Batata Poha / Beaten Rice Flakes with Potato

 

I am ending this week's marathon with a favorite dish of ours, batata poha. This simple and quick dish is one of the staple breakfast dishes from Maharashtrian kitchens and can be served for breakfast, brunch or as an evening snack.

Ingredients: (For 3 servings)
3 cups of beaten rice flakes / poha (Use thick variety.)
1 Tbsp. to 2 Tbsp. oil
1 tbsp. peanuts
1 tsp. mustard seeds
1 tsp. cumin seeds
2 green chillies, finely chopped (adjust the quantity as needed.)
1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
Few curry leaves
1 big or 2 small onions, finely chopped
1 potato, peeled and cubed
Salt to taste
1 tsp sugar (optional. I don't usually use it.)
Minced cilantro to garnish
Lemon juice to taste

Method:
* Add poha to a colander and rinse well. Drain and leave the poha aside in the colander.
* Heat oil in a kadai / saute pan. Add peanuts, mustard and cumin seeds.When peanuts start turning golden brown, add green chillies and saute for few seconds. Then add onion, curry leaves and turmeric powder.
* Cover and cook until onions turn translucent, stirring intermittently. In the mean time, potato cubes can be cooked in the microwave adding a little water. If not, then add potatoes to the pan, sprinkle some water and cover the pan. Cook until the potatoes are done.
* Next add the soaked poha, salt and sugar if using. Mix well,cover and cook for about 8 - 10 minutes until the poha is done. Add cilantro and lemon juice as needed. Mix once and serve warm.

Notes:
1. Use thick variety poha to prepare this. Thin variety poha is good for snacks like chivda and not suitable for this dish. It turns mushy if soaked in water.
2. Lemon juice and sugar are optional. Leave them out if you don't prefer those flavors in poha.
3. Skipping potatoes from the recipe would give you the plain poha recipe. To make the dish more wholesome, you can add other vegetables like finely chopped carrots, green beans and carrots along with potatoes.
4. Even some fresh, shredded coconut can be added to this poha. Add along with poha at the final stages of the cooking. 

Check here to see what my fellow marathoners are cooking during Blogging Marathon #48.

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