Pohe (Spiced Flattened Rice)

Pohe is a very popular breakfast dish in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Ingredients
- 200 g thick pohe (flattened rice)
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp rai (mustard seeds)
- ¼ tsp haldi (turmeric powder)
- 1 pinch asafoetida powder
- 2 Indian green chiles, finely chopped
- ½ medium-size onion, finely chopped
- 2 sprigs of cilantro (coriander)
- Salt to taste
Steps
- Moisten pohe with cold water in a bowl under slow running tap. Mix by hand. Drain excess water. Set aside. Do not soak too long or pohe turns pasty.
- Heat oil in frying pan to medium hot. Add mustard seeds. Let crackle a few seconds.
- Add turmeric powder and asafoetida. Fry a few seconds. Do not burn turmeric.
- Add green chillies. Fry a few seconds.
- Add chopped onion. Lower heat. Cover. Cook 2 minutes until onions are soft, not brown.
- Mix reserved pohe by hand so flakes do not stick together. Add to pan.
- Add salt to taste. Stir so turmeric color spreads evenly.
- Cover. Cook 5 minutes on low heat. Do not uncover; pohe must cook in steam.
- Stir. Cook 1 more minute uncovered.
- Serve in bowl garnished with chopped coriander leaves.
Notes from the original
- When adding onions, you may also add fresh green peas and or peanuts. If adding peanuts, take care to fry them well with the onions.
- For garnishing, sprinkle some grated or dry coconut along with coriander. For colourful garnish try adding small amount of grated carrot and or beet, but don't add too much, as it will be overpowering.
Source. Adapted from “Cookbook:Pohe (Spiced Flattened Rice)” by Wikibooks contributors, revision of 2026-05-03, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Changes. Steps rewritten into short commands. Introduction shortened. Wiki formatting removed. This adapted recipe is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo. Poha or Pauva or Spicy Rice Flakes WLF15.jpg by Nizil Shah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia. Resized; otherwise unchanged.






