‘Poha’ (Flattened rice or beaten rice ) is one of the easiest, healthy, and filling breakfast which is said to have originated in western and northern India. ‘Poha’ is a good source of carbohydrates, rich in iron and low on gluten. There are two varieties of the ‘poha’, thick and thin. This breakfast dish requires the “thick” poha . The thin poha is usually not preferred as the recipe requires soaking it in water and can make it soggy .
It is also a very common breakfast in many households back home and there are many variations to making it.I mainly use cumin. turmeric and salt for the spices in this dish. You can also add vegetables like carrot and peas and spices like “garam masala” or grated coconut etc to make it interesting. I stick to the recipe that I have known and eaten growing up and the details are in the recipe below. The combination of the chewy ‘poha’ , peanuts, citrus lime, soft fried potatoes and onions is an awesome flavor to relish. Have this dish with a cup of tea or ‘chai’ to awaken all your senses and tastebuds and you cannot but help to call it breakfast for the soul! Enjoy 🙂
Poha

A delicious breakfast or snack with your evening tea based on Indian cuisine.
Ingredients
- 5 cups soaked beaten or flattened rice (Aval)
- 1/2 red onion finely cut
- 3 -4 green chilies
- 2 medium-sized potatoes
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 cup or handful of peanuts
- 1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
- 1/2 a lemon (juice squeezed)
- 3 -4 curry leaves
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- salt to taste
- 3 tbsp oil
Directions
- Wash the beaten rice in a colander and make sure it is soft and not too soggy
- Heat 3 tbsp oil and splutter mustard and cumin
- Add roasted peanuts and stir
- Add onions and green chillies and sautée
- Add turmeric powder and salt
- Next add the diced potatoes and sautée
- Lower the heat and cover with a lid to make sure the potatoes are cooked half way
- Next add the soaked beaten rice and mix thoroughly
- Add the lemon juice
- Cover with the lid again for 5 minutes to make sure it steams well
- Add the chopped coriander leaves and curry leaves and mix well.
- Poha is read to be served.
- Serve it with a sliced lemon, crispy fried lentils( bujhiya)
- Enjoy it with a cup of tea!

A delicious breakfast or snack with your evening tea based on Indian cuisine.
- 5 cups cups soaked beaten or flattened rice (Aval)
- 1/2 red onion finely cut
- 3-4 green chillies
- 2 medium sized potatoes
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 cup handful of peanuts
- 1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
- 1/2 lemon (juice squeezed)
- 3-4 curry leaves
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- salt to taste
- 3 tbsp oil
Wash the beaten rice in a colander and make sure it is soft and not too soggy
Heat 3 tbsp oil and splutter mustard and cumin
Add roasted peanuts and stir
Add onions and green chillies and sautée
Add turmeric powder and salt
Next add the diced potatoes and sautée
Lower the heat and cover with a lid to make sure the potatoes are cooked half way
Next add the soaked beaten rice and mix thoroughly
Add the lemon juice
Cover with the lid again for 5 minutes to make sure it steams well
Add the chopped coriander leaves and curry leaves and mix well.
Poha is read to be served.Serve it with a sliced lemon, crispy fried lentils( bujhiya)Enjoy it with a cup of tea!

34 Comments
Chris Riley
February 9, 2018 at 9:41 pmI would love this for breakfast, but not sure I could get hubby to give it a try – at least not for breakfast. I’ll have to look out for flattened rice next time I’m in a specialty Indian supply shop.
InspiresN
February 9, 2018 at 10:08 pmHope you can give it a try when you get a chance .It is quite a popular dish and flattened rice is easily available in any Indian store! Thank you for stopping by!
Neetha
February 9, 2018 at 9:46 pmYou are right its hearty and absolute comfort food .. Looks so delicious. Have a great weekend!
InspiresN
February 9, 2018 at 10:09 pmYes Neetha an awesome comfort food indeed. Thank you so much and you too have a good one!
jyo
February 9, 2018 at 11:13 pmMost reliable food ✌✌ one of my fav too ❤❤
InspiresN
February 10, 2018 at 10:06 amYes rightly said Jyo, reliable and a favorite amongst so many of us! Thank you so much!
Pooja Thapliyal
February 10, 2018 at 12:07 amAlways a favourite ✌️
InspiresN
February 10, 2018 at 10:05 amThank you so much Pooja , easy dish and a favorite of many of us!
Jyoti's Kitchen
February 10, 2018 at 12:13 amMy favourite 💕
InspiresN
February 10, 2018 at 10:04 amHappy to hear that it is your favorite as well Jyoti! Thank you for the comments!
Bhavana
February 10, 2018 at 12:36 amEasy & tasty recipe😋.
Right dear goes so well with cup of tea.
InspiresN
February 10, 2018 at 10:03 amYes tasty and easy , indeed best with a cup of tea! Thank you so much!
Ramyarecipes
February 10, 2018 at 7:34 amMy All time favorite yummy breakfast and clicks are beautiful Nisha 👍
InspiresN
February 10, 2018 at 10:01 amThank you Ramya, my favorite as well ! Glad to hear you loved the photos.
Megala
February 10, 2018 at 9:15 amLovely poha ! Fantastic breakfast !!
InspiresN
February 10, 2018 at 10:01 amThank you so much!
indianeskitchen
February 10, 2018 at 10:38 amI want this for breakfast right now!!! Yum!
InspiresN
February 10, 2018 at 11:02 amI wish I could send it over 🙂 .Thank you so much Diane!
indianeskitchen
February 10, 2018 at 11:17 amMe too..lol
savvysouthindian
February 10, 2018 at 1:48 pmThat poha looks so yummy, Nisha!
InspiresN
February 10, 2018 at 10:35 pmThank you so much Latha!
Blogtastic Food
February 10, 2018 at 6:37 pmI tend to get sick and tired of the same old breakfast so waking up to this would be a treat (:
InspiresN
February 10, 2018 at 10:35 pmThank you so much! I am pretty sure you would love this for a change.
indianeskitchen
February 13, 2018 at 12:39 pmI have never heard of a flattened rice and I have never had rice for breakfast! I just never thought about it! Boy am I deprived because this looks amazing!
InspiresN
February 13, 2018 at 7:21 pmFlattened rice has some benefits as it easily digested and rich in iron and gluten free .This really tastes good as well so do try it out Diane , you may like it as well!
indianeskitchen
February 14, 2018 at 10:56 amThank you I will but I will have to find it first….lol Thank goodness for the internet!
InspiresN
February 14, 2018 at 11:05 am🙂
Vidya Narayan
February 14, 2018 at 5:12 amPoha and tea combo is just amazing. I love poha just like you with loads of onions. Best breakfast ever!
InspiresN
February 14, 2018 at 9:08 amGlad to hear that Vidya, nothing to beat the poha chai combination right .Thank you for stopping by!
Vidya Narayan
February 14, 2018 at 11:48 amI agree and its my fav too, sometimes I have it as an early dinner option too. My pleasure entirely dear.
Anonymous
February 20, 2018 at 12:49 pmPoha looks delicious especially with that hot cup of tea!! Loved the pics..
InspiresN
February 20, 2018 at 3:36 pmThank you Deepa, the picture of the poha and tea indeed is tempting!
Anshu Agarwal
February 28, 2018 at 4:27 pmThis is my all time favorite…awesome recipe and pictures !!
InspiresN
February 28, 2018 at 7:08 pmawww, Thank you so much , it’s truly a favorite of so many of us.