Mumbai | Aapplemint

Mumbai Style Keema-Pav

All, Featured, Non-Vegetarian 8 Responses »

Mar 202012

“ Pav ” - Its not your fancy posh bread, but its what feeds millions of Mumbai-ites.

Pav is a local basic white bread. But trust me when I say this, there is nothing quite like it out there. Knead to a soft consistency with lots of butter. This dough makes a very light and airy bread that makes so many lip smacking dishes like, Vada Pav, Pav, Bhaji, Kheema Pav, Mutton Pav, Masala Pav, Samosa Pav, Usal/Misal Pav …

I’ve travelled many places and tried many different kinds of bread everywhere, but no one makes Pav. Maybe its the flour here or the water or technique …. I don’t know, but its just different here in Mumbai. I haven’t tried making it cuz it would be insane. Its so very cheap to buy it, why take the trouble. Any which ways Pav was created for fast food, to be had on the go. Available on every nook and corner of the city for just Rs. 1 per piece this bread feeds the masses. And when combined with other street favorites, the results are almost always irresistible.

” Keema ” Is Mutton Mince prepared either in curry or dry style. North Indians have it with parathas and South Indians with rice.

In Mumbai, on the streets its best preferred with Pav. If you like Pav Bhaji , then this is the non vegetarian version for you. Made spicier, tangier and overall yummier, the Mumbai keema pav is very popular, specially after a night out of drinking. A couple of these and guaranteed no hangover the next day.

There was this one night when I was up all night to help a friend make a website. We worked late and got so hungry, we got out to find something to eat. at that hour there were only two options available on the streets – Egg Bhurji and Keema Pav. That night I had the most amazing keema pav I ever had and since then I’m a fan.

If you are in Mumbai here are the places where you can sample some really good Keema Pav.

Gulshan-E-Iran – Near Crawford Market ( Town Side)

Resuatrant Rajasthan and Restaurant Sahil in – Khar ( Suburbs )

Janta in Pali Market – Bandra, for late night snack after a night of drinking and dancing ( Suburbs)

And if you wish to make it at home simply follow the instructions.

Ingredients

250 gms Lamb Mince

1 large onion finely chopped

1 tablesppon ginger and garlic grated

2 green chillies finely chopped

2 large tomatoes finely chopped

1 cinnamon stick

1 whole black Cardamom

2 green cardamoms

1 bay leaf

2 star anise

1 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

2 tsp Cumin powder

2 tsp corriander powder

1 tsp chat masala ( optional )

2 tablespoons olive oil

juice of 1 lime

salt to taste

handful of chopped corriander

4 to 6 pieces of Pav

Take a heavy bottom sauce pan or a pressure cooker. Heat the oil and sauté the whole spices – cinnamon, cardamoms, star anise, bay leaf till fragrant. Add the onions, ginger, garlic and chillies and fry till onions begin to brown. Add the mince and fry well together. Fry continuously for about 5 mins till you feel the mince is almost done. Add the tomatoes and the remaining spices except the lime n coriander. Further fry for about 5- 10 mins till the tomatoes begin to break down and the oil begins to separate. Now turn turn off the heat, add the coriander and squeeze the lime juice. To serve, slice up the pay and warm slightly on a tawa/frying pan. Then put in the prepared mince and top with finely slices onions. Serve immediately.

Mumbai Masala Chai

All, Drinks, Featured 53 Responses »

Jan 052011

You must admit that some things just taste so much better when had from and on the streets. Chai definitely classifies as one of them. The masala chai served at Starbucks would loose hands-down compared to the Chai from the streets in Mumbai. My sister had just been to Istanbul and could not stop raving about it. It was a well budgeted trip and she had so much fun, saying the cheapest holidays sometimes are the best. You needn’t be staying 5 & 7 star to have a great time. One of the things we ended up talking about was the incredibly delicious street food and the tea they served there and how she loved it. Almost immediately I had to stand up for our local tea ! Nothing beats a desi road side chai. There is something about it … maybe the way the chai walla keeps stirring the tea endlessly or maybe the rustic way its made … but a cutting chai is difficult to resist . I had to share with all of you what the famous Mumbai Masala Chai is all about, and so we have our 1st video on aapplemint.

There is such a vast difference from the dip dip – tea using a tea bag, and a made on the stove – boiled tea. The aroma wafting from a pot of boiling tea, the fragrance of cardamom, fresh ginger and the aromatic blend of the chai masala mix can turn you into a tea lover. You could very easily make your own chai masala and preserve it. Just a teeny bit could liven up your tea. This spice mix can also be used to flavour cakes and chai lattes. Use you imagination … go wild . There is no fixed recipe for masala mix for tea … it varies from person to person, but this is more or less it. Like some people like their tea milkier and some like it strong, there is no fixed ratio to the spices. This works for me, and just half a teaspoon per cup of tea just perfect.

8 brown cardamoms (skins removed)
20 green cardamoms
6-8 black peppercorns
8 teaspoons fennel seeds
2 tsps ginger powder
12 cloves
4 cinnamon sticks

Grind all these spices to a very fine powder using a coffee grinder . Preserve in an air tight container.

Gola Sherbet & Prize Giveaway

All, Dessert 36 Responses »

Dec 202008

Gola Sherbet is by far the most fun Mumbai street food and my one of my favourites. Its nothing but shaved ice on a stick with a glass of sherbet to dip it in and suck on. These ices are available in mutli-hued flavours and variations. I dont really know the origin and history of this delectable sweet dessert, but all i remember is, a kid i used to save up every last paisa i had, to buy these in our lunch breaks from the hawkers selling them outside the school. A perfect treat for the summer, i know this post comes at a very wrong time for all my wonderful readers who are freezing in the cold weather … but hey look at the bright side, all you got to do is get some snow and drizzle it with some syrup ! Voila you have Gola ! haha alright that was’nt very smart … snow is not safe to eat … yeah yeah … i know … ! well its still damn hot here, i guess this part of the world will never see cooler days, but you can save this for when it gets warmer, and i know my readers from down under can get to it right away ! Its really simple, shave some ice, or just crush some in your food processor. Put in a kebab stick and pack the ice firmly around it. Drizzle some of your favourite syrup on it and some in a glass. The key ingredient here is some chat masala. Without which a gola is truly incomplete. There are versions of these. You can make these in a plate, drizzle some sweet condensed milk, some chocolate, some nuts … go wild with it, anything at all that you fancy. Can even go for the alcoholic ones … Grey Goose n cranberry juice … sounds nice doesnt’it ??

So you see the step by step picture guide of how to make a gola and eat it. I made some at home too, with 3 mouth watering flavours – Kalakhatta, Strawberry, and Khas. Mine were mini versions of the real stuff, but also more fun, as i get to eat more, in different flavours. If ever you make it to Mumbai , please do go to the Juhu Beach and try out our man Rashid’s golas. The most popular flavour for gola’s is Kalakhatta – literally translated to Black- Sour … n i really wish i could explain this wonderful flavour to you, but i can’t do it justice tro it. So what i’m doing instead is giving away 2 bottles of kalakhatta and some chat masala to go with, so you can make your very own gola at home, and enjoy the flavours of Mumbai. in your living room, or where ever it is that you plan on eating it :p . All you have to do is leave a comment here, and soon i’ll pick 2 lucky winners and let you know. Enjoy

Mumbai …

All, Places & Travel 76 Responses »

Dec 222007

… as its being called lately, though i still prefer the good ole “Bombay”. Its a city of life, a melting pot of all the different religions and castes of India, a city of many foods and of course Bollywood. I didn’t get a chance to make anything and take pictures, but i did make it a point to get out n go to the market and take a few pictures to share with all of you, to show you how we do it …. ” Da Bombay e-style”

The ” bhaji wala ” – vegetable guy .

Irresistibly fresh veggies. I always end up buying more than i need.

Basil and garlic chives sold in little plastic bags.

Was mesmerized by this beggars eyes, in the market.

More fresh veggies.

One bored apple vendor. When will this damn day get over

These are called “Pani Puris”. Little fried hollow crispy ball kinda things filled with mashed potato , and some sweet chutney followed by some spicy and tangy water. All to be eaten in one bite and it just explodes in your mouth. Yum Yum. Usually when u buy 1 plate, u get served 6 to 8 puris and the vendor makes each one with his own hands and serves it to you. When u finish one u extend your cup forward for another one. Truly a Bombay favourite.

This old lady is using the most preferred hand scale, to weigh the cauliflower

This man is selling some spiced fresh peas. Stands there from morning to evening, trying to make a living out of that. Life aint easy !

1 eunuch and a friend by the post box.

Lovely fragrant garlic , different quality different prices.

Whole wheat for sale.

followed by all kinds of rice,

and whole corriander seeds and 3 kinds of dried chillis.

Hahaha this ones my fav. The typical Bombay traffic cop. Dark middle aged fellow with an enormous belly. And in the background the B.E.S.T. bus.

Transports thousands of Bombay-its all over the city everyday. Gotta love it

Clay drinking filter water pots – ” Matka ”

This lady is selling “Pokh “, comes from the neighbouring city Surat in Gujarat. It is fresh jowar (sorgum) seeds, harvested early and baked in clay kilns till they fall off the pods and then collected and eaten with spicy sev. Delicious…. i grew up on this stuff.

Hehehe this man with his enormous mustache is selling all deep fried savoury goodies, which every Indian is addicted to .

The famous auto rickshaw. Very very popular and most preferred mode of public transport. When u catch one of these be prepared to hear blaring loud music and, and feel every bump in the road. U’ll be addicted i ‘m warning you.

By the mosque …

Some more deep fried artery clogging savoury snacks.

Fresh potatoes, onions and garlic

Sugarcane juice ! Take one cane pass it through this machine, then fold it over , squeeze a piece of ginger and a lime in between and pass it through the machine again and fold it over and keep goin on till u’ve squeesed the life out of the damn cane, collect the juice in a pail below chuck in some ice and ta da fresh fresh sugarcane juice !

Some aunties who prefer comming in at sunset to shop to catch better deal with the vegetable vendor. In this case for some fresh pea pods. I wish u could hear them bargaining away … haha

this was in Santacruz market in the inside where they sell kitchen utensils. Small n dingy place but u can find every damn thing in there for a gr8 price.

Bangles anyone ?

This hawker here has got on offer some peanuts , spiced peanuts , some kind of chickpeas and flatted and rolled out chickpeas. Will add some chopped onion n tomatoes with a nice tangy spice.

Late night shopping for footwear at Linking road , Bandra

And last but not the least , the “Ghoda Gadi ” literally translated to horse car.

Hope you all have wonderful and joyous holidays , Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ….