Poha (Indian Flattened Rice Dish)
Poha is a light, fluffy, and savory Indian breakfast dish made with flattened rice, onions, spices, and peanuts. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s a perfect meal for busy mornings, midnight cravings, or using up leftover veggies!
Ingredients
- 2 cups thick poha flattened rice
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 –2 green chilies chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 8 –10 curry leaves optional but recommended
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ cup peanuts or cashews
- 2 tbsp oil neutral oil or butter
- Salt to taste
- ½ tsp sugar balances flavors
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Optional Add-ins:
- Diced potatoes peas, carrots, bell peppers, or spinach
- Sev crispy fried gram noodles for topping
- Pomegranate seeds for a sweet contrast
Instructions
- Rinse poha under cold water in a colander just until damp. Let it sit for 5 minutes and fluff gently to avoid mushiness.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and let them pop. Toss in peanuts and toast until golden brown.
- Add curry leaves and green chilies. Sauté briefly before stirring in onions. Cook until onions are soft and translucent.
- Sprinkle turmeric powder and mix well. Add any additional veggies at this stage, cooking until tender.
- Gently fold in the soaked poha, salt, and sugar. Stir carefully to combine without breaking the poha.
- Squeeze lemon juice over the mixture and toss lightly. Taste and adjust salt or lemon if needed.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, sev, or pomegranate seeds. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- If poha turns out too dry, sprinkle a little water and mix.
- If it gets mushy, use thicker poha next time and rinse quickly.
- Leftover poha can be repurposed into patties—just mix with mashed potatoes and pan-fry!