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    Home > Indian Vegan Recipes > Indian Street food Recipes

    Tawa Pulao

    Posted: May 28, 2014 ยท Updated: Aug 15, 2021

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Tawa Pulao is a delicious Indian-style stir-fry of rice and vegetables from the streets of Mumbai. The rice is spiced with pav bhaji masala and packed with veggies.

    Tawa PulaoWhen Desi and Iย lived in Mumbai -- or Bombay as those of us who left the city in those days still like to call it -- there were nights, after wrappingย up the graveyard shift at the newspaper we both worked for, whenย we would set out with co-workers and friends to scour the city's streets for food.

    Like New York City, Bombay never sleeps. Anywhere you are in the city at night, you can be guaranteed that it will never be quiet, the way things can sometimes be even duringย the day in some Washingtonย neighborhoods. Cabbies, the homeless, people stuck after work without a way to get home after the last train chugged out of the station at 1 a.m., night owls, young men and women too busy having fun -- or just too bored --ย to go home.ย Bombayites ofย every stripe stalkย the city's streets each night, and their very presence creates a very basic need, for food.

     

    Tawa PulaoWhile 24-hour eateries and supermarkets are not easily foundย in Bombay the way they are in New York or London -- or at least they weren't when I lived there -- there is no shortage of food. That's because come night, food carts (small, wooden cartsย on wheels that are pushed around manually) spring to life, creating little oases for the hungry and the bored and just about everyone in between. The food they sell is cheap, almost always delicious, and healthyย --ย nutritionallyย --ย although perhaps not hygienic.

    If you are a regular, you know where the best places to eat are. Back then, there was the guy who sold incredible kabobs on one of the streets around Gateway of India. And the man whoย sold the tastiest bhurji-pav outside Dadar Station. Or if you were lucky, it would be the month of Ramadan and Mohammad Ali Road ย would come alive after midnight with rows upon rows of food vendors selling everything from fresh breads andย spicy curries toย ย malpuas and Vegan Phirni The vendors of Mohammad Ali Road sprung up decades ago to cater to Muslims looking to break their fast each night, but stayed on to satisfyย the city's foodies who descend on this mecca of food in droves.

    One of the vegetarian foods we'd often come across during our post-midnight bingeing tours in Bombay is Tawa Pulao, a delicious and rather simple Indian-style stir-fryย of rice and vegetables.

    Tawa pulao is named thus because the stir-frying -- a technique very similar to that used to make Veg Fried Rice -- is done on an enormous, slightly curved skillet called a Tawa or Tava. The vendor portions out the tawa for different foods, all being cooked at the same time. In one quarter isย the bhaji for pav-bhaji getting warmed up before being spooned onto plates, and right next to it are the yellow-gold patties ย forRagda Pattice, staying warm until a customer comes calling for them. In the remaining half of the tawa, the vendor -- rapidly maneuvering a ย steel ladle that makes loud, metallic but rhythmic sounds as it scrapes against the tava ย -- is stir-frying some onions, tomatoes and green peppers forย the Tawa Pulao.

    Itย smells amazing.

    tava pulao

    If you are newย to Indian cooking, or just want to cook something that takes you intoย the city's belly without actually going there, I'd recommend the Tawa Pulao. This is a strikingly easy recipe, because a lot of the flavor comes from an addition straight out of the packet: pav bhaji masala. You can make your own, but this is one powdered spice that I -- as much as making the spice mixes at home -- prefer to buy pre-madeย because when you make it at home you can't always get the flavor just as it should be. If you happen to have a large wok, the kind you'd use for a Chinese stir-fry, this is the time to breakย it out of the cupboard.

    Tawa Pulao, in Indian kitchens, often gets cooked with leftover rice, partly because there's no better way to eat leftover rice, but also because the slightly harder texture of leftover rice is perfect for the skillet and all that stir-frying. Too-soft, fresh rice would mush up. If you don't have leftover rice, or don't have time to make some beforehand for this dish, try spreading it out on a single layer on a cookie sheet, after the rice is cooked, to let the moisture evaporate.

    Enjoy!

    Looking for more Mumbai street food recipes:

    • Vada Pav
    • Pav Bhaji
    • Ragda Pattice
    • Bread Pakora
    • Vegetable Frankie

     

    Tawa Pulao

    Tawa Pulao

    Tawa Pulao

    Tawa Pulao is a delicious Indian-style stir-fry of rice and vegetables from the streets of Mumbai. The rice is spiced with pav bhaji masala and packed with veggies.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian, Indian Street Food
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Tawa pulao
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Total Time: 25 mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 308kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup rice (White is traditional, but you can use brown. Cook until tender but not mushy.)
    • 1 onion (minced)
    • 1 inch ginger (grated)
    • 2 tomatoes (finely chopped, or 1 cup tomato puree)
    • 1 green bell pepper (finely chopped)
    • 2 potatoes (boiled and cubed)
    • 1 cup green peas
    • 1 tablespoon pav bhaji masala
    • ยผ teaspoon turmeric
    • ยฝ teaspoon cayenne
    • Salt to taste
    • 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
    • Cilantro or spring onions, chopped, for garnish
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in the wok.
    • Add the onions and, working constantly over the highest heat setting on your burner, stir-fry them until they start to just change color.
    • Add the ginger and green peppers and stir-fry for another couple of minutes or until the bell peppers begin to soften.
    • Add the cayenne, turmeric, and pav bhaji masala and stir well. Add the chopped tomatoes or tomato puree and cook, stirring frequently, about two minutes. Add the green peas and potatoes and stir-fry for a minute.
    • Add the rice and stir-fry, mixing everything thoroughly, another two to three minutes.
    • Turn off heat, add the lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves or spring onions, or both.
    • Serve piping hot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Potassium: 819mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 993IU | Vitamin C: 61mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
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    About Vaishali


    Hi! I am so happy you're here. I'm Vaishali, and I've been sharing recipes for delicious vegan food at Holy Cow Vegan since 2007. Every one of the more than 1,000 recipes on this blog has been tried and tested -- and loved -- by my family and I. I hope you will find something here to share with your loved ones. Thanks for stopping by!
    Read more about me here.

    Try these recipes next

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Louise

      November 28, 2014 at 6:56 am

      Hi! I've just discovered your blog after recently becoming vegan ๐Ÿ™‚ can't wait to try some recipes. In this one, you say not to use olive oil, I'm just wondering why?

      Many thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        August 05, 2021 at 4:45 pm

        Hi Louise, olive oil has a low smoke point and will burn at high temperatures. Any other vegetable oil like peanut, canola, sunflower or avocado oil would work!

        Reply
    2. Sheela

      June 03, 2014 at 6:58 pm

      Hey Vaishali,

      Lovely pictures and yummy recipe: ๐Ÿ™‚
      You are on a memory roll...simple tasty appetizing recipe.
      I have never tried with aloo, will follow your recipe the next time I plan to make Tawa Pulao.
      Also, my color is never rich as your pic looks...lovely! Any tricks to keep in mind?
      I feel this recipe is a cousin of pav Bhaji...

      Thanks for sharing.

      A big hug
      Sheels

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        July 10, 2014 at 1:18 pm

        Hi Sheela, I've been having trouble getting comments to appear on the blog, for some reason, and I just realized that my reply to you never posted. I have to figure it out. Meanwhile, hoping this one will appear. The color is because of the tomato puree. ๐Ÿ™‚ And yes, it does feel like a cousin of Pav Bhaji, doesn't it? ๐Ÿ™‚
        Hug back to you.

        Reply
    3. mark

      June 03, 2014 at 2:18 pm

      5 stars
      hi, i was sent a link to your website by a friend. I`ve just cooked this for a quick dinner after a bike ride and it`s absolutely delicious, will recommend your site to all my friends

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        July 10, 2014 at 1:16 pm

        Hi Mark, thanks for letting me know. So happy you liked it! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    4. Shani

      May 29, 2014 at 11:10 am

      Wow! I will have to try this! My dad makes something similar and it is delicious! I'm sure this will be too ๐Ÿ™‚ p.s. Just wondering after you left India, whether you visit often? Once you live somewhere for a large part of your life, it's hard not to miss it! (Loved your description of Mumbai!)
      Beautiful recipes, I check yours and vegan Richas blogs every day to check for new recipes. You two are amazing!!!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 29, 2014 at 11:57 am

        Thanks, Shani. ๐Ÿ™‚ I don't visit India as much as I want to, but I aim for every two to three years. I need to go more often, now that my dad is aging and I feel like spending more time with him.

        Reply
        • Shani

          May 31, 2014 at 4:29 am

          I totally understand! ๐Ÿ™‚ even I go every 2 years - the main reason is to spend precious time with family. plus, the food and the shopping is great too!
          Keep up the amazing recipes! Thanks for sharing them with us ๐Ÿ™‚
          I tried this pulao with brown rice and it was delish!

          Reply
          • Vaishali

            June 03, 2014 at 9:57 am

            Shani, so glad you tried it-- thanks for letting me know! ๐Ÿ™‚

            Reply
    5. Priya

      May 29, 2014 at 10:02 am

      Tawa pulao looks fabulous,definitely a filling lunch.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 29, 2014 at 11:57 am

        Thanks, Priya! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. Gayathri NG

      May 29, 2014 at 9:32 am

      Amazing pulao, looks delicious!!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 29, 2014 at 11:58 am

        Thanks, Gayathri!

        Reply
    7. Jaspinder Kaur

      May 29, 2014 at 2:35 am

      That rice looks so tasty! Definitely putting it in the list of recipes to try.๏ปฟ

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 29, 2014 at 11:58 am

        Thanks!

        Reply
    8. Fawn @ Cowen Park Kitchen

      May 28, 2014 at 4:07 pm

      "leftover" recipes are always useful to keep around! And a satisfying lunch option too.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 28, 2014 at 11:15 pm

        Fawn, yes, they are the best, aren't they? Although I tend to make this from scratch most of the time because it's just so good.

        Reply
    9. abc

      May 28, 2014 at 2:29 pm

      Awesome recipe Vaishali. Will try it will Quinoa or Brown Rice. Thanks to you, I don't have to buy Tawa Pulao Masala, have Pav Bhaji Masala at home ๐Ÿ™‚

      I really have to appreciate cooking skills of those food vendors. Cooking 4 things on same tava, plus serving customers awesome food seems a very daunting task.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 28, 2014 at 11:17 pm

        Hi Mukta, yes, this tastes best with pav bhaji masala. I hope you will try it. And yes, those guys are amazing, aren't they? One has to be whip-smart to multitask so beautifully amidst all the crowds and noise. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
        • abc

          July 09, 2014 at 1:41 pm

          5 stars
          Hi Vaishali,

          We made this yesterday with brown rice. It was really good. I added peas only. Next time I will try with Quinoa :).

          Thanks

          Reply
          • Vaishali

            July 10, 2014 at 1:10 pm

            Hi Mukta, so glad you guys liked it! Thanks for letting me know. ๐Ÿ™‚

            Reply
    10. East Meets West Veg

      May 28, 2014 at 12:35 pm

      I was just thinking of making something like this! Thank you for sharing! I love the picture you paint of late-night eating in Mumbai! Love your India stories!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 28, 2014 at 11:18 pm

        EMWV, Thanks! So happy you enjoy reading my Bombay ramblings. It's just such a wonderful city, I cannot get it out of my system after so many years. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    11. Juli

      May 28, 2014 at 8:20 am

      I am so excited to try all your recipes, I just found HolyCow two days ago. I saw in this recipe that you had potatoes in the ingredients, but I didn't see where you added it to the mixture. Can you clarify?
      Juli

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 28, 2014 at 8:27 am

        Hi Juli, welcome to Holy Cow! The potatoes go in with the peas. I've added. Thanks!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

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