Sev Bhaji (Maharashtrian style)

If you are staying in Maharashtra or visiting and you haven’t tasted Pav-Bhaji and Misal-Pav then you must be an alien. It is the favorite Indian fast food, served almost in every lane in Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur and other parts of Maharashtra. Similarly Shev bhaji/Sev bhaji is a preparation that is served with pav or bread slices. This dish is prepared with sev and has a curry, little spicy and tangy too. A variation of same recipe is also prepared in Gujarat. You can prepare this recipe in few minutes (So if you have guests at your place you know what to make for them instantly :))

Ingredients:
1 cup sev,
2 onions; finely chopped,
1 tbsp tomato puree,
1 tomato; finely chopped,
1 tsp mustard seeds (rai),
1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera),
1 green chilli,
A pinch of asafoetida,
Few curry leaves,
1/4 tsp turmeric powder,
1/2-3/4 tsp red chilli powder (increase the amount if you can tolerate spice),
1/2 tsp ground coriander,
1/2 tsp ground cumin,
Salt to taste,
Oil for frying,
Water for gravy,
Chopped coriander leaves, onion and lemon wedges to garnish.

Method:
Heat oil in a kadhai, add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Then add jeera, curry leaves, asafoetida and green chilli. A minute later add onions and saute them till they turn translucent. Later add the chopped tomatoes and cook till they are soft. Then add turmeric and red chilli powders. Mix and cook for few minutes. Add tomato puree, ground coriander and cumin, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Now add water to prepare a medium-thin gravy and bring to boil. Add salt, stir, add sev, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from flame, garnish with coriander leaves, onion and lemon wedges and serve with pav (bread) or even with hommade chapatis.

Manjiri