Potato Poha / Aval Upma

 Kids are back in school! Mine are, how about yours? Eventhough they drove me crazy on some vaction days, it was kind of easy to go to work in the morning.

No lunch packing, i mean, how cool is that?

My son has always favored home packed lunch and i am always on the look out for new ideas.

Poha/ beaten rice/ flattened rice/ Aval is an easy snackable item in Indian kitchens. They absorb water and can used for sweet and spicy dishes. This one is an easy snack/ tiffin item that would be liked by the old and not so old!

So, Here we go....

Get Ready

• 1 cup poha / Aval / flattened Rice
• 1 tablespoon Peanuts
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 2 small green chillies slit
• 1 medium sized potato peeled and small cubed
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds/ kadugu
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds/ jeera
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• Pinch of asafetida
• 1 tsp sugar
• Salt to taste

Go

• Wash the poha under running water 2-3 times. Add water just to cover the poha and let it sit for a minute.
• Drain the water completely from the poha after a minute. Add a pinch of salt, gently toss. Cover with a lid and set aside for 20 mins.
• Cook potatoes in water in a microwave safe bowl for 5-6 mins till they are soft, but not mushy .
• In a pan add oil, once hot add the mustard seeds. After they pop add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle.
• Add peanuts, asafetida and fry till peanuts are golden.
• Add the onions, green chillies and sauté till onions are golden bad well done.
• Add the cooked potatoes to the sautéed onions and cook for 30 secs.
• Reduce the heat.
• Add turmeric powder, poha, salt, sugar and gently toss all together. Cover and cook on low flame for a minute or two.
• Adjust salt/ sugar according to taste.
• Turn the heat off, garnish with lots of chopped cilantro.

Enjoy for breakfast , lunch or evening snack with some coffee or tea.