pohe
(flattened rice dish)
Ingredients
pohe/flattened rice - 2 cups , thick
onion - 1/2 cup, chopped
green chillies - 3-4, finely chopped
vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons
mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
turmeric - one half teaspoon
curry leaves - 5-6
*Aniseed/Fennel seeds (saunf) - 1 teaspoon (optional)
sugar - one half tablespoon
lemon juice - one half tablespoon
salt to taste
cilantro to garnish
desiccated or fresh coconut , grated for garnishing
Recipe
1. Wash pohe/flattened rice in a strainer for a couple of minutes , set aside for 15 minutes to allow flattened rice to absorb water and puff up.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large saute pan, add mustard seeds. Allow mustard seeds to splatter, add turmeric, onions, green chillies, curry leaves and aniseed/fennel seeds (optional). Saute for a couple of minutes, add washed and puffed up pohe/flattened rice. Also add sugar, salt and lemon juice. Mix well for 3-4 minutes and that's all. Garnish with cilantro and dried/fresh grated coconut and serve hot with pickles.
Tips
There are two types of flattened rice - thick and thin. For this dish, we use thick flattened rice instead of thin , the reason being thin flattened rice turns very soft after washing. So it is used only in raw form as in chivada.
You can make variations by adding green peas , sliced potatoes.
*Aniseed/Fennel seeds (saunf) - fragrant spice, used in curry/chutney. Also used as a mouth freshner.