This month, the talented food bloggers who are part of the Shhhhh Cooking Secretly Challenge are exploring the cuisine of Madhya Pradesh, the ‘heart of India’.
I’m not sure if you guys know, but a few years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Kanha in Madhya Pradesh. I was invited by Pugdundee Safaris, to check out their beautiful, beautiful Kanha Earth Lodge and indulge in a wildlife safari in the gorgeous Kanha National Park. This was my first and only visit to Madhya Pradesh, special in more ways than one. Spectacular as the food at the lodge was, I did not get a chance to explore the famed local food of Madhya Pradesh. Well, I was not much of a ‘food blogger’ then, and wasn’t very aware of the brilliant foods that the state has to offer. Now, I am older and better read, and definitely more aware! I think I need to go on a special trip just for hunting down some of those delectable-sounding dishes! Till then, I will make do with trying my hands at one of the state’s most well-known foods.
For the uninitiated, Madhya Pradesh has several vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights to offer. The cuisine changes in different parts of the state, depending upon its history and geographical conditions, but wheat and meat remain the staples almost everywhere. Amli Ri Kadhi, Bhutte Ka Kees, Indori Poha & Jalebi, Bedai, Gatpat, Garadu, Daal Bafla, Mawa Baati and Khoya Jalebi are some of the vegetarian dishes that you can enjoy in the state of Madhya Pradesh. For this month’s Shhhhh Cooking Secretly Challenge, I decided to make Indori Poha, a famous beaten rice dish from the streets of Indore.
The Indori Poha is not your ordinary dish of rice flakes. It is a fragrant, extremely flavourful version of poha that you have to try out to believe the beauty of. Freshly made Jeeravan Masala, the fennel seeds (saunf) that go into the tempering, the generous dose of sev, raw onions, finely chopped coriander and pomegranate arils that it is served with – all these are the hallmarks of a good plate of Indori Poha.
I made the poha with home-made, freshly ground Jeeravan Masala, and was richly rewarded for my efforts. The Indori Poha turned out lip-smackingly delicious, and was much adored by everyone at home. It makes for a beautiful breakfast option, something quite different from the usual for us. Needless to say, I’m so thrilled at having discovered this!
Traditionally, to make Indori Poha, the rice flakes aka poha are first steamed in a colander, and then the other ingredients are mixed in, one by one. I cooked this in a different way, though, in a pan, the way one would normally make Batata Poha or Kanda Poha. Like I said earlier, the taste was just awesome! I can’t wait to try making this the traditional way!
Now, let us check out the recipe for Indori Poha, shall we?
Recipe adapted from: Yummy Diaries
Ingredients (serves 3-4):
- 3 cups rice flakes aka poha
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar or to taste
- 1/2 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds (rai)
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (saunf)
- 2 pinches of asafoetida (hing)
- 1-1/2 tablespoons Jeeravan Masala, or as needed
- 8-10 Curry Leaves
- 2-3 green chillies
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh coriander
- Pomegranate arils, as needed for garnishing
- 1 medium-sized onion
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Sev, as needed for garnishing
- Wash the poha under running water a couple of times. Place in a colander, and let all the excess water drain away.
- Fluff up the washed and drained poha in the colander, gently. Add salt to taste, turmeric powder and sugar. Mix well, gently, with your hands. Keep aside.
- Chop the onion finely. Keep aside.
- Slit the green chillies length-wise. Keep aside.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds, and let them pop. Add in the fennel seeds, and asafoetida. Let them stay in for a couple of seconds.
- Now, turn the flame to medium. Add the poha to the pan, along with the Jeeravan Masala, slit green chillies and curry leaves. Mix well.
- Cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring intermittently. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Switch off the gas.
- Mix in the lemon juice and finely chopped coriander and onion.
- Serve hot, garnished with sev and pomegranate seeds as needed.
Notes:
- Dry red chillies have been added in the preparation of Jeeravan Masala, which gives it spiciness. You need not add red chilli powder in the preparation of the Indori Poha, as you are already using Jeeravan Masala.
- I have used the thin variety of poha here, so I did not need to soak it beforehand. If you are using the thicker version, you might have to soak it for a while before you begin making the Indori Poha.
- Adjust the quantity of green chillies, salt, Jeeravan Masala, sugar and lemon juice you use, depending upon personal taste preferences.
- I have used refined sunflower oil here. You may use any other type of oil you prefer.
- Pomegranate arils are a must in the making of Indori Poha – you can use as many or as little as you want. However, I have not used them since I did not have any on hand.
- Typically, thick Ratlami sev is used to garnish this poha. I did not have any of that, so I have used store-bought medium-fine sev instead. Use as much or as little sev as you prefer.
- Jeeravan Masala, sev, lemon juice and sugar, onion, pomegranate arils, fresh coriander and fennel seeds in the garnish – these are the essential components of Indori Poha, without which it just wouldn’t be the same. Please do try not to skip any of these ingredients when you make Indori Poha.
- Click here to go to the detailed recipe for Jeeravan Masala.
Did you like this recipe? Do tell me, in your comments!
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This recipe is for the Ssshhh Cooking Secretly Challenge group that I am part of. Every month, the participants of the group cook dishes from a particular part of India, using two secret ingredients assigned to them. This month, all of us over are cooking dishes from the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. My partner for the month, Poornima Porchelvan from Poornima’s Cook Book, gave me two secret ingredients – fennel seeds and onion – and I decided to use them in making Indori Poha.
I’m sharing this post with Fiesta Friday #249. The co-hosts this week are Diann @ Of Goats and Greens and Jenny @ Apply To Face Blog.
Such a simple and delicious recipe! I too made Indori Poha for the challenge this month and I am so glad to see more fans of the dish! 🙂 We don’t get Jeeravan masala here so I also made it at home!
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@Ashima
Hey, Ashima! Welcome here! 🙂
Glad to meet another fan of Indori poha! There’s nothing like freshly ground, home-made spice mix, right?
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yep! homemade spice mixes are just so much more aromatic and fresher! 🙂
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Delicious and simple dish and its a easy breakfast recipe too. Bookmarked dear.I am trying to learn many cuisine dishes and will try to do Poha in this method next time.
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@Shobana
Do try it out some time. I’d love to know how you liked it.
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Wonderful share! Looks so delicious.
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@Megala
Thank you! This poha indeed tastes super delicious. 🙂
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So, my dad grew up in Indore and I lived there for a few years during childhood and then some teen years. I got truly sick of poha and generally refuse to eat it at home. Lol. Well, it was made every single weekend! We also had family in ratlam so the sev was a constant fixture too.
But the poha that you get in the food stalls is truly spectacular. It’s cooked in a lil different way than your recipe(which is the same way as my mom makes) I think. She made it that way when I was home during summer and it was amazing. I think she steamed it before cooking it. Not entirely sure!
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@princessbutter
LOL. Some sweet relationship you share with poha. 🙂
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Wonderful share.. Looks so yummm
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@Ruchi’svegkitchen
Thank you! 🙂
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I was wondering what makes the Indori poha so different from what the rest of India makes and your post explains it well. I’ll also have to try out the jeeravan masala as fellow bloggers too have used it in their dishes.
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@Mayurisjikoni
Thank you! Glad you liked the post. 🙂
Jeeravan Masala and Indori Poha are definitely must-try things.
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Wow…this looks totally tempting and the jeervan masala sounds interesting …definitely need to try
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@Cook With Smile
Oh, you totally need to try out jeeravan masala. It enhances the taste of just about anything!
The Indori Poha is an absolute must-try too.
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I had few times eaten this poha enroute my train journey. Was now aware of the special masala. Would love to give this a try and it looks so flavourful.
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@Renu Agrawal Dongre
Thank you! Indori Poha, with freshly made Jeeravan Masala, is a treat to the senses indeed. You must try it out some time. 🙂
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Poha is easy and a staple breakfast now in every Indian kitchen. such a delicious snack must say.
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@code2cook
Poha is a routine breakfast in most Indian households. This Indori Poha, though, makes for such a beautiful change from the usual. 🙂
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Another beautiful plate of Indori Poha! The masala sounds really flavorful…
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@Rafeeda
Thank you! Yes, the jeeravan masala is indeed super flavourful, and it elevates the poha to a whole new level.
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Awesome share Dear
I have nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award. Please check my post here https://thekaravaliwok.com/blogger-recognition-award/
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@The Karavali Wok
Thank you so much! ♥️
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This was the hit dish this month on our group and I have to try the poha soon. A simple poha with a unique preparation gets dressed up wonderfully with peanuts, poms and ratlami sev and turns into a delicious plate of regional breakfast.
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@Vidya Narayan
The jeeravan masala adds so much of flavour, it elevates the humble poha to an entirely new level. Do try this out! 🙂
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Poha with so many variations never tried with masala n with ratlami sev can sense the flavours.. My hubby n lil would like to eat every 2 days as a bfast r dinner.. Its easy for me too.. Urs look delicious 😋
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@Prathimashivraj
Thank you so much! 🙂
At our place, we are big poha lovers too. We make poha quite often too. This Indori Poha makes for a lovely change from the usual, with the flavourful jeeravan masala. 🙂 You must try it out some time too.
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Give me that plate of Indori poha, they are just prefect to kick start a day with.. Well done.
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@Priya Suresh
Thank you! 🙂
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I am sure jeeravan masala enhances the taste of poha. I am definetely going to try making them. Your dish looks delicious.
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@Anu
Thank you! 🙂
Oh, yes, the jeeravan masala adds a whole lot of flavour to the poha!
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Feel like having this now.. yummy and flavourful poha!
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@Priya Satheesh
Thank you! 🙂
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oh this jeeravan powder seems interesting, got to make it soon 🙂
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@Priya
It adds a lovely flavour to poha. You must try it out. 🙂
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Another wonderful sounding dish. What a true depth of culinary wealth you have in your country. Thank you for sharing it with us at #FiestaFriday
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@applytofaceblog
Thank you! Glad you liked the post and the recipe! 🙂
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Wonderful share, the poha looks so tempting with all the layers of garnishings.
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@jayashreetrao
Thank you! 🙂
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I love spicy poha. And this Indori poha looks super yummy. Adding pomegranate and Sev made it delightful. Thanks for the detailed jeeravan masala recipe. Bookmaking it to try soon.
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@Batter Up With Sujata
Thank you! Yes, this poha is so different from the usual – so much more!
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Indori poha seems to rule the roost this month 🙂 Jeeravan masala truly makes it different along with the cooking method . tempting pics, there 🙂
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@Kalyani
Thank you so much!
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The masala will make all the difference. Sounds delicious and filling too.
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@themadscientistskitchen
Thank you! Yes, the fresh masala made all the difference. 🙂
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Indori poha with fresh homemade Jeeravan masala and Ratlam Sev sounds so flavorful and delicious Priya ! You have done full justice with the dish .
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@poonampagar
Thank you so much! 🙂
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Another indori poha variant. Looks absolutely delish. The masal seems intersting. Bookmarked
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@Veena Krishnakumar
Thank you! I’d love to have your feedback on this. 🙂
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