A quick, healthy and super delicious breakfast recipe. It is quite a popular breakfast dish in Maharashtra. Poha is a Hindi name for flattened rice. AvalakkI is a Kannada name and gojjavalakki (spice masala Poha, Karnataka style) is often made in most Karnataka homes.
Masala Poha for me is a saviour dish, be it for a lazy Sunday breakfast or for after-office hunger pangs. This can be made under 15-20 minutes straight and is quite filling. When I am in hurry then Poha takes a simple form with just tempering and coriander leaves, which is equally tasty. This Poha recipe is slightly extended from its simple preparation. I have added onions and potato cubes and given a masala feel to it. You can omit potatoes if you wish to.
While there are many variants of Poha, jada(thick) Poha should be used. Paper thin Poha is also available but not suitable for this dish as they tend break easily and almost dissolve in water. Thick variant gives a nice texture and the puffed rice flakes remain intact. If you get red rice Poha then it has more health benefits when compared to white rice flakes. Poha can be mixed with sweet curd or milk, its a sweet treat for sure, kids and adults will equally love it.
However made, a bowl of Poha in the morning is sure to boost your energy levels as it is high in carbohydrate. So, why not kick-start your day with a nutritious and complete meal?
- 1. Poha 1.5 cup
- 2. Onion 1 small
- 3. Tomato 1 small
- 4. Potato 1 med
- 5. Urad dhal 2tsp
- 6. Mustard seeds 1 tsp
- 7. Cumin seeds 1 tsp
- 8. Dried red chilli/kashmiri chilli 1 medium
- 9. Groundnuts 2 tbsp
- 10. Cashew 1 tbsp (optional)
- 11. Curry leaves 1 strand
- 12. Coriander leaves 2 tbsp
- 13. Green chillies 2 small
- 14. Turmeric powder 1 tsp
- 15. Lime 1 small or 1 tbsp
- Rinse Poha. Sprinkle salt and toss gently. Keep aside. (refer note 1).
- Slice onions and chop tomatoes (refer note 2).
- Wash potato thoroughly and cut it into small cubes.
- In a pan, heat oil. Add urad dal and fry for 2 minutes till it turns light brown.
- Add mustard seeds and let it splutter.
- Add cumin seeds, curry leaves, red chillies, groundnuts, cashew nut sauté it.
- sauté onions and green chillies for 2 minutes.
- Add potatoes and cook on medium flame till potatoes are almost done. This should take approximately 8-10 minutes (refer note 3).
- On high flame fry the potatoes to a nice brown colour.
- Mix tomatoes, turmeric powder and salt. Continue to fry till the water content is evaporated.
- Add Poha and gently toss to mix well. Adjust salt.
- Squeeze 1 lime, add coriander leaves and mix well. (refer note 4) .
- 1. Rinse Poha under running water, around 2-3 times. Need not soak Poha, rinsing will be enough to make it softer. If soaking, do not soak for more than 3 minutes.
- 2. While chopping tomatoes, remove the seeds from them. We don't want a soggy Poha.
- 3. Potatoes can be pre boiled and added. Or it can be chopped finely and fried and then added towards the end.
- 4. Add lemon juice after the heat is switched off.
