How to Make Bataka Poha

With bits of raisins bursting through the flavored rice and potatoes, Bataka Poha (translation: flattened rice with potatoes) tastes great any time of day. We personally love eating Bataka Poha as a late breakfast / early lunch with a cup of warm chai. The best part is that it takes no more than 15-20 minutes to make and even the most novice chefs can whip this up in no time.  

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups of Poha (flattened rice). You can buy this at any Indian grocery store. 
• 1 medium potato cubed
• 1 medium onion chopped into small pieces
• 1 jalapenos chopped
• Tablespoon of oil (I typically use either avocado oil or ghee since they work well with high heat)
• ⅛ cup peanuts
• ⅛ cup raisins
• ½ lemon
• 4 curry leaves (optional / nice to have)
• Few cilantro leaves
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• ¼ tablespoon turmeric
• Salt to taste

Instruction: 

1. Take two cups of poha and place it in a strainer. Turn on the water and rinse the poha for a couple of minutes. Let the poha soak for a few minutes and move it around with a spoon to drain the excess water (however it should remain slightly wet – doesn’t need to be thoroughly dried)
2. Heat a bit of ghee or oil into a pan and add cumin and mustard seeds. Once they start dancing around add the onions, and curry leaves if you have them. 
3. Add the onions, jalapeno and saute them with the cumin, and mustard seeds for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. 
4. Next, add the diced potatoes, turmeric, salt and about two tablespoons of water. Stir all the ingredients together and then cover and heat until the potatoes are cooked (make sure to cover them so the steam can soften the potatoes). Should take approximately 7-8 minutes. Stir every couple of minutes to ensure that they don’t burn / overcook. 
5. Once the potatoes are softened, add in the peanuts and stir. 
6. Next, add in the soaked poha and stir everything together.
7. Next, add in the raisins, and squeeze lemon over the dish and stir vigorously.
8. Garnish with cilantro leaves (if you have them) and serve.  

Let us know how it turned out in the comments section!