Bryan Adams’ recent visit to India has sparked excitement among fans eager to see the iconic rockstar perform live. Between his concerts in Kolkata, Delhi, Shillong and Mumbai, the American singer has been immersing himself in the local food culture, sharing his experiences with his followers. One of his recent posts showed his first meeting with Vada Pav.
“Mumbai❤️! Spent the morning in the city and did what every good tourist does and visited the Gateway of India and then walked the streets in search of vada pav, the most delicious vegetarian street food, consisting of a small Indian spiced potato cake on a burger. Bun – very good, Who needs fake burger meat when you can have this?!,” she captioned her post.
Curious, indianexpress.com spoke to culinary experts to verify whether vada pav is truly vegetarian and learn a little more about this popular roadside snack.
Chef Sadaf Hussain confirms that Vada Pav is indeed a vegetarian dish. “It’s made primarily from potatoes, chickpeas, and various spices and herbs—no dairy in the mix,” he said. However, he noted that pav (bread) could be a point of contention. “Ladi pav, is used for the most common bread vada pavUsually does not contain milk, but some bakeries may use a milk wash to give it a golden sheen. As for the chutneys, both the green and garlic chutneys are vegetarian, and refined oil is used to fry the vadas,” he said.
Celebrity chef Ananya Banerjee shares the fascinating origins of the dish, revealing that vada pav was invented in the 60s or 70s by Ashok Vaidya, a street vendor near Mumbai’s Dadar railway station. Inspired by the need for a quick, affordable snack for commuters and mill workers, he mixed traditional Maharashtrian batata vada (potato fritters) with pav.
What makes it so popular among people?
Vada Pav was designed as an inexpensive snack For the working class. It’s easy to eat on the go, making it perfect for busy city life. “Vada pav is more than a snack – it’s a cultural icon of Mumbai. Its simplicity, affordability and connection to the city’s hardworking spirit has made it an iconic street food loved across India,” she said.
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