Methods

Filling:

1. Peel the potatoes and dice them in small pieces. Make sure the potatoes are cooled before you dice them, else they can get sticky. Slightly mash them with the back of a fork.
2. Pound the garlic and green chilies with a little bit of salt into a coarse paste.
3. Heat oil, add mustard seeds. As soon as they splutter, add curry leaves and turmeric. Add onions if using and sauté them till they are light brown in color. Don't let them burn at all.
4. Add the chili-garlic paste and sauté for 15-20 secs. Turn the heat off
5. Add the potatoes mixture, salt, sugar and lime juice. Mix well, and taste to adjust the seasoning.

Batter:

1. Mix all the ingredients for the batter except the baking soda well, make sure there are no lumps. When you are ready to fry the vada, add the baking soda and set aside for 5 mins.
2. Make lemon size balls of the potato mixture.
3. Dip the balls in the batter and fry on medium heat till golden brown.
4. Rescue the little bits of batter that break away and set aside for the chutney.

Pav: 

1. Heat the water to 100F. I use a thermometer to check because this is critical for the yeast to rise.
2. Add sugar and yeast and set aside for 5 mins
3. Add melted butter to the flour and mix. Add salt and mix it a little more. 
4. By now the Yeast mixture should be frothy, this shows that the yeast is active
5. Add the yeast mixture to the flour and mix until it comes together. 
6. Now take the mixture on the counter and knead for good 10 mins. Don’t be alarmed if the mixture is wet, as you knead you will see that it comes together. 
7. Don't be tempted to add more flour. Lose dough is key to a fluffy and soft bread
8. Put the dough in a greased bowl, cover and let it rise for about 50- 60 mins. The dough should double, so if the temperature is cold, let it rest for 60 mins
9. After 60 min, take the dough on the counter, deflate and knead for 3-4 mins
10. Divide in 12 equal pieces. I use a scale. Equal balls ensure that the bread is of same size and also cooks uniformly
11. Grease and dust with flour a 9×13 pan. I use the Wilton Brownie pan. 
12. Roll the dough pieces in a tight ball and arrange in the pan. Make sure when you roll, you are making the surface taught, and also the seam side should be down. This ensure that when the dough rises, all air gets nicely trapped, making for a spongy bread
13. Let the balls rest anywhere from 60-75 min. They should be visibly plump
14. Heat the oven to 450 F
15. Bake the bread for 8-10 mins. After 10 mins even if the crust does not look super dark brown, don't be tempted to bake longer
16. Take the pan out and immediately brush with a little butter
17. Cool on the baking rack. 
18. Enjoy the Pav is ready

Chutney: 

1. Grind all the ingredients together!  

To assemble: 

1. Slice the pav in half and butter generously

2. Spread a layer of garlic chutney onto both sides of the buttered pav

3. Put the vada inside and clamp shut like an oyster. 

4. Eat piping hot!