At a time when we want an easy to do breakfast on rushed days or a delicious snack on a sultry afternoon- with both spice and health – a go to option is the Curd Poha – a delicacy with a lingering flavor of the temples of South India. This can just as easily be converted into a main course with a hearty salad on the side – easy to do, easy on the palate and oh! so easy on health!
Curd-Poha/ Thair -Aval
Instructions
- Thick Poha (rice flakes)- 3 cups or 100 gm
- Curds- 1 ½ cup (300 gms)
- Milk- 4tbsp (60ml)
- Peanuts/Cashewnuts-1 tbsp (15 gms)
- Chia seeds- ½ tsp (Previously soaked for some time)
- Curry leaves-6-7 nos, finely chopped
- Green chili-1, slit
- Dry red chili-1-2 broken
- Ginger-1/4 tsp grated
- Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
- Urad dal-1 tsp
- Pepper corns crushed-6-7
- Hing- a few pinches
- Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
- Fresh pomegranate seeds-1 tbsp (15 gms)
- Cucumber- 1 tbsp peel, chop (15gms)
- Apple-1tbsp, chop (15gms)
- Fresh coriander leaves 1 tbsp chopped
- Salt -to taste
- Sugar-1 tsp optional
- Oil/Ghee-2 tsp
Notes
METHOD:
- Wash and soak the thick poha in water for a few minutes, drain in a strainer and keep aside
- In a big bowl, blend the curd with milk, salt and sugar and keep aside
- Heat oil in a vagar or tempering spoon or small pan, fry the nuts and keep aside
- To the oil, next add mustard seeds, urad dal, slit chili, dry chili, grated ginger, crushed peppercorns, hing and curry leaves
- Take the vagar spoon away from flame and add the turmeric powder, quickly pour the vagar in to the curds and mix well
- Add the fried nuts and soaked chia seeds to the curd and adjust the seasoning
- Mix in the washed poha and add the fresh pomegranate seeds, chopped apple, cucumber and garnish with chopped coriander leaves
- Bits of other seasonal fruits like grapes, tomatoes etc may be added if you desire.
Recipe Highlights:
- Poha or Avval or rice flakes is a good source of carbohydrates that is gluten free and easy to digest, it also contains a number of micronutrients, B vitamins along with iron and antioxidants
- Curds is an excellent source of good quality protein and calcium, and an immune boosting probiotic
- Fruits like fresh pomegranate, apples etc are a rich source of anti-oxidants, vitamins and promote immunity
- Curry leaves, coriander leaves, Chia seeds provide micro nutrients that boost immunity
- Turmeric contains curcumin which is also an immunity enhancer
- This recipe can be eaten as breakfast/lunch or Brunch, is quick and easy to make with minimal cooking.
