Vegetable Poha

A classic Indian breakfast or snack, this Vegetable Poha is made with flattened rice, stir-fried with mustard seeds, curry leaves, turmeric, and a medley of colorful vegetables. It's light, flavorful, and perfect for a satisfying start to your day.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Total Time: 35 min
Servings: 4
IndianVegetarianVeganPescatarianDairy-FreeGluten-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeShellfish-FreeFish-FreeSesame-Free

Ingredients

  • 2 cup Thick Poha (flattened rice) (medium or thick variety)
  • 1 piece Onion (medium, finely chopped)
  • 1 piece Potato (small, peeled and finely diced)
  • 0.5 cup Peas (fresh or frozen)
  • 0.5 cup Carrot (finely diced)
  • 1-2 piece Green chili (slit lengthwise, adjust to taste)
  • 8-10 piece Curry leaves
  • 1 tsp Mustard seeds
  • 0.5 tsp Cumin seeds
  • 0.5 tsp Turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 0.25 cup Peanuts (roasted, optional)
  • 2 tbsp Cilantro (fresh, chopped, for garnish)
  • 2 tbsp Oil
  • to taste Salt
  • 0.5 tsp Sugar (optional, to balance flavors)

Instructions

  1. 1.

    Place the poha in a colander and rinse it gently under running water for about 1-2 minutes until it softens but is not mushy. Drain thoroughly and set aside.

    Time: 2 min
  2. 2.

    Heat oil in a large pan or kadai over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Then add cumin seeds, green chilies, and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds until fragrant.

    Time: 2 min
  3. 3.

    Add the finely diced potatoes and carrots to the pan. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender-crisp. You can cover the pan for a few minutes to help them cook faster.

    Time: 7 min
  4. 4.

    Stir in the chopped onions and peas. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent and the peas are cooked through.

    Time: 4 min
  5. 5.

    Add turmeric powder and salt to taste. Mix well to coat the vegetables evenly. If using, add roasted peanuts now and stir.

    Time: 1 min
  6. 6.

    Gently add the drained poha to the pan. Add sugar (if using) and lemon juice. Mix everything thoroughly but gently, ensuring the poha doesn't break apart. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the poha is heated through and the flavors are well combined.

    Time: 3 min
  7. 7.

    Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve hot.

    Time: 1 min

Tips

  • 💡Use medium or thick poha; thin poha tends to get too mushy. If your poha is very thick, you might need to soak it for an extra minute or two.
  • 💡For extra crunch, you can fry the peanuts separately until golden brown before adding them, or use store-bought roasted peanuts.
  • 💡A pinch of sugar helps balance the flavors, especially if your poha is on the tangier side from the lemon.

Recipe from TheCookbook.ai

Created by sonal shrivastava