Oats Poha

Oats Poha is Indian savory oats hash made with rolled oats, onions, veggies, and nuts. A healthier twist to one of the classical Indian breakfast aloo poha. This recipe is vegan.

 

 

OATS POHA [SAVORY OATS HASH]

Breakfast is an important meal of the day! A hearty, healthy breakfast, sets up your metabolism and you’re more likely to make healthier choices throughout the day!

My family loves oats. We all enjoy oats, in any form. Sweet or savory, hot or cold, in the smoothies or desserts, or like this Oat Honey bread I often make at home.
Oats poha is my hubby’s all-time favorite breakfast. He can eat it any time of the day. This dish is inspired by the Indian dish aloo poha.

I grew up devouring aloo poha. As a kid, I could eat aloo poha any time of the day. Aloo poha is made with flattened rice, potatoes, onions, and some Indian spices.

This oats poha is my healthier take on the aloo poha. I substituted old-fashioned oats for flattened rice and green peas for potatoes. We enjoy oats poha for breakfast, as a quick evening snack, or even as a side dish.

Do give this recipe a try, I am sure you are gonna love it. It’s a quick, hearty, delicious, one-pot meal that can be enjoyed any time of the day!

Some of the other recipes I cook with oats are Oats Khichdi, Masala Oats, Oats Idli, Oats Aloo Tikki, Oats Dhokla, and Oats Chilla. I use oats in baking, for binding make koftas, Tikki, kebabs, and flatbreads.

INGREDIENTS FOR OATS POHA [SAVORY OATS HASH]

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats; For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats

3/4 cup green peas or choice of veggies like carrots, corn, potato

1 medium red or yellow onion, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

2-3 green chili, chopped; adjust to taste

3 tablespoons raw peanuts or nuts of choice; For nut-free, omit nuts

1 tablespoon canola oil or other neutral oil

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/2 teaspoon red chili powder, adjust to taste

1-2 sprigs of curry leaves

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

pinch of asafetida

salt to taste

Freshly squeezed lemon juice, adjust to taste

A handful of fresh cilantro for garnish

Pic Shown: Oats Poha

 

 

HOW TO MAKE OATS POHA [SAVORY OATS HASH]

PREP FOR OATS POHA [SAVORY OATS HASH]

Add the oats to a sieve. Rinse them under running water for a few minutes or the water runs clear. Place the sieve in a bowl, and let the water drain completely, around 10 minutes.

DIRECTIONS FOR OATS POHA [SAVORY OATS HASH]

In a Kadai or a pan, heat oil. Add raw peanuts or nuts of choice. Fry the peanuts for a few minutes, or light golden brown. Remove the peanuts and set them aside.

Next, add cumin seeds. Let the seeds crackle. Add hing, chopped onion, curry leaves, and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the onions are translucent.

Now add tomatoes, green chili, turmeric powder, and red chili powder. Mix well. Cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the tomatoes are softened.

Add green peas, oats, and salt to taste. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of water and mix well. Cover and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the oats are softened.

Turn OFF the heat. Give a couple of minutes of resting time. Serve warm, garnish with peanuts, freshly chopped cilantro, and some freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Enjoy healthy oats poha with a cup of chai!

 

TIPS FOR DELICIOUS OATS POHA

Use a sieve to wash the oats. I run the sieve under running water and give oats a thorough rinse. Rinse the oats well till the water runs clear. Place the sieve in a bowl, and allow extra water to drain for around 10 minutes. This 10 minutes helps soften the oats.

Some like to soak the oats in the water, I do not prefer soaking the oats. The oats turn out mushy and something I don’t personally enjoy eating. If you like oats to be on a very soft side or slightly mushy, feel free to soak the oats. Soak the oats in water for no more than 5 minutes. Drain the water and use the oats in the recipe.

You can add any veggies of your choice. If adding potatoes, make sure to cook the potatoes before adding oats. Since potatoes take longer to cook than oats, add them along with the onions.

Curry leaves give a pleasant flavor and aroma to the poha. You can skip it if you don’t like it or can’t find it.

I used Thai green chili, as we like oats poha spicy. You can use any milder chili, such as serrano, or entirely skip it.

Peanuts add a nice crunch to the poha. Feel free to add nuts of your choice, or skip it to make it nut-free. I used raw nuts, and lightly fry them in the oil. You can use roasted peanuts in the recipe and skip this step.

Lastly, don’t forget to drizzle some freshly squeezed lemon juice. It adds a lot of flavor to this dish.

Pic Shown: Oats Poha

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CAN I ADD HALF OATS HALF FLATTENED RICE

Half oats and half flattened rice can be used in the recipe. Simply, swap half oats with half poha and follow the recipe.

CAN I ADD OTHER VEGGIES

You can use veggies of your choice. Potatoes, carrots, green beans, and corn add great flavor to this dish.

For the potatoes, take 1 medium-size potato. Peel and chop into small pieces. Add the potatoes, and salt to taste, and mix.  Cover and cook the potatoes 95%. Next, add onions. Follow the rest of the recipe.

Alternatively, you can add boiled, cubed potatoes after the onions are translucent.
Other veggies: Add fresh or frozen carrots, green beans, or corn along with green peas. Follow the recipe.

CAN I MAKE IT NUT-FREE

Simply, omit the nuts to make this dish nut-free.

CAN I ADD SEEDS

Hemp, sesame seeds, and pumpkin seeds can be added for additional flavor and nutrient value.

Toss the seeds at the end and serve. I like to toast them first.

WHERE CAN I BUY CURRY LEAVES

Curry leaves are available in most Asian or Indian grocery stores or online on Amazon. You can find fresh or dried curry leaves online, and either can be used.

WHAT IS HING [ASAFETIDA]

Hing (Asafetida) is a spice, a common ingredient found in Indian kitchens. It naturally has a strong and pungent smell and is yellow. Asafetida comes in powdered or granulated form. It is often used in lentils and beans as it helps with digestion.

IS ASAFETIDA GLUTEN-FREE

Powdered asafetida may contain wheat or other forms of gluten. For gluten-free check the label. If you can’t find gluten-free asafetida, you can buy the asafetida crystals and grind them yourself.

HOW TO STORE OATS POHA

Oats poha stays good for up to a week in the refrigerator. Store it in an air-tight container. Add a splash of water, reheat and enjoy a warm bowl of goodness.

It’s a perfect make-ahead breakfast or a healthy snack. Enjoy warm poha with a cup of chai!

Pic Shown: Oats Poha

 

 

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