Craving pav bhaji? Make it at home

By the FeedMeNot team. Updated 3 November 2026.

Why you crave it

Pav bhaji is warm, buttery, tangy and mashed to a texture that needs no chewing. It is a classic comfort food craving. Boiling the vegetables together and mashing hard gets you the same thick bhaji.

Before you order: take the 20 minute pause

A craving usually peaks and fades. Start the craving timer and rate the urge. If it is still strong after twenty minutes, this recipe is a better answer than a delivery order, and you will have a hot meal ready in about the same time.

Ingredients

• 2 potatoes, 1 cup cauliflower florets, 1/2 cup peas, 1 small beetroot piece for colour (optional)
• 2 tomatoes, 1 onion, 1 capsicum, all chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
• 2 tbsp pav bhaji masala, 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder, salt
• 3 tbsp butter
• 6 pav, lemon wedges, chopped onion and coriander to serve

Method

1. Pressure cook the potatoes, cauliflower and peas with a cup of water for 3 whistles. Mash well with a masher.
2. Heat 2 tbsp butter in a wide pan, cook the onion and capsicum until soft, then add ginger garlic paste.
3. Add the tomatoes and cook until mushy, about 6 minutes.
4. Add the masala, chilli powder and salt, then the mashed vegetables with 1/2 cup water. Simmer for 8 minutes, mashing as it cooks.
5. Toast the pav in butter on the tawa. Finish the bhaji with a spoon of butter and lemon.

What this costs compared with delivery

The home cost above is a rough range for the ingredients, based on typical retail prices. Delivery apps add fees, taxes and often a tip on top of the dish price. To see what your own habit costs over a year, use the food delivery cost calculator, or compare one meal in the delivery vs home cooking calculator.

Common questions

More craving swaps

• Craving chole bhature? Punjabi chole with tawa kulcha
• Craving paneer butter masala? Restaurant-style paneer butter masala
• Craving masala dosa? Instant rava dosa with potato masala
• All craving swaps