Poha (Indian Spiced Flattened Rice Breakfast with Peanuts)
Quick answer
Poha is a staple Indian breakfast built on flattened rice that has been briefly soaked in water until pliable.
What makes this special
- Poha is an Indian breakfast of flattened rice tempered with mustard seeds, turmeric, and peanuts.
- Quick rinse and five-minute soak only keeps flattened rice intact while stir-frying
- Frying mustard seeds in oil first is the flavor starting point unique to poha
Key ingredients
Core cooking flow
- 1 Place 200 g flattened rice in a sieve and rinse under cold water for about 10 seconds.
- 2 Thinly slice 1 onion and finely chop 1 green chili.
- 3 Add 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds and let them crackle for about 20 seconds.
Poha is a staple Indian breakfast built on flattened rice that has been briefly soaked in water until pliable. The cooking starts with a tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves in oil, followed by sliced onion, green chili, and turmeric. The soaked flattened rice is folded in gently so the grains stay separate rather than clumping. Turmeric stains everything a warm yellow. Roasted peanuts tossed in at the end provide a crunchy counterpoint to the soft rice, and a generous squeeze of lemon brightens the entire dish. The city of Indore is famous for its poha, where vendors garnish each plate with freshly grated coconut and a handful of sev, a crispy chickpea-flour noodle snack. The dish comes together in under fifteen minutes and sits comfortably in the stomach all morning.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Step
Place 200 g flattened rice in a sieve and rinse under cold water for about 10 seconds.
Drain well, then rest for 5 minutes until the grains feel soft when gently pressed.
- 2Control
Thinly slice 1 onion and finely chop 1 green chili.
Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil to a pan and warm it over medium heat for about 30 seconds before adding spices.
- 3Step
Add 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds and let them crackle for about 20 seconds.
Add the onion and chili right away before the seeds darken or burn in the hot oil.
- 4Heat
Keep the heat at medium and cook for about 3 minutes, until the onion turns translucent.
Add 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and stir until the onion is evenly stained yellow.
- 5Step
Add the softened flattened rice and lower the heat to low.
Fold gently with a spatula for only about 2 minutes, warming it through without pressing so the grains do not clump.
- 6Finish
Mix in 40 g roasted peanuts, then turn off the heat.
Drizzle over 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fold once more, and serve while warm so the peanuts stay crisp.
After the steps
Pick a recipe that fits this dish.
Continue with shared ingredients, meal pairings, or a similar method.
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