11 Maharashtrian Cuisine Specialties to Try Now

4. Pav Bhaji

Pav bhaji began as a quick laborer's meal in Mumbai and evolved into a rich, buttery vegetable mash served with toasted pav. A mix of potatoes, peas, carrots, cauliflower, and bell peppers is cooked down and mashed with a special bhaji masala, then finished with butter for a luxurious mouthfeel. The pav is slashed and toasted in ghee, so each bite soaks up flavor. At home in North America, you can replicate the dish using common vegetables and a ready bhaji masala or a homemade spice blend. Mash the veggies to your preferred texture — rustic or smooth — and watch the finishing butter and lemon. Pav bhaji is ideal for family dinners, casual gatherings, or food stalls at festivals. It’s also an approachable way to introduce friends to Indian savory flavors because the vegetables make it broadly appealing. Serve with chopped onions, a wedge of lemon, and extra butter on the side.