Poha Bites - Crispy and Flavorful Snack

Step 1: Prepare Poha

Take 1 cup of thin poha in a sieve and wash it thoroughly under running water. Do not soak it, just wet it. Let it sit in the sieve for a while to drain excess water.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients for Dough

Transfer the washed poha into a mixing bowl. Add 0.5 cup of semolina (suji) and 1 cup of yogurt (dahi). Season with 0.5 teaspoon of salt and 0.5 teaspoon of chili flakes. Add a little chopped coriander leaves.

Step 3: Mix and Rest the Dough

Mix all the ingredients well to form a cohesive dough. Cover the bowl and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the semolina to swell and absorb moisture.

Step 4: Form Poha Bites

After resting, lightly knead the dough. Grease your hands with a little oil. Take small portions of the dough and shape them into small, flat tikkis or bites. Place them on a greased steaming plate.

Step 5: Steam the Poha Bites

Place the plate with poha bites into a steamer with boiling water. Cover and steam on high heat for 8 to 10 minutes until they are cooked through and soft. Once steamed, remove them from the steamer and let them cool slightly.

Step 6: Prepare Tempering

Heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a pan over low-medium heat. Add 0.5 teaspoon of mustard seeds and 0.5 teaspoon of cumin seeds. Let them crackle. Then add a few curry leaves and sliced red and green chilies. Sauté for about 30 seconds.

Step 7: Toss Poha Bites with Tempering

Add the steamed poha bites to the pan with the tempering. Sprinkle 2.5 teaspoons of sambar powder and a little more chopped coriander leaves. Gently mix everything together, ensuring the bites are well coated with the spices. Cook for 1-2 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the bites are lightly golden and coated.

Step 8: Serve

Turn off the gas. Transfer the crispy and flavorful poha bites to a serving plate. Serve hot with coconut chutney and tomato ketchup.

• You can use any type of poha (flattened rice), thick or thin.

• Adjust salt according to your taste.

• If sambar powder is not available, you can use pav bhaji masala or garam masala for tempering.

• Experiment with different spice blends for tempering.

• Add finely chopped vegetables like carrots or peas to the poha mixture for added nutrition and flavor.