Cilantro/Coriander Poha

Cilantro Poha/Kothumali Aval Upma

What is Cilantro/Coriander Poha ?

An easy , light, quick to prepare family friendly breakfast dish in most South Indian homes. It is gluten free and loaded with the health benefits that cilantro/coriander/kothumalli herb has to offer.

Made with flattened rice flakes, enriched by coriander leaves and toasted peanuts it is a healthy evening snack , when eaten with a cup of hot steaming coffee.

Cilantro/Coriander Poha
Cilantro/Coriander Poha

The Back Story

Spring has sprung in our parts , a glorious warm weather is what we have been having for the past few days.

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When the weather starts getting warm, a need for some kind of light and easy breakfast arises.

Gone are the winter days of dark and gloom, when all you wanted was to fill yourself with some comfort food which was heavy and filling and not necessarily healthy, leading to more sluggishness of both mind and body.

Come warm weather all that changes, something light and easy is all you crave for, to catch up with all the activity around you.

Is Cilantro Poha healthy?

Coriander/Cilantro Poha is made with Aval/Flattened Rice /Poha. It is typical breakfast item in South Indian state of Tamil Nadu,where I grew up. It is healthy, light and easy to cook and digest, a favorite breakfast item in most households in the warmer months.

Kothumali /Cilantro/Coriander has a lot of health  and medicinal benefits, and often called the wonder herb is an essential in most of South Indian cooking. My spice box is filled with nostalgia for me, of cherished aromas and sweet memories.

Cilantro Poha/Kothumali Aval Upma

Cilantro Poha/Kothumali Aval Upma

Recipe by Maya Shetty
Course: BREAKFAST, CILANTRO/CORIANDER LEAVES, POHA, SRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMICuisine: South Indian
0 from 0 votes
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Calories

79

kcal
Total time

15

minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups 2 Poha/Flattened Rice

  • 1 Large 1 Onion sliced fine

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 Turmeric powder

  • Salt to taste

  • To be ground into paste
  • 1/4 cup 1/4 Coconut Flakes Freshly grated

  • 1/4 cup 1/4 Cilantro/Coriander leaves roughly chopped

  • 7 7 -8 Green chilies

  • 1 tsp 1 Powdered Jaggery

  • 2 tsp 2 Lemon/Lime Juice

  • For seasoning
  • Coconut Oil1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds1 teaspoon Urad Dal A sprig of Curry leaves

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 Coconut Oil

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 Mustard seeds

  • 1/2 tsp 1/2 Urad Dhal

  • A few A few Curry leaves

Directions

  • Prepare the ‘paste to be ground’ in a blender and set aside.
  • In a wok warm some oil for seasoning add in the seasoning ingredients one by one in that order till they splutter. To this add the ground coarse paste and stir a little before adding in the moist Poha/Aval/Flattened Rice.
  • For moist Poha– Gently wash the Aval/Poha/Flattened Rice under cold running water swiftly, in a strainer not allowing it to clump together, which is not how we want it for the recipe. The Poha should be slightly moist & still retain it’s shape for cooking. It is good to use thick Poha instead of the thin one, which clumps easily. Set aside.
  • Stir the Aval/Poha in till it blends with the coarse paste & seasoning ingredients. Remove from heat & serve hot. Makes a good light breakfast in Spring time or during summer months or an evening snack with a hot cup of coffee !

Nutrition Facts

4 servings per container


  • Amount Per ServingCalories79
  • % Daily Value *
  • Total Fat 4g 7%
    • Saturated Fat 4g 20%
  • Sodium 266mg 12%
  • Potassium 84mg 3%
  • Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
    • Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
    • Sugars 5g
  • Protein 1g 2%

  • Vitamin A 1%
  • Vitamin C 15%
  • Calcium 1%
  • Iron 6%

* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

This Cilantro Poha churns memories of laughter and fun filled road trips of childhood.Here I am oceans apart, recreating childhood memories through food for my child, in a land I have begun to call home now.

My list of Poha recipes

My published posts using Beaten Rice/Poha/Aval/Bajeel are listed below for your interest.

The Bottom Line

Would you give my Cilantro Poha a try this festive season? Now that it is the Gokulashtami /Sri Krishna festival season, would you plan to try making this quick and easy poha recipe at home?

Enjoy the simple joys that life brings packed in cultural wraps around food and its people !

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No Comments

  1. I’m a big-time poha fan! I keep experimenting with poha recipes. So glad to have one more poha dish to try out. 🙂

    • Maya Shetty 1008

      Thank you, for your kind words, so appreciate your stopping by to read my blog posts, do check out my other recipes too. Enjoy the Poha one !

  2. I cannot ever get tired of this dish! fabulous

    • Maya Shetty 1008

      Thank you, Vidya for your kind words, so appreciate it. Feel free to check out other recipes on my site too, when time permits. just checking your blog now, loving the homely recipes sure to try out some soon. Happy blogging!