Roasted Poha Bites

 
 

Presenting a modern twist to serving the much beloved breakfast dish poha as an innovative and unique bite sized appetizer for your next party. Your friends and family will be pleasantly surprised that these roasted bites are poha in a new avatar.

MAKES: 18-20 poha bites

INGREDIENTS

  • 120g / 2 cups medium poha (flattened rice flakes)

  • 340g / 3 potatoes

  • 100g / 1 medium sized onion

  • 80g / 1 carrot

  • 60g / 1/2 cup boiled peas

  • 60g / 1/2 cup red bell peppers

  • 100g / 1/2 cup raw peanuts with skin

  • 1 inch ginger

  • 1 jalapeno or green chili

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped coriander

  • 1 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp black pepper powder

  • 1/2 tsp red chili flakes

  • 2 tsp chaat masala or amchur powder

  • 1/2 tsp roasted cumin seed powder

  • 1 tsp fennel seed powder

  • 3 tbsp dry bread crumbs

  • 2 tbsp cooking oil + some oil for roasting

Method

  1. Wash poha 2-3 times and soak in some water for 5 minutes. Next, drain poha in a sieve and let all the water rinse out and let the poha remain in the sieve.

  2. Boil, peel and mash the potatoes. Chop all the vegetables finely: onions, carrots, bell peppers, chili and coriander. Crush the boiled peas coarsely in a chopper and grate the ginger.

  3. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a wok and roast peanuts with skin on low to medium flame till they crackle and you hear a popping sound. Remove from the wok and let it cool.

  4. In the same wok with left over oil, sauté the onions, ginger and green chili. After 2 minutes, add in carrot, bell pepper and crushed peas. Mix well.

  5. Add in mashed potatoes and the rinsed and drained poha you had set aside. Add the bread crumbs as well.

  6. Blend peanuts coarsely in a mixer and add it to the above mixture in the wok.

  7. Add in all spices and mix well. Next, form round balls about the size of your paniyaram pan.

  8. Heat paniyaram pan with 2 drops of oil in each hole. Put the poha bites in each and cover with a glass lid and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add 2 drops of oil on top and turn over the poha bites so that they become crisp on both sides.

  9. Serve hot with ketchup or green chutney or mint sauce. Remember to sprinkle some chaat masala on top.

Helpful Tips

  • You can include other veggies of your choice such as cabbage, French beans and so forth.

  • For those allergic to peanuts, you can substitute peanuts with roasted crushed almonds.

  • If you do not have a paniyaram pan, you can make flat bites on a non-stick pan.

The Veggie JournalSnacks, Afternoon Tea2 Comments