: Can I prepare vadas ahead of time?
A: You can prep stuffing, but fry just before serving.