By Aditi Saraswat
September 1, 2026
Mumbai's famous tawa pulao is the best answer for leftover rice and for when you are craving something spicy but want to avoid ordering from outside. Tossed on a hot tawa with butter, pav bhaji masala, lots of chopped vegetables and spices, this street-style pulao can be made quickly and feels satisfying in every bite.
1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste 1 small tomato, finely chopped ½ cup mixed vegetables 1 green capsicum, chopped 1½ tbsp pav bhaji masala ½ tsp red chilli powder Salt, to taste 2 tbsp coriander, chopped 1 tbsp lemon juice
On a tawa, heat butter and oil. Then add chopped onions and sauté until they turn soft and a bit golden, but not too brown.
To this, add ginger-garlic paste, chopped tomatoes and capsicum. Cook this masala until the tomatoes turn soft and the mixture turns a bit mushy.
Now, add mixed vegetables, pav bhaji masala, chilli powder and salt to this and toss everything so that the vegetables get evenly coated.
Add cooked rice to the masala and mix nicely, making sure every grain gets coated and does not break.
Lastly, sprinkle freshly chopped coriander and lemon juice, toss it for a minute again and serve it hot with raita and salad.