Poha Recipe

What is 'Poha'?

Poha is an easy and delicious Indian breakfast recipe popular in western and central Indian. Made with flattened rice, onion, potatoes, and seasoned with mild spices, curry leaves, peanuts and cilantro, this recipe also makes up for a quick mid-day snack.

Ingredients

• 2.5 cup Poha (flattened rice) medium or thick
• 2 tablespoon Oil divided
• 2 tablespoon Peanuts raw, optional
• ½ teaspoon Mustard Seeds (Rai) optional
• ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera) optional
• 10-12 Curry Leaves (Kadi Patta)
• 2 Green Chili Pepper diced, adjust to taste
• ¾ cup Onions diced
• ¾ cup Potato diced into ½-1 centimeter pieces
• ¼ teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
• ½ teaspoon Salt adjust to taste
• ½ teaspoon Sugar adjust to taste
• 1 tablespoon Lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Cilantro leaves (Corainder) chopped

Garnishes when serving (optional)

• Sev as needed, or bhujia
• Pomegranate seeds as needed
• Coconut freshly grated

Steps to cook poha

1. Add poha to a strainer, and rinse under running water until the water runs clear. Make sure all the poha is wet. Let it rest while you sauté the other ingredients.
2. Heat a heavy bottom pan on medium-high heat. Add oil to the pan and let it heat.
3. (optional )Add the peanuts and saute for 1-2 minutes while stirring continuously. When they are roasted, take out in a plate and set aside.
4. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds to the oil, and let them sizzle.
5. Add the curry leaves and green chili pepper. Then add the diced onions and stir well. Saute for a minute.
6. Add the diced potatoes. Mix well with the onions. Now cover the pan with a lid and cook on medium-low heat until the potatoes are cooked completely. Open lid and stir. Break a potato piece with the spatula to make sure it is cooked well. (It is important to cut the potatoes to small pieces so they cook quickly in 3-4 minutes)
7. Add turmeric, salt, sugar and poha to the pan. Mix gently, until all the poha gets the yellow turmeric color. Change to low heat and cover the pan for 2 minutes. This helps to heat the poha.
8. Turn off heat and open the lid. Sprinkle lime juice, add back the roasted peanuts (if using).
9. You can taste test, and adjust salt as needed. Garnish with cilantro leaves and any optional garnishes.