Bombay Potato Sandwich (Vada Pav)

In the hustling, bustling streets of what is now Mumbai, you can savor the most delicious street food. Good, honest fare that kicks your taste buds into overdrive. Food like "vada pav", or "spicy Bombay Potato Sandwich". But if you're worried about the fact that they're not bothered by ants climbing on the food (more protein I guess), and what that says of their kitchen hygiene standards in general, you don't have to feel you're risking ptomaine poisoning just to get a good Indian street vendor sandwich. While you're unlikely to find the same taste and authenticity of this food outside India (again, maybe it's the ants), you can come close enough for comfort in your own kitchen. Just smell what the Recipeless Cook is cooking today.....


Ingredients

4 teaspoons garam masala*
4 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
onion, thin slice
coriander (aka cilantro), fresh
tomato
bread, sliced
chili, green, fine chop
potatoes, red
1 teaspoon salt


Instructions

Boil the potatoes, peel and mash when they are done. Meanwhile, coat a pan with oil, and in that, sauté the onions, tomatoes, and chilies on med. Add the powdered spices, salt. Cook a minute, and add the potato mash, mixing and cooking another minute or two. Mix in coriander. Butter two slices of sandwich bread, rolls or roti style flatbread. Spread a spoonful of the curried potato mixture on bread. Variations: to the sandwich, you can add a spread of tamarind chutney, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, etc.

*Notes: Garam masala is a particular type of Indian spice mixture, found at Indian grocers or elsewhere. Where it can be purchased whole, then roasted and ground, or ready-made in powdered form. It's generally sweeter and not as piquant as curry, but there is no set standard for garam masala, so different ones will create flavors. If you have none and wish to go ahead anyway, you can always substitute good old curry powder here.



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of loneliness in Shivaville
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