Bryan Adams calls vada pav the ‘most delicious vegan street food’: Experts weigh in on its authenticity

 

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Curious, indianexpress.com spoke to culinary experts to verify whether vada pav is truly vegan, and learn a little bit more about this popular street side snack.

Chef Sadaf Hussain confirmed that vada pav is indeed a vegan dish. “It’s made primarily from potato, gram flour, and various spices and herbs—there’s no dairy in the mix,” he said. However, he noted that the pav (bread) could be a point of contention. “Ladi pav, the most common bread used for vada pav, generally doesn’t contain milk, but some bakeries may use a milk wash to give it a golden sheen. As for the chutneys, both green and garlic chutneys are vegan, and refined oil is used for frying the vada,” he said.

Celebrity chef Ananya Banerjee shared the fascinating origins of the dish, revealing that vada pav was invented in the 60s or 70s by Ashok Vaidya, a street vendor near Dadar railway station in Mumbai. He combined a traditional Maharashtrian batata vada (potato fritter) with pav, inspired by the need for a quick, affordable snack for commuters and mill workers.

What makes it so popular among the masses?

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 emblem of Mumbai. Its simplicity, affordability, and connection to the city’s industrious spirit have turned it into an iconic street food loved across India,” she said.