Vada pav

Vada pav (also spelled wada pav, pronounced WUH-dah POW) is an Indian vegetarian fast food commonly eaten in Maharashtra, India, and is one of the most popular fast foods of Mumbai. It consists of a deep-fried potato mash patty served in a bun with savory condiments.

Preparation

The potatoes are mashed or diced, made into patties, coated and mixed with green chilies, ginger and a "tadka" (tempering) of mustard seeds and turmeric. These balls are then dipped in an herb-seasoned batter made with gram flour, then it is deep-fried. The finished vada is then placed between the halves of a small bun called a "pav" (a Portuguese loanword [ [http://www.haftamag.com/2006/10/16/deconstructing-the-pav-bhaji-2/ Hafta Magazine: "Deconstructing the Pav Bhaji"] ] ) and served with condiments such as various chutneys, red chili powder or green chilis (sometimes fried and salted). The chutneys are often made of coconut, tamarind pulp or garlic.

The Vada Pav is considered staple teatime snack in Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai, where it has been popularized as street food. They are seen everywhere in Maharashtra and also served at tea time in many of the state's small eateries and on long distance trains.

The Karjat railway station and Chiplun railway station on the Konkan Railway are famous for the vada pavs available from vendors on their platforms.

It is claimed that the vada pav was first made when Devdas Prabhu (PGDM, Welingkar Institute of Management Development and research, Matunga, Mumbai), a snack seller outside Dadar railway station, decided to experiment. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040711/asp/nation/story_3480991.asp First vada pav] ] The combination of "batata vada" and "split pav" continues to be Mumbai's sledgehammer answer to the hamburger.

The prices range from Rs. 2.50 to Rs. 6.00 (two of these can be considered a meal for the average person) depending on the establishment. Some variations include "cheese vada pav" (where slices of cheese are added), "samosa pav" (where "samosa" is used instead of vada) and "Jain vada pav" (where the vada does not have onions or garlic).

Several chains of fast food outlets in India specialise in vada pav including a rapidly growing chain called Jumbo King Vada Pav [http://www.mouthshut.com/product-reviews/Jumbo_King_Vada_Pav-925051830.html] (see picture). Jumbo Vada Pav was first introduced by KUNJ VIHAR, in Thane.Vada Pav is also known as 'wad pav' in rural Maharashtra. It is also commonly addressed as 'Garibon Ki Burger' (poor people's Burger). The word Pav in Marathi means bread (the word originating from PAV, which means 1/4. The whole bread was divided into 4 parts and each part was sold a pav). There is also another fast expanding chain of Vada Pav known as Goli. They are predominant in the Central Suburbs of Mumbai. "Jumbo King" is another chain of Vada Pav restaurants/fast-food outlets started by entrepreneurs, Dheeraj and Reena Gupta. "Jumbo King" outlets are in Mumbai, Thane, and Pune in Maharashtra and Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodra in Gujarat.

References