Summer demands to keep the body cool from within by consuming cool, refreshing, and light food. If you’re into the practice of three meals per day, then make it light yet balanced. Especially if you have a long, indulging in light dinners is often helpful. One of the options you can pick for a light dinner is flattened rice or poha.
Poha or flattened rice, is a versatile ingredient with which a wide array of dishes can be made. Although mostly eaten for breakfast, there is nothing wrong if you add poha to your dinner menu. It is a refreshing and light option, low in calories and high in carbohydrate content. Poha dishes are light on the stomach and are packed with essential nutrients. It is a convenient ingredient that does not require much time to prepare and is perfect for busy summer days.
There are a variety of poha recipes that you can opt for a light dinner. Take a look.
- Kanda Poha
Also known as onion-flattened rice, this is a popular Maharashtrian dish. The dish is prepared by seasoning the poha with mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chilles, and turmeric for a burst of flavour. It is often garnished with fresh coriander leaves and served with a wedge of lemon. It makes a perfect nutritious and light dinner option.
- Dahi Chuda
This dish hails from Bihar and Jharkhand and is a simple yet wholesome dish perfect for a light dinner. Here, the flattened rice is soaked in yoghurt and salt and chopped vegetables like cucumber, tomato, and onion are added. This savoury yet tangy poha recipe is a refreshing and nutritious one. The creamy texture of the yoghurt complements the softness of poha.
- Chuda Santula
Originating from the eastern state of Odisha, this is a stir-fried dish made with flattened rice and a whole lot of vegetables. To prepare this dish, lightly soak the poha and then stir-fry with mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies, and a myriad of vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and peas. The flavourful and colourful dish is often served with chutney or pickles.
- Dadpe Pohe
This is a specialty of Maharashtra that reflects the simplicity and elegance of traditional Indian cuisine. All you need to do is mix the flattened rice with freshly grated coconut, chopped onions, green chillies, coriander leaves, and a dash of lemon juice. The flavour melds together, creating a refreshing and aromatic dish enjoyed on the summer dinner menu.
- Uggani
This is a beloved dish from Karnataka and is perfect for the summer nights. This dish is known for its blend of flavours and texture. The flattened rice is first soaked in water and made soft and then tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, urad dal and peanuts. It is then sesoned with salt, turmeric and chilli powder and then chopped onions and tomatoes are added. Your bowl of Uggani is ready to be served. Garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy.
- Chuda Matar
Found in the northern regions of India, this dish combines the goodness of poha or chuda and the sweetness of green peas. First, the chuda is soaked and sauteed with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, onions, and green peas. It is spiced up with turmeric, chilli powder, and coriander powder. This is a flavourful dish that pairs best with yoghurt or pickle.
- Kerala Aval Upma
This dish originated from Kerala and is popular for being the comfort food of locals there. This dish combines flattened rice with coconut. All you need to do is temper the poha with mustard seeds, curry leaves, dried red chillies, and roasted peanuts. Then mix grated coconut and season with salt and a splash of lemon juice. This is a staple of Kerala cuisine and is perfect for a light dinner.
- Chirer Polao
This is a quintessential dish that is a staple in every Bengali household. It upholds the flattened rice to a new height with the inclusion of aromatic spices and rich flavours. The poha is first sauteed with ghee, bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and cashew nuts. To it boiled potatoes, peas, carrots, and raisins are added. This fragrant hearty dish can be served with yoghurt or chutney.
