Aval Upma / Poha

Poha, a very common breakfast in North India. Mostly in Maharashtra, Gujarat etc, you mostly get only Pohas for breakfast in most of the hotels. Poha is Beaten Rice in English. Its very easy and very simple and mostly liked by many. Many a times I make it for night dinner also.

Here is a Wikipedia explanation for Poha alias Aval in Tamil.

Flattened rice (also called beaten rice) is a dehusked rice which is flattened into flat light dry flakes. These flakes of rice swell when added to liquid, whether hot or cold, as they absorb water, milk or any other liquids. The thicknesses of these flakes vary between almost translucently thin (the more expensive varieties) to nearly four times thicker than a normal rice grain.

This easily digestible form of raw rice is very popular across Nepal, North East India and Bangladesh, and is normally used to prepare snacks or light and easy fast food in a variety of Indian cuisine styles, some even for long-term consumption of a week or more. It is known by a variety of names: Poha or Pauwa in Hindi, Baji in Newari, Pohe in Marathi, Aval in Tamil,Chindé in Bengali, Chira in Assamese, Phovu in Konkani, Chudaa in Oriya, Avalakki in Kannada, Atukula Poni in Telugu, Pauaa/Paunva(પૌંઆ) in Gujarati, and Chiura (चिउरा) in Nepali, Bhojpuri and Chhattisgarhi.

It is a very versatile dish, add or remove the ingredients according to your tastebuds.

Ingredients

Poha - 3 cups (Choose a little thick Poha and not the very thin ones)

Onion - 1 small

Halved Green Chillies - 2 to 3 

Tomato - 1 big

Grated Carrot - 1/4 cup

Grated Potato - 1/4 cup (wash it in water after grating it)

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 t.sp

Mustard - 1//4 t.sp

Urad dal - 1/2 t.sp

Channa dal - 1/2 t.sp

Peanuts - about 1/2 a handful 

Curry Leaves - 4 to 5 leaves

Oil

Salt to taste

Coriander Leaves for Garnishing

Lemon Juice - from 1 lemon

Sugar - 1 t.sp

Method

Cut all the veggies as required.  Keep all the things ready. 

Wash lightly the Poha in a colander by showing it under running water for a few seconds only.  Don't  over do it. Keep it aside, let the excess water drain off. 

Heat oil in a kadai, add in the mustard seeds, urad dal, channa dal, Peanuts, turmeric powder. Fry for about 1/2 a minute. 

Toss in the onion and green chillies. 

Once the onion becomes translucent toss in tomatoes. Stir a little and add some salt. Cook in medium flame. 

After the tomato has let out its juice and is fully cooked add in the veggies. Keep stirring till the veggies are almost cooked. 

Adjust the salt, according to your taste. 

Add the sugar and stir for a minute. 

Separate the washed and drained Poha with your hands and add them to the kadai. Mix well in slow flame. 

Add the lemon juice and mix well. 

Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with coriander leaves.

You can also use veggies like Peas, Cauliflower, but cook them in salt water before using them. In the end if you like you can also add fresh grated coconut for garnishing.