Spiced Turmeric Poha (Flattened Rice Breakfast)
A soft, lightly spiced Indian breakfast of flattened rice tossed with turmeric, onion, and roasted peanuts. Gentle, quick, and easy to adjust for little eaters.
Ingredients
Contains optional added salt for older eaters. Skip it for babies under 12 months.
- 360 ml poha, medium to thick flakes1.52 cup poha, medium to thick flakes
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 10 each curry leaf
- potato (optional), peeled and cubed small
- 22.5 ml oil1.52 tbsp oil
- 30 g peanuts, raw, for roasting1.06 oz peanuts, raw, for roasting
- 3.75 ml mustard seed0.76 tsp mustard seed
- 3.75 ml cumin seed0.76 tsp cumin seed
- 0.63 ml hing0.13 tsp hing
- 1.25 ml turmeric0.25 tsp turmeric
- 2.5 ml sugar0.51 tsp sugar
- 15 ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed1.01 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 30 ml coriander leaf, finely chopped2.03 tbsp coriander leaf, finely chopped
- salt (to taste), for over-1s and adults
Steps
Soften the Poha
- Choose medium to thick poha flakes and add them to a strainer or colander, then set the strainer over a bowl.
- Rinse the poha under running water for a few seconds, then drain completely so it does not turn mushy.
- Cover and set aside for a few minutes until the flakes turn soft and break easily between your fingers.
- Stir the sugar through the softened poha and gently break up any lumps with your fingers.
Temper and Cook
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and fry the peanuts until golden and crunchy, then remove them to a plate.
- Add the mustard and cumin seeds to the same pan and wait until they begin to pop and smell fragrant.
- Stir in the hing, onion, and curry leaves, and saute until the onion turns soft and lightly golden.
- (Optional) Add the cubed potato, cover, and cook on low heat until tender, sprinkling a little water if needed.
- Add the turmeric and softened poha, mix gently to coat everything in the spices, then cover the pan.
- Cook on very low heat until the poha is hot through, sprinkling a little water if it looks too dry.
Finish and Serve
- Turn off the heat, squeeze over the lemon juice, and stir gently to combine the flavors evenly.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and roasted peanuts, then serve warm. For over-1s and adults, add a pinch of salt to taste.
- (Optional) For older kids and adults who enjoy heat, stir in a little finely chopped green chili at the end.
Nutrition
- Calories
- 229
- Protein
- 4g
- Fat
- 11g
- Carbs
- 29g
Tips by age
Omit the whole peanuts or grind them to a fine powder and stir through. Make sure the poha is very soft and offer small spoonfuls. Skip the salt and any chili.
Choking safety: Whole peanuts are a choking hazard under 4. Leave them out or grind finely. Skip raw potato chunks; cook potato until very soft.
Serve soft poha with peanuts finely ground or left out. Keep portions small and let your toddler self-feed with a spoon. No added salt or chili for this age.
Choking safety: Whole peanuts are a choking hazard under 4. Grind them or omit. Ensure potato is cooked until soft.
Serve as written with peanuts ground or finely crushed. A tiny pinch of salt is fine if you choose. Keep the dish mild with no chili.
Choking safety: Whole peanuts are a choking hazard under 4. Crush or grind them before serving.
Serve as written, keeping the dish mild. Crush the peanuts a little for younger children in this range and let them stir lemon juice through themselves.
Choking safety: Whole peanuts can be a choking hazard near age 4. Crush them for younger eaters and supervise eating.
Serve as written with whole roasted peanuts. Add a little salt and a pinch of chili to taste if your child enjoys heat and stronger flavor.
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