Feeling hungry but not very hungry? Are you craving something light? Then poha is the right dish for you!
There are as many versions of poha as there are regions in Maharashtra, so I wouldn’t claim this is ‘authentic’. I was not a very big fan of poha earlier till I tried a bit of mix-and-match and hit upon this combination of ingredients. Now it is my go-to snack when I want something quick and light.
Recipe for poha
Ingredients:
150 grams poha
30 grams peanut
1/4 cup oil (I used rice bran oil)
1 onion, finely chopped
2 green chillis, finely chopped
10-12 curry leaves
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp grated coconut
Salt to taste
Method:
Wash poha twice in water, drain, and set aside.
Heat oil in frying pan. Fry the peanuts. Remove the peanuts and set aside.
In the remaining oil, add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add onion, green chillies and curry leaves.
Stir till onion turns light golden brown.
Add turmeric powder. Mix well.
Add poha and salt. Mix well.
Take the poha mixture off the stove and transfer to a serving bowl or plate.
Add grated coconut and lemon juice.
Serve hot.
“No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.”
– Laurie Colwin
The Vegetarians' Kitchen 