Poha (Flattened Rice) Balls

Poha or flattened rice, popular in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, is made by parboiling paddy and then drying it in the sun. The dried product is then flattened to make the flakes. It is a good source of probiotics as the product is made through fermentation. It is easy digestible and makes for a healthy breakfast that keeps you going for the rest of the morning due to its high carb content. You can toast, fry or soak poha before cooking it. One bowl of cooked poha has about 250 calories along with vitamins like Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus as well as antioxidants. This is a snack using poha and potatoes fried with a little oil in a appam pan or paniyaram pan very similar to an aebleskiver pan @@sarchakra

PREP TIME: 20 mins

COOK TIME: 15 mins

YIELDS: Makes 14

Ingredients

• Poha (flattens rice) 1 cup
• Potatoes 2 large, boiled and mashed
• Turmeric 2 tsp
• Cumin seeds 1 tbsp
• Salt
• Red chili powder 2 tsp
• Green chilies 3-4, finely chopped
• Dry mango (amchur) powder 2 tsp
• Garam masala powder (see recipe
• Mint 2 tbsp, finely chopped
• Coriander 2 tbsp, finely chopped

Method

• Toast cumin seeds on slow flame. Cool and crush them gently in a mortar and pestle to release the flavors.
• Soak poha in water for 15 mins. Drain and squeeze out all the water. Put poha in a bowl. Add mashed potatoes, turmeric, salt, crushed toasted cumin seeds, red chili powder, green chilies, dry mango powder, garam masala, mint and coriander. Mix very well till blended.
• Using an ice cream scoop divide into portions and make round balls. Keep aside.
• Heat an appam pan on medium flame. Pour 1 tsp oil in each section. Lower a ball into each of the holes.
• Let one side cool till golden brown before using a fork and gently turning the other side. Repeat for the rest of the balls. Make sure they are cooked evenly on both sides. Serve hot.

Garam masala lasts for a while in the fridge and there are a ton of recipes you can use it for. If you are rushed for time or do not want to do garam masala from scratch, you can most certainly use store bought garam masala for this recipe.