Vada Pav (Fried potato burger) is a very popular street food from Mumbai, India. It's a simple deep-fried potato dumpling on a pav/burger bun with spice powders, chutney, or sauces. It is sometimes even called the Indian burger. The name vada pav translates to potato patty burger.
Vada is the deep-fried potato patty, and the pav is the burger bun. This is different from the other vadas posted earlier, like sabudana vada , parippu vada as they are usually had by themselves with a chutney or dip. Vada Pav is a delightful pair, they both go well together, although vada can be had by itself.
Why is Vada Pav fried potato burger so popular and loved?
- This popular dish is usually sold on the streets of Mumbai catering to the fast life of people there.
- It's very easy to acquire a liking for it even if you have never had it before. Who will not love a deep-fried crisp potato patty on a pav/burger bun?
- This is also very simple to make as it needs a few ingredients.
- The chutneys that go with the pav can be prepared in advance, or you can buy them from the store if they are available or skip them if you are short on time.
- The vada and pav taste good even by itself.
Ingredients needed for Vada Pav
- Hamburger buns, savory rolls, or pav - Some folks make them from scratch, but I prefer the store-bought ones for convenience.
- Mashed potatoes - They form the main ingredient of the patty.
- Ginger, garlic, and green chilies crushed in a pestle and mortar.
- Mustard seeds for tempering,
- Curry leaves and coriander leaves for garnish.
How to make the green chutney?
This is one of the easiest chutneys to make. You will need coriander leaves, chilies, and garlic. Grind them to a smooth paste, and then add oil and lemon juice. If you like, add a little sugar and salt to taste. The chutney is spread on the pav or bun, and then the vada is placed on top of it. Some folks also add the garlic chutney and have a fried green chili to go with it. All the chutneys are optional, and just the vada and pav by itself tastes awesome.
If you love this recipe, you may also love other delicious Indian Street foods like Street Pav Bhaji and Soft Dahi Vada.
Vada Pav - Fried Potato Burger
Ingredients
For the vada (potato patty)
- 3 medium potatoes boiled and mashed
- 3 green chillies
- 1 inch ginger
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 stalk curry leaves
- ¼ cup coriander leaves finely chopped
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 1 pinch
asafoetida - 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cups oil to deep fry
For the batter to deep fry patty
- 1 cup chickpea flour besan or
- 1 tbsp rice flour
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp red chilly powder
- 1 pinch asafoetida
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ½ cup water or as required to make a thick batter
Other ingredients
- 12 dinner rolls pav
- 10 green chillies fried optional
- 1 cup green chutney
- 1 cup dry garlic chutney
Green chutney ingredients
- 1 bunch coriander leaves
- 2 green chilies
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp oil
- ¼ tsp salt or to taste
Dry garlic chutney ingredients
- ½ cup coconut dry
- 5 to 6 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp groundnuts
- ½ tsp tamarind
- ¼ tsp salt or to taste
Instructions
To make the Potato Patty or Vada
- Heat a little oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds.
- Add the roughly crushed green chilly, garlic and ginger .
- Add turmeric powder salt and mix well.
- Add mashed potatoes and combine well.
- Add chopped coriander leaves, curry leaves and lemon juice.
- Make small round balls of the mashed potato mixture and keep aside.
- Make the batter with the ingredients in the batter section .It should neither be too thick nor runny but just enough to coat the potato patty.
- Coat the potato balls in batter by dipping it evenly . D
- Deep fry in hot oil till they are golden brown.
To make green chutney
- Grind green chillies, coriander leaves, garlic into a fine paste
- Add salt, lemon juice and a little oil
To make the dry garlic chutney
- Grind garlic, dry coconut , red chilly powder, peanuts, sesame, salt and tamarind to a rough paste.
To assemble the vada pav
- Use store bought pav or dinner rolls .Make a slit all the way till the end.
- Spread butter and fry on a pan on both sides
- Spread green chutney , dry garlic chutney if you like and place a vada on top of it .
- Add a fried green chilly if you can tolerate the spice .
- Cover it up and have a big bite .Enjoy!
Video
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I tried this several years ago and had a terrible time with getting all of it to be straight. I eventually made some shorter, some longer and used that layout.
Very interesting! Good one to try!
They are really yum , hope you will try them! Thank you so much 🙂
Perfect street food for rainy season!!
Yes rightly said Deeksha, Thank you !
I totally agree, Nisha -- how can you go wrong with a deep fried potato between two buns? 😉 I really enjoy learning about street food from other countries, and I'm really looking forward to trying this in India someday!
Thank you Lynn
I’m so glad you explained this, like how vada is the potato and pav is the burger bun - I’d never come across it before but that deep fried potato looks so yummy! My carb-loving brain is wanting one of these! xx
Thank you! Its sure very tempting 🙂
Yum, yum, yummy! 🙂
Thank you!
Looks delicious 😋
Such a delightful treat, I never say NO to this😁.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Looks yummy
Thank you!