Power Poha

Power Poha


As much as my husband dislikes, I enjoy watching cookery shows, especially the ones aired on Indian TVs obviously because I can relate to them better. I was watching one such show and they showed a quick nutritious recipe with flattened rice. It was appealing to me as it was really quick and I was sure it will be filling as well and make a meal. Apparently it gets its name ‘power poha’ from the fact that it is nutritious. I always find it hard when I go shopping late in the afternoon and return home around 6pm as it is dinner time for my little one and my husband’s stomach is already growling. As I have been down with a viral infection and exhausted, I decided to try this recipe and even got my husband to make it as I gave him the directions (that does not always happen in our household!). Poha is the hindi name for beaten rice and is called ‘avil’ in tamil. It is suppose to be rich in iron and a healthy ingredient. I quite liked this dish because it is easy, quick, tasty and importantly, it is suitable for baby, toddler, child and adults and that means you do not need to dish up multiple items. I adapted the original recipe slightly and here is how I made it.

1 cup poha (beaten rice)
1-2 tomato, chopped
1 big red onion, chopped
2 green chillies (chopped)
1 teaspoon ginger paste or grated ginger
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
Turmeric powder
Asafoetida
1 teaspoon sambar powder or ½ teaspoon chilly powder
¼ cup dry channa (chickpea) soaked and cooked
Salt to taste
Cooking oil

Soak the poha in water for two minutes (not more as it will become mushy), drain and keep aside

In a skillet/wok, heat a teaspoon oil, add mustard seeds and once it splutters, add asafoetida, turmeric powder, green chillies, ginger, onions and couple of minutes later, add tomatoes

Add required amount of salt and once the tomatoes turn mushy, add the cooked channa and sambar powder or chilly powder

Now add the drained poha and cook for couple of minutes until you acheive desired consistency. Garnish with coriander and serve with a nice chutney or raita

If you are making for your child as well, reduce the chillies and chilly powder. The above quantity serves two people.