
Misal Pav
A Maharashtrian-style breakfast of tender sprouted beans in a spicy coconut and onion gravy, topped with crunchy farsan and served with buttered, toasted pav. Filling, bold and easy to build in layers.
Ingredients
Equipment: Large pot with lid, heavy frying pan, blender, small saucepan or ladle, flat pan or tawa for the pav
Method
Put the sprouted beans in a large pot with 600 ml water, the 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1/2 tsp salt. Cover and simmer over medium heat until the beans are tender but still hold their shape, about 20 minutes. Do not drain; the cooking water goes into the gravy.
While the beans cook, toast the coriander seeds, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and peppercorns in a dry frying pan over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Tip them into a bowl.
In the same pan, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium heat. Fry the sliced onions, garlic and ginger, stirring often, until deep golden brown, about 8 minutes. Stir in the coconut for the last minute until lightly toasted.
Cool the onion mixture for 5 minutes, then blend with the toasted spices, chopped tomatoes and 100 ml water into a smooth paste.
Heat the remaining 3 tbsp oil in a wide pot over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and let them pop, then add the asafoetida, chilli powder and 1 tsp turmeric for a few seconds.
Pour in the blended paste and fry, stirring, until it darkens and oil separates around the edges, about 6 minutes.
Add the tamarind paste, jaggery, garam masala, remaining salt and 500 ml hot water. Simmer uncovered until the gravy (called kat) is thin, glossy and deep red-brown, about 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt, tamarind and heat.
Spoon the cooked beans with some of their liquid into a serving pot and keep warm. Keep the kat separate so each person can pour over as much as they like.
Split the pav and toast them cut-side down in a hot pan with the butter until golden and lightly crisp, about 1 to 2 minutes.
To serve, ladle the beans into bowls, pour kat over the top, and add a handful of farsan, chopped onion, tomato and coriander. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and serve with the buttered pav straight away so the farsan stays crunchy.
Cooking tips
- Add the farsan only at the moment of serving; it goes soft within a couple of minutes in hot gravy.
- If you sprout the beans yourself, soak dry moth beans overnight, drain, and leave them wrapped in damp muslin for 24 hours until small tails appear.
- Serve the kat hotter or milder by adjusting the chilli powder; a spoonful of extra kat on the side lets guests raise the heat.
- Browning the onions properly gives the gravy its depth, so do not rush that step.
Substitutions
- Moth beans: use sprouted mung beans, brown chickpeas or a mix of sprouted lentils and beans.
- Desiccated coconut: use 3 tbsp freshly grated coconut, toasted with the onions.
- Pav: use soft dinner rolls, buns or sliced white bread.
- Tamarind paste: use 2 tbsp lemon juice added at the end, or a small ball of soaked tamarind pulp.
Serve with
"Serve with two toasted pav per person, extra lemon wedges and a cup of hot masala chai. Plain yoghurt on the side helps cool the spice."
Storage
"Store the cooked beans and kat together in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. Keep farsan, pav and fresh toppings separate."
Reheating
"Reheat gently in a pot over medium heat with a splash of water until steaming hot throughout. Toast fresh pav and add toppings only after reheating."
Nutrition per serving, estimated
Estimated from the ingredient list. Values vary with brands and portion size.
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