Oats Poha
A Healthy and Delightfully Tasty Twist on the Traditional Poha
Poha is a popular Indian breakfast dish made with flattened rice, onions, peanuts, and herbs. It is enjoyed all across the country, especially in western and central India, where it is made at least once a week in most households.
Poha is rich in carbs and may not be ideal for someone looking to lose a few pounds. So, here’s a healthy twist on the traditional Poha, that you can enjoy guilt-free — just replace the flattened rice with rolled oats! It looks, tastes and feels exactly like the traditional Poha. Yet, it is much healthier and you can actually get away with a few extra servings!
Recipe
Preparation Time: 5–10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5–10 minutes
Serves: 3–4 people
Ingredients:
- Rolled Oats: 2 cups
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons
- Mustard Seeds: 1/4 teaspoon
- Chopped Green Chilies: 2–3
- Curry Leaves: 4–6
- Asafoetida (Hing): 1/4 teaspoon
- Chopped Onions: 2 cups
- Roasted Peanuts: 1/4 cup
- Turmeric Powder: 1/2 teaspoon
- Red Chili Powder (or Cayenne Pepper Powder): 1/2 teaspoon
- Salt (as per taste)
- Pepper (as per taste)
- Lime (or lemon): 1–2
- Grated Coconut: 2 tablespoons
- Finely Chopped Cilantro: 1/4 cup
Ingredients specific to Indian cuisine such as mustard seeds, green chilies, curry leaves, asafoetida (hing), turmeric powder, and red chili powder can be found at any Indian grocery store. I used extra virgin olive oil for its health benefits, but any other cooking oil can be used.
Preparation:
1. Thoroughly wash the rolled oats using a colander or sieve and set them aside for the water to drain. The oats will absorb some water just like the flattened rice and have a nice bite to them when cooked.
2. Place a pan on the stove and add extra virgin olive oil. Wait until you get the aroma of the olive oil. This means the oil has reached the right cooking temperature.
3. Add mustard seeds, green chilies, curry leaves, and asafoetida to the oil. Wait for the mustard seeds to start crackling.
4. Add chopped onions and wait for them to turn slightly translucent. Keep stirring regularly.
5. Add roasted peanuts and give it a nice stir.
6. Add turmeric powder and red chili powder. Mix it well and let it cook for 2–3 minutes.
7. Add salt and pepper as per taste. If you used salted peanuts, adjust the salt that you are adding accordingly.
8. Thoroughly drain the rolled oats in the colander or sieve and add them to the pan. Mix well and keep stirring for 2–3 minutes.
9. At this point, adjust the seasoning and color as per your taste, including salt, pepper, red chili powder, turmeric powder, etc.
10. Serve the Oats Poha with a couple of wedges of lime or lemon, grated coconut, and finely chopped cilantro.
Why does Oats Poha look, taste, and feel exactly like the traditional Poha?
Rolled oats are made from oats in a way similar to how flattened rice is made from rice. So, they look pretty similar. Flattened rice is neutral in flavor and the Poha prepared in the traditional way gets its taste from everything else that goes in it — onions, peanuts, spices, herbs, lemon, etc. Rolled oats do have an inherent flavor, but it is mild and overpowered by everything else in the Oats Poha. So they taste pretty much the same. Both flattened rice and rolled oats have a slight bite to them when soaked, and feel the same as well.
Why is Oats Poha healthier than the traditional Poha?
Traditional Poha is made from flattened rice, which primarily contains carbs. It can be a great source of quick energy. But, from a weight loss point of view, it may not be a good option. Oats Poha, on the other hand, is made from rolled oats, which mainly contain soluble fiber and proteins. These nutrients are the ideal substitutes for carbs if you are looking to lose some weight. Moreover, Oats Poha is much more filling than traditional Poha — so, you end up eating less quantity as well!
