Poha/Avalakki bath

I am back again with Valli's BM 16 & this time with ' Show your Breakfasts - Click & Share'! Both S and I are breakfast people and i just couldn't think of not doing this  :)..We both can't have cereals & if we do.. its with a lot of frown & grumpiness :D..I like my breakfast hot and in case we don't have a proper breakfast, then whole day i am cranky :).. A good breakfast makes my day happy.. ya simply happy!

For the first day, i choose one of our all time favorites.. Poha! Apart from the fact its tasty, easy to make.. this was the first dish i ever made and with the help of a tarla dalal book! It came out well ( I mean how could the cook book go wrong right :), esp if you follow it to T) and whole day i was just beaming & going around with a wide grin..Amma was so amused.. i am sure she wanted to laugh her heart out but she was sweet enough to keep quiet!
I always like my Poha flaky and many a times, when amma made it.. it would become a little sticky.. i would anyway have it because it tasted good but would complain about the stickiness! She would give me some reason.. just the way when she made not so crispy potatoes (she always added less oil) and for a very long time i believed thats the way it was to b made, until i learnt to cook.. Now, we have a good laugh and i always tell her how she duped me into having it all :)..So, off to my version of my favorite breakfast..Poha!

Ingredients
1. Flattened Rice/ Aval (Thick variety) - 2 cups
2. Oil - 2 tsp
3. Mustard seeds - 1-1/4 tsp
4. Onion - 1/2 cup
5. Green Chillies - 3-4
6. Peanuts - a fistful
7. Curry leaves - a sprig
8. Potato - 1 medium (chopped finely)
9. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
10. Sugar - 1/2 tsp
11. Salt - to taste
12. Lemon - 1
13. Cilantro - 2 tbsp

Preparation Time!!
1. Take flattened rice in a colander and run it through cold water for a few minutes ( see that the flattened rice is getting moist). Then let it rest for 10-15 minutes*

2. In a pan, add oil & when warm, add mustard seeds. As it splutters, add peanuts, sauté for a minute. Then, add onions & curry leaves, green chillies and sauté till light brown

3. When the onions turn light brown, add potatoes & turmeric powder, a pinch of salt and sauté till the potatoes are done..

4. Once the potatoes are done, add the flattened rice and mix well. To this add sugar & adjust salt and mix really well

5. Remove off flame, squeeze the lemon & mix well. Garnish with finely chopped cilantro

Serve hot :).. It doesn't need anything to accompany it! We generally team it up with some seasonal juice..tea or milk! This time enjoyed it with Mango juice..

Pointers
* Dont soak the flattened rice in water.. it becomes soggy & you won't get them flaky!
** Addition of Cumin / jeera is optional.. We don't like it so i avoid it.. If you adding, add it as mustard seeds splutter!
*** You could add 1/2 tsp of chilli powder too, if you like it a little more spicy!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#16