(Updated on March 12, 2023)

Mumbai Masala Pav, also known as Bombay Masala Pav, is a scrumptious street food relished by people all over Maharashtra. A cousin of the popular Pav Bhaji, this is an easy and delicious snack when you want to make something quick to satiate your hunger.

This one-pan Mumbai Masala Pav recipe features soft, buttery pavs stuffed and slathered with a spicy, savoury, and tangy masala made from an assortment of veggies and flavoursome spices and further garnished with fresh coriander, onion, and lemon juice. 

It makes for a toothsome dish to start your day with or enjoy with your evening tea. It can also be served as a party starter or at a get-together with your loved ones. And with Zilli’s Cold Pressed Spices, you can avoid a lot of prep work stress and prepare this in under 20 minutes.

Learn how to make this lip-smacking Mumbai Masala Pav at home with our recipe.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes.

Cooking Time: 15 minutes.

Serves: 2 people.

Course: Mumbai.

Cuisine: Breakfast, Snack.

Ingredients:

• 2 boiled and chopped potatoes.
• 2 pavs.
• 1 tsp Zilli's Red Onion Powder.
• ½ tsp Zilli's Ginger Powder.
• ½ tsp Zilli's Garlic Powder.
• ½ tsp Zilli's Tomato Powder.
• 1 tsp butter.
• ½ tsp jeera.
• 2 finely chopped carrots.
• ½ cup finely chopped cabbage.
• 1 cup chopped capsicum.
• 2-3 finely chopped green chillies.
• 1 cup or 250ml water.
• ½ tsp turmeric powder.
• ¾ tsp pav bhaji masala.
• ¼ cup finely chopped spring onions.
• Salt to taste
• Garnishing:
• Chopped coriander leaves.
• Lemon slices.
• Onion rings.

How to Make Mumbai Masala Pav:

Preparing the Masala:

1. Take a medium or large-sized pan and melt 1 tsp butter.
2. Add jeera and let the seeds splutter. Add chopped carrots and potatoes and sauté well.  
3. Add the cabbage, capsicum, and green chillies. Sauté for a few seconds on medium heat. 
4. Add red onion powder, garlic powder, ginger powder, and tomato powder. Mix well.
5. Pour in a cup of water and stir well to combine. Let it cook over medium flame for 3 minutes.
6. Season with salt, turmeric powder, and pav bhaji masala. Stir and mix the spices well with the vegetable mixture.
7. Cover the pan with a lid and let the mixture cook and simmer for 7-8 minutes on medium heat.
8. The mixture will reduce and thicken as it cooks. Remove the lid, and give it a quick mix. 
9. Lower the flame and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Mix once again.
10.  Add spring onions and mix well.

Making the Masala Pav:

1. Slice both the pav in the middle.
2. Bring the prepared masala to one side of the pan.
3. Melt ½ tsp butter on the empty side of the pan.
4. Place a slit pav on the butter and toast slightly on both sides.
5. Place the prepared masala evenly on both slices of the pav. 
6. Sandwich the masala in the pav and top off with some more masala.
7. Transfer the masala pav to a serving plate.
8. Sprinkle some coriander leaves on top. Serve with lemon slices, onion rings, and coriander leaves on the side.

Your simple Mumbai Masala Pav is ready to be enjoyed!

Tips and Variations for Mumbai Masala Pav:

• Try to use butter for an authentic street-style taste. 
• You can use red and yellow bell peppers along with capsicum.
• The masala stuffing can be prepared in advance. Toast the pav and add the masala right before serving, or the pav will turn soggy.
• You can substitute pav with bread slices, Brun pav, or a burger bun for this recipe.
• Sev can be added as a garnish over the masala pav.

Variations for Mumbai Masala Pav:

• Cheesy Bombay Masala Pav: Give your Bombay masala pav a delightful cheesy twist. Add some grated cheese over the masala after spooning it on the pav, let it melt, and enjoy your cheesy masala pav!
• Masala Bread Toast: Prepare the masala and top it on buttery toasted bread slices to make delicious masala bread toast. You can also fill the masala between two bread slices to make a masala bread sandwich.
• Masala Pav with Pav Bhaji: Wondering how to make masala pav with pav bhaji? If you have leftover pav bhaji, heat it till it reduces and thickens, stuff the bhaji inside buttered pavs, and dig in!
• Masala Tadka Pav: Cut the pav into small cubes and roast it in ghee with cumin. Prepare the masala according to the recipe, mix in the roasted pav cubes, and cook for a few minutes. Add the garnishing, and serve!
• Baked Masala Pav: Grease the baking dish with butter and line it with parchment. Slice the pav with a knife. Place the bottom half of the pav and layer it evenly with cheese, the prepared masala, and the leftover cheese. Place the top half of the pav, brush with melted butter, and cover with aluminium foil. Bake at 180°C for 20 mins. Remove the foil cover and bake for another 5 minutes. Take it out, garnish, and serve!

Serving Ideas: 

Serve the Mumbai masala pav hot off the pan.

Garnish generously with coriander leaves, onion rings, lemon slices, and sev or bhujia.