Pav Bhaji With Chickpeas

I’m having one of those weeks where I would like to try and use up as much food  there is in the larder and fridge.  Before we do our big food shop again!  So I found all the ingredients for my husband’s ultimate favourite which is pav bhaji.  He loves the soft buttered rolls and buttered infused veg bhaji/curry.  But I’m afraid I’ve gone all healthy and added chickpeas and used a healthy buttery spread instead of butter in the bhaji.  However the taste is not compromised as the pav bhaji masala does its magic as always!  One to try for sure x

INGREDIENTS

1 tin of chickpeas rinsed and drained
500g frozen mixed veg
200g broccoli
200ml water
250g tomato passata
4 cloves garlic crushed
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp chilli finely choppe
1 tbsp sunflower oil
¼ tsp mustard seeds
¼ tsp cumin seeds
Pinch of asafoetida
2 cloves
1½ tsp salt
¼ tsp turmeric
2 tsp ground cumin and coriander
½ tsp garam masala
2½ tsp pav bhaji masala
1 squeeze of tomato ketchup
1 tbsp butter
Handful of chopped coriander

METHOD

• Boil the mixed veg and broccoli together for 5-7 minutes. Drain and add to the food processor with the chickpeas and 150ml water. Blend to a soft mushy puree with all the veg mashed

• Heat oil in a large saucepan. Put in mustard and cumin seeds, cloves and asafoetida. Once seeds start to pop stir in the passata, garlic, ginger and chilli. Throw in all the ground spices, ketchup and seasoning and cook on a low heat for 4 minutes

• Slowly combine the veg/chickpea puree into the tomato gravy and mix well. Pour in the 50 ml water you may need to add more if it has been absorbed. Stir in the butter and taste the bhaji/curry. You may need to season further with a little salt if needed and to make it more spicy add more pav bhaji masala

• Sprinkle some fresh coriander.  Traditionally served with pan fried buttered soft white rolls

I decided not to pan fry the rolls but just spooned on some of the bhaji curry and sprinkled some mature Cheddar cheese to give it a mellow note ~ Delicious!

Note-pav bhaji masala available in local Indian food stores and sometimes in large supermarkets

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