Wadapav an Indian Burger

I don't think it is or ever can be. I mean the Burger cannot come even close to a Vada Pav. A simple dish, but ever so tasty. I wish I lived in Mumbai-home of the Vada Pav. I can't get that in Delhi, unfortunately.

It is said that 'vada pav' was devised by snack vendor Ashok Vaidya outside Dadar station in 1971. It seems that the name comes from a batata vada sandwiched between 2 slices of a pav. 'Pav' may be the same word as the word for bread in Portuguese but is clearly related to the English word, 'bap', meaning a soft, flattish bread roll. The filling is clearly a spiced, vegetarian mixture made of mashed potato ('batata') mixed with chilis, ginger and other spices. The idea of using a savory (generally fried) filling in a bread as a 'fast food' is certainly not an Indian invention. It is much more likely that it was brought to India by the Persians (who, after all, were responsible for developing the grain we call 'wheat' and from which bread is usually made. The spiced and fried ball of mashed vegetable (as a substitute for meat) is found in many cultures. One of the earliest varieties being the 'falafel' which is made from a mixture of chick pea flour, herbs and spices and was probably invented as an 'instant' food for people who travelled on long journeys without the opportunity of carrying any other kind of protein. Americans will tell you that the 'hamburger' was invented in Chicago; Germans (from Hamburg and many other places) will tell you that the meat pattie enclosed in a bun was already a common fast food. The Earl of Sandwich is credited with 'inventing' the idea of having cold meat between two slices of bread in the 18th century but the idea dates back to ancient Greece and probably long before.

Wadapav and Indian Burger. Well I learned an Indian term from you....Wadapav, right? You said it is the suitable tile for best junk or street food. What is best about junk anyway? 'Just kidding! I am not really fond of hamburgers but I would love it so if it is veggie burger or mushroom burger with chicken. Hmmmm, yummy! I feel like going to the Mushroom Burger House now and I mean now!