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    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Indian Breakfast

    Published: Sep 17, 2022 | Last Updated On: Oct 30, 2023 by Neha Mathur

    Kanda Batata Poha (Spiced Flattened Rice)

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    Jump to Recipe

    Kanda Batata Poha (Aloo Pyaz Poha, Spiced Indian Flattened Rice) is a popular breakfast recipe in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Make this classic recipe using my easy instructions (vegan, gluten-free).

    Kanda batata poha served in a bowl.
    Jump to:
    • What Is Poha?
    • About Poha Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Poha Recipe
    • Pro Tips By Neha
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage Suggestions
    • You Might Also Like
    • Recipe Card

    What Is Poha?

    Poha (Pohe) is flattened rice in Hindi. It is also known as chura, aval, avalakki, or chivda in different parts of India.

    Poha is a popular ingredient in Indian cooking and can be made in a variety of ways like Indori Poha, Green Poha, or Maharashtrian style Kanda Batata Poha.

    You can also use it to make Chura Matar, Poha Idli, Poha Bhel, Poha Dosa, Poha Chivda, and many more recipes.

    In India, when you say only “Poha”, it invariably means the Maharashtrian Poha recipe, which is made using flattened rice, onions, potatoes, and a few spices. This dish is popularly served for breakfast or evening snacks with tea or coffee.

    These days, poha made using red rice and millets are also available in the market. Try my Red Rice Poha and Millet Poha Recipes too.

    About Poha Recipe

    Kanda is onions and batata is potatoes.

    Kanda Batata Poha (Aloo Pyaz Poha, Onion Potato Poha) is spiced Indian flattened rice made using potatoes, onions, spices, and a few other veggies

    It is a simple and quick breakfast recipe that is made in almost all North Indian and Maharashtrian households, and it has become quite popular in entire India too.

    This gluten-free dish is excellent for breakfast, snacks, tea time, or a quick dinner.

    It is great to pack for school or work lunch boxes as well.

    Every household has a slightly different method of cooking this breakfast dish. In this post, I am sharing the recipe my mom has been making for ages.

    I am also sharing a few pointers to keep in mind while making poha recipe. Although the recipe is super simple, you can goof up on it in a wink.

    This recipe is vegan and gluten-free. You can double or triple it too.

    Here are some more Indian breakfast recipe ideas

    • Spot Idli
    • Rava Appe
    • Masala Paratha
    • Besan Chilla
    • Moong Dal Chilla
    • Sabudana Khichdi
    • Dalia Upma
    • Egg Dosa
    • Rava Pongal
    • Ven Pongal

    Ingredients

    Poha – Pohe is the star ingredient of this kanda batata poha recipe. It is made by parboiling the rice and then flattening it. After the rice is flattened or beaten, it is dried until crisp.

    Many varieties of pohe are available in the market – thin poha, thick poha, red rice poha, brown rice poha, gluten-free poha, etc.

    To make Kanda Batata Poha, use thick white rice poha. They are easily available in Indian grocery stores or on online portals like Amazon.

    Onion – Kanda is onion in the Marathi language. Use red, yellow, or white onions.

    Potato – Potato is called batata in Marathi. You can use any variety of potatoes.

    Peas – You can use frozen or fresh peas in this recipe.

    Others – You will also need oil, cumin seeds, brown mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chilies, raw peanuts, turmeric powder, salt, freshly squeezed lime juice, granulated white sugar, and cilantro (fresh coriander leaves).

    You can use any neutral-flavored oil like vegetable oil, light olive oil, canola oil, etc.

    To Serve – I serve pohe topped with chopped onions, grated fresh coconut, and bhujia sev. You can also top them with pomegranate kernels.

    Adjust the green chillies as per your taste.

    To make pohe healthier, you can add veggies like carrot, capsicum, green beans, cauliflower, etc. to it.

    How To Make Poha Recipe

    Preparation

    Add 1 and ½ cups of thick poha to a fine-mesh strainer and rinse it under running water for 30 seconds. Keep mixing the flakes while rinsing so that all of them get rinsed properly.

    Rinsing poha with water.

    Keep the strainer over a large bowl and keep it aside.

    Note – Pohe will keep absorbing water and become soft. Once they are ready to be added to the pan, they should be perfectly soft. To check, press one piece in between your fingers; it should mash easily. If not, then add some more water and rest for 5 minutes.

    Stir Fry

    Heat 4 tablespoon oil in a heavy bottom pan on medium-high heat.

    Oil heating in a pan.

    Once the oil is hot, add

    • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
    • ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
    • 10-12 curry leaves
    • 2 green chilies (slit into half)

    and saute them for 5-6 seconds.

    Cumin seeds, mustard seeds.curry leaves and green chilies added to the pan.

    Add ¼ cup of raw peanuts and fry for a minute, stirring continuously.

    Peanuts added to the pan.

    Now add ½ cup of chopped onions and cook for a minute.

    Chopped onions added to the pan.

    Add

    • ½ cup of peeled and diced potatoes (½-inch cubes)
    • ¼ cup green peas
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    and mix well.

    Potatoes, peas, salt and turmeric added to the pan.

    Reduce the heat to low.

    Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 8-10 minutes until the potatoes are thoroughly cooked. Stir a few times while cooking.

    Pan covered with a lid.

    Open the lid and break a potato piece with the spatula to ensure it is cooked well.

    Add 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon sugar, and the soaked poha to the pan and mix well.

    Lime juice, sugar and soaked poha added to the pan.

    Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes.

    Check for salt and add more if needed.

    Add 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro and mix well.

    Serve hot.

    Ready kanda batata poha garnished with cilantro.

    Pro Tips By Neha

    Quality: Choose good quality, thick poha flakes that are fresh. Thin variety tends to become mushy when soaked, while the thick variety retains its texture and shape.

    Soaking: Rinse the poha gently in water to remove any dust or impurities. Avoid rinsing them for too long as they can become soggy. A quick 30 seconds of rinsing is sufficient to soften it.

    Perfect Texture: After adding the soaked poha to the tempering, gently mix everything together using a spoon, fork, or a light hand. Avoid excessive stirring, as it can break the flakes.

    Balanced Spices: Adjust the spice level according to your preference. If you prefer spicier pohe, increase the quantity of green chilies or add red chili powder. Taste and adjust the seasoning, including salt and lime juice, to achieve a well-balanced flavor.

    Vegetables and Additions: Customize by adding vegetables like carrots, cauliflower, or bell peppers. Sauté the vegetables until they are tender but retain a slight crunch. You can also include cashews, or grated coconut for added taste and texture. Do not chop the onions too finely. Slightly larger chunks will be great.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why is my poha dry?

    If the moisture in pohe is less, they become dry. If they look dry, splash 2-3 tablespoon of water over them and mix them well. Cover and let them rest for 10 minutes; they will become fluffy again.

    Can I eat poha at night?

    It is much lighter and healthier as compared to rice, and eating it at night is perfectly fine.

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve this easy-peasy breakfast recipe with a hot cup of Masala Chai, Adrak Wali Chai, or Coffee. 

    Poha is traditionally topped with chopped cilantro, grated fresh coconut, pomegranate seeds, and various types of sev. I like to top it with my homemade Aloo Bhujia.

    You can also top it with chopped onions.

    Storage Suggestions

    Poha tastes the best when served hot, right from the pan. It tends to get dry when stored for longer.

    However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

    Just splash some water over them and mix well. Reheat until nicely warmed and serve hot.

    You can also use the leftover pohe to make recipes such as cutlets, paratha, or pakoras. 

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    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    Kanda Batata Poha (Aloo Pyaz Poha, Spiced Indian Flattened Rice) is a popular breakfast recipe in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Make this classic recipe using my easy instructions (vegan, gluten-free).

    Kanda Batata Poha Recipe (Spiced Flattened Rice)

    Kanda Batata Poha (Aloo Pyaz Poha, Spiced Indian Flattened Rice) is a popular breakfast recipe in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Make this classic recipe using my easy instructions.
    4.50 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Snacks
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 242kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Ingredients 

    • 1 and ½ cups thick white rice poha
    • 4 tablespoons oil
    • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
    • ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
    • 10-12 whole curry leaves
    • 2 green chilies (slit into half)
    • ¼ cup raw peanuts
    • ½ cup chopped onions
    • ½ cup peeled and diced potatoes (½-inch cubes)
    • ¼ cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
    • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
    • 1 teaspoon granulated white sugar
    • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (fresh coriander leaves)
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    Instructions

    Prepare The Poha

    • Add poha to a fine-mesh strainer and rinse it under running water for 30 seconds. Keep mixing the poha while rinsing so that all of them get rinsed properly.
    • Keep the strainer over a large bowl and keep it aside.

    Stir Fry

    • Heat oil in a heavy-bottom pan on medium-high heat.
    • Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and green chilies and saute them for 5-6 seconds.
    • Add peanuts and saute for a minute, stirring continuously.
    • Now add onions and cook for a minute.
    • Add potatoes, green peas, turmeric powder, and salt and mix well.
    • Reduce the heat to low.
    • Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 8-10 minutes until the potatoes are completely cooked. Stir a few times while cooking.
    • Open lid and break a potato piece with the spatula to make sure it is cooked well.
    • Add lime juice, sugar, and the soaked poha to the pan and mix well.
    • Cover and cook 2-3 minutes.
    • Check for salt and add more if needed.
    • Add cilantro and mix well.
    • Serve hot.

    Notes

    Adjust the green chilies as per your taste.
    To make pohe healthier you can add veggies like carrot, capsicum, green beans, cauliflower, etc to it.
    If the moisture in pohe is less, they become dry. If they look dry, then splash 2-3 tablespoon of water over them and mix them well. Cover and let them rest for 10 minutes, they will become fluffy again.
    Poha is traditionally topped with grated fresh coconut, pomegranate seeds, and various types of sev. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 373mg | Potassium: 905mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 9mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating





    1. Sarah

      March 31, 2017 at 3:41 pm

      4 stars
      Delicious and easy to prepare! Would be curious to see more recipes that use poha.

      Reply
      • msnehamathur

        March 31, 2017 at 4:04 pm

        There are a few more on the blog. Just type Poha in the search bar.

        Reply
    2. swati Bassi

      April 11, 2015 at 5:31 pm

      Hi

      I Love to eat poha. Its my all time favorite.
      Thanks for sharing such yummy pics of poha.

      Reply
      • msnehamathur

        May 18, 2015 at 9:35 am

        Thnx for liking Swati

        Reply

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