BATATA POHA: flat rice at its best.

POHA: flat rice at it’s best.

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Batata Poha (potatoes and flat rice) served with a hot cup of chai is by far my most favorite breakfast ever! It is SOOO satisfying….maybe it’s the combination of salty with sweet…all I know is that it tastes de-lish together. Best of all,  it’s super easy and FAST to make.

For those of you who have never heard of flat rice…it’s amazing! It’s like rolled oats…except rice. All you have to do is rinse it, let is sit for five minutes and then gentle sauté it in a flavored oil. It’s an amazing product….one that I always have on my shelf! You should be able to find it at your local Indian grocery store.

Like all my recipes, I have played around with adding different veggies depending on if I decide to make this for breakfast or lunch…broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower work really well and black beans tossed in there also add a lot…however, for breakfast…the original potato & flat rice is my favorite.

Batata Poha (4 ppl)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• 4 cups flat rice
• 3 tablespoons olive oil (or oil of your choice)
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt for diced potatoes
• 1-1 1/2 teaspoon salt (salt to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/8 teaspoon asafoteida
• 2 neem leaves, washed and dried
• 2-3 teaspoons lemon juice
• cilantro, a handful washed and chopped

DIRECTIONS for cooking

1. Warm oil in large fry pan on medium heat.
2. Once oil is heated, add mustard and cumin seeds. Once the seeds start popping, add asafetida, turmeric and neem leaves.
3. Add diced potatoes, ginger and salt. Then stir gently.
4. Cover and reduce heat to low.
5. While potatoes are cooking, place flat rice in colander and rinse gently under cold water. Let stand for 5 minutes. Then add salt and gentle mix.
6. After 5-7 minutes, check potatoes. If you’re able to cut potato in half with your cooking utensil, then they are done.
7. Once potatoes are done, add flat rice and gentle mix until the rice is yellow like the potatoes (should happen pretty fast).
8. Garnish with cilantro and lemon juice and serve immediately.

Note: If the turmeric is not coating the rice fully, add another tablespoon of oil while mixing in the flat rice.