Roasted Poha Chivda

                                             

Roasted Poha Chivda is a healthy and delicious savory snack from the Maharashtrian Cuisine. It is a popular tea time snack that is made using thin flattened rice, peanuts, curry leaves and some basic Indian spice seasoning. I have added golden raisins, cashew nuts, coconut slices and roasted gram dal in this chivda to make it a festive treat. Poha chivda is vegan and makes for a light evening snack and an excellent travel food as it has a good shelf life. This chivda has a perfect balance of sweet, savory and spicy flavors. With a simple fuss-free recipe, this roasted poha chivda can also serve as a good edible Diwali gifting option. A typical Maharashtrian Diwali Faral is incomplete without this delicious poha chivda.  

                                            

What is Chivda?

Chivda is a popular Indian savory snack. It serves a delicious evening snack with tea or coffee. Chivda is generally made with a variable mixture of  spicy fried dry ingredients like flattened rice (poha), puffed rice (murmura), oats, maize flakes, fox-nut (makhana), lentils, nuts etc. Making chivda at home is easy and fuss-free. Most of the Indian households have their own version of different chivda recipes and it is one snack that most of the Indian homes have stocked up in their Kitchen pantries all year round.

What goes into my Roasted Poha Chivda? The Ingredients:

                                         

Sun Roasting Poha

• Patal Poha / Thin Flattened Rice : There are 2 main varieties of flattened rice. We will be using the thinnest variety of rice flakes here. It is referred as patal poha in Marathi. The thick variety of flattened rice will not yield the same flaky, crispy texture in this poha as we do not deep fry the rice flakes we just roast them. I usually Sun roast them for few hours to reduce the time of roasting on gas-top. If you do not get enough Sunlight in your part of world, you will have to roast the poha until crisp before proceeding to make the chivda.

• Peanuts: Do not skip this as peanuts add a lovely crunch and nutty flavor to the chivda. In fact for us, it is not chivda, if it does not have a good amount of peanuts in it.

• Cashew Nuts and Golden raisins: It is optional to add cashews and raisins but it makes the snack festive.

• Roasted gram dal / roasted chana dal (daria): Roasted gram dal is roasted chana dal that is often used in chutneys. It adds a lovely nutty flavor and bite to the chivda apart from its various health benefits.

• Coconut: Thin slices of dry coconut is typically added in this poha chivda. It also adds a lovely nutty taste to the chivda and i would highly recommend its use.

• Curry Leaves : Curry leaves add a distinct aroma and flavor.

• Green Chilies: Add chilies as per your spice tolerance. This chivda recipe does not call for use of red chili powder. However, you may skip its use if making this chivda for toddlers.

• Cumin Seeds: Cumin seeds are added to the oil tempering.

• Hing / Asafoetida: Usually Hing is added to this poha chivda. However, you may skip it for a vegan version. Asafoetida as such is gluten free but 

• Turmeric Powder: Gives a lovely golden color to the chivda.

• Sugar: I highly recommend this as little sugar does not make the savory snack sweet but balances the spicy and savory flavors.

• Black Pepper: I usually grind black pepper along with sugar and add it to the chivda towards the end.

• Salt to taste:

• Oil: This is roasted poha chivda, so oil is used only for tempering. For 1/2 kg of poha, i have used just 3 tablespoon of oil. 

                                            

Related Event:

                                            

It is raining Diwali Treat recipes at our Facebook Gourmet group, Healthy Wellthy Cuisines, where in a group of enthusiastic food bloggers share their culinary creations every fortnight depending upon pre-determined theme. Diwali is just a couple of days ahead and if you are still looking for some handy Diwali recipes, do check out the following posts by my fellow bloggers. This healthy and delicious roasted poha chivda is my contribution towards the theme.

• Idli dosa batter murukku by Narmadha
  
• Sev Poori by Swaty
  
• Langcha - Bengali Sweet Delicacy by Sasmita
  
• Sweet Pongal by Jayashree
  
• Makhana Chaat by Shalu
  
• Masaledar Channa Dal Snack by Preethi.

Dietary Notes:

• Healthy vegetarian snack
• Great edible Diwali gift
• Vegan 
• Can be Gluten-free (skip Hing/ Asafoetida)
• Toddler and Kid friendly
• Excellent travel food

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Kg (500 grams) - thin flattened rice / patal poha
• 3 tablespoon oil
• 1/4 cup peanuts
• 1/4 cup sliced dry coconut
• 2-3 tablespoon Cashew nuts
• 2-3 tablespoon golden raisins
• 2 tablespoon sugar or as per taste
• 4-5 black pepper corn
• 2-3 tablespoon roasted gram dal / Daria
• 2 sprig Curry leaves
• 2-3 green chilies, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• Pinch of Asafoetida / Hing
• Salt to taste

Method: 

1. Sun roast the poha for few hours. In case, you do not get ample of sunlight, dry roast the poha on low flame for 4-5 minutes in a wok. Just keep the pan or wok tossing after few seconds. Do not stir the poha frequently with a spatula, as it may break.

                                           

Sun Roasting Poha

2. Heat oil in a large wok. Select a wok large enough to hold 1/2 Kg of poha. Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds. Let the seeds crackle. Now, add peanuts and fry them on medium flame until they turn golden and you hear the popping sound. Take care not to burn the peanuts. Next, add the coconut slices.

                           

3.Once the coconut slices, turn golden add the roasted gram dal, golden raisins and cashew nuts. Fry them on low flame for few seconds. The raisins will plump up. Next, add the chopped green chilies and curry leaves. Fry for few seconds.

                           

4.  Now put off the flame and add asafoetida, turmeric powder and salt to taste. Mix well. Now switch on the gas and add roasted poha to it.

                            

                            

5. Toss the poha with other ingredients and roast it for 10-12 minutes on low flame. Keep tossing the wok and stirring  the poha intermittently , such that it gets coated with the spice powders very well without breaking. As you roast further the poha will become light, crisp and brittle. You can easily break it with your finger tips. Put off the flame at this stage.

                                

6. Powder the sugar in a small chutney jar of grinder mixer along with the pepper corns. Sprinkle it over the chivda. Toss to coat well. Do a taste test and add more salt or sugar if needed. Serve the healthy and delicious poha chivda on cooling. Store the remaining chivda in an air tight container.

Would love to hear from you !

I hope you would love trying out this healthy and delicious roasted poha chivda this festive season. If you do so, feel free to share your feedback with us in the form of likes and comments in the section below this post.

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See you soon with yet another healthy and delicious creation from my Kitchen. Until then take care and eat right !

Happy Cooking ! 

Happy Eating !

Wishing a Happy, Blessed and Prosperous Deepawali To all those who celebrate !!

Regards

Poonam Bachhav

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