Usal Poha is an interesting chaat blending of two traditional dishes, Poha and Usal. The final assembled dish is simply out of the world!
When I was checking out my options for U, I was checking out Vaishali’s space and came across this Usal Poha. She writes about coming across this vendor who sells poha. One day she decided to stop by and taste and further wanted to pack some for home. That’s when she came across this Usal Poha and she recreated it at home as well. Thanks to her, I have a wonderful dish now that I can surely make as a regular one at home.
Though she said these two are from two different states, I felt even the Maharashtrian Poha is made the same way. Anyway, I am fine with either way. I remember making Misal Pav, when I had made the Usal with Matki. However, this time I made with dried green peas. You can make usal with any lentil, the main ingredient needs to be the Goda Masala.
This is a lengthy recipe with different components. However, if you plan well and make, it can easily be made for your breakfast, as I had done. I was little sceptical if Hubby Dear would like this combo, to my surprise, he enjoyed it so much and said I could make this often, instead of just the poha.
I made the poha in my own style, not wanting to change that as I didn’t want the dish to end up being sweet. However, the recipe calls for 2 tsp of sugar that if you like you can add.
Finally for U, I had an interesting one to pick for my A to Z International Street Foods. If you are interested to know the Flatbread for U, check this post.
In this A to Z International Street Foods:
A for Arancini
B for Bunny Chow
C for Chatamari
D for Dürüm
E for Empanada
F for Fataa’ir Farmaajo
G for Gilgeori Toast
H for Hua Juan Bao
I for Imqarrun il-Forn
J for Jasuben's Pizza
K for Khachapuri
L for Lángos
M for Mofo Anana
N for Nachos Supreme
O for Okonomiyaki
P for Panelle
Q for Qamdi
R for Rustico
S for Sabich
T for Toshka
Step By Step Pictures for making Usal Poha
Making the Poha
Making the Usal
Assembling Usal Poha
Usal Poha ~ An Indian Chaat!
For the Poha
1 cups Poha / Beaten Rice
1 tbsp Cooking Oil
3 to 4 Green Chillies finely chopped
Handful Curry leaves
1 / 2 cup Onions
1 /2 tsp Mustard Seeds
A Pinch Turmeric powder
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp Sugar (I skipped)
Salt to taste
Handful Coriander Leaves
For the Usal
1 cup Peas dried soaked and boiled
1 tbsp Cooking Oil
1 /4 tsp Cumin Seed
1 /2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1 / 2 tsp Coriander Powder
1 / 2 tsp Cumin Powder
1 /4 tsp Kala Namak Black salt
For the Usal Paste
2 to 3 Green Chillies
1 /2 cup Coriander Leaves
1 /2 inch Ginger
2 tbsp Lemon Juice
For the Salad
1 cup Onion finely chopped
1 cup Tomato finely chopped.
Coriander leaves
Other Ingredients
Sev
Coriander Leaves
Mixture/ Fasaan
Chaat Masala
Lemon Juice
For the Poha
Wash the poha couple of times till the water is clear. Then soak the poha in water for 10 mins.
Strain to drain the poha and let it stand on the colander.
While the recipe calls for salt, sugar, turmeric powder along with lemon juice to be added to the poha, I followed my method
Heat a nonstick pan with oil, temper mustard, curry leaves, green chillies.
Saute onions till done, then add poha to the pan.
Saute for few minutes and the poha is done. Keep it aside.
For the Usal
Soak the peas overnight and pressure cook till done.
Heat oil in a kadai, add cumin seed. Let crackle.
Add the paste and all the dry masalas.
Add the boiled peas. Saute for a few minutes.
Add 1 cup water.
Let boil for about 5 minutes.
Check the spices. if you want to make it hot add some red chilli powder
For the Salad
Finely chop the onions and tomatoes.
Sprinkle enough chat masala and salt along with lemon juice.Keep it ready.
How to serve Usal Poha
Place the poha in a bowl.
Pour the usal on the poha.
Sprinkle salad.
Garnish with sev or mixed spicy farsaan.
Sprinkle chaat masala.
Squeeze lemon juice.
Serve hot.
Notes
The poha should absorb the gravy of usal
Do not put too much gravy otherwise they will be floating which shall not taste as good.
Recipe
Usal Poha ~ An Indian Chaat!
Ingredients
For the Poha
- 1 cups Poha / Beaten Rice
- 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
- 3 to 4 Green Chillies finely chopped
- Handful Curry leaves
- 1 / 2 cup Onions
- 1 /2 tsp Mustard Seeds
- A Pinch Turmeric powder
- 2 tsp Lemon Juice
- 2 tsp Sugar I skipped
- Salt to taste
- Handful Coriander leaves
For the Usal
- 1 cup Peas dried
- 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
- 1 /4 tsp Cumin Seed
- 1 /2 tsp Red Chilli powder
- 1 / 2 tsp Coriander powder
- 1 / 2 tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 /4 tsp Kala Namak / Black salt
For the Usal Paste
- 2 to 3 Green Chillies
- 1 /2 cup Coriander leaves
- 1 /2 inch Ginger
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
For the Salad
- 1 cup Onion finely chopped
- 1 cup Tomato finely chopped
- Coriander leaves
Other Ingredients
- Sev
- Coriander leaves
- Mixture / Fasaan
- Chaat Masala
- Lemon Juice
Instructions
For the Poha
- Wash the poha couple of times till the water is clear. Then soak the poha in water for 10 mins.
- Strain to drain the poha and let it stand on the colander.
- While the recipe calls for salt, sugar, turmeric powder along with lemon juice to be added to the poha, I followed my method
- Heat a nonstick pan with oil, temper mustard, curry leaves, green chillies.
- Saute onions till done, then add poha to the pan.
- Saute for few minutes and the poha is done. Keep it aside.
For the Usal
- Soak the peas overnight and pressure cook till done.
- Heat oil in a kadai, add cumin seed. Let crackle.
- Add the paste and all the dry masalas.
- Add the boiled peas. Saute for a few minutes.
- Add 1 cup water.
- Let boil for about 5 minutes.
- Check the spices. if you want to make it hot add some red chilli powder
For the Salad
- Finely chop the onions and tomatoes.
- Sprinkle enough chat masala and salt along with lemon juice.Keep it ready.
How to serve Usal Poha
- Place the poha in a bowl.
- Pour the usal on the poha.
- Sprinkle salad.
- Garnish with sev or mixed spicy farsaan.
- Sprinkle chaat masala.
- Squeeze lemon juice.
- Serve hot.
Notes
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Harini says
OMG! I love poha and this sound perfect for my brunch / snack 🙂
srividhya says
Kudos to both you and vaishali for letting us to explore the flavors virtually. I am sure to try this and I can say now itself that it would be a staple in our household too. Perfect pick for U valli.
vaishalisabnani says
Ah ! Love this usal poha , you have recreated the dish so well with green peas , yes Poha is Maharashtrian too , actually come to think of it these poha are getting popular in Gujrat as well .. so we can put them under 4 states !
I don’t mind enjoying them after my gym .. that’s the time when I would pick these from the usal poha vendor !
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
Indeed Usal poha is a lovely variation from the regular poha ,I too love this this way!!
Priya Suresh says
Omg, this usal poha is seriously a fabulous dish to give a try when time permits for me; i love usal and poha dishes, and this dish is a killer dish Valli. Definitely a delightful dish..
Sandhiya says
Wow, usual poho looks so good, Valli. It's a very inviting chaat recipe and perfect for the letter "U". Bookmarking to try !!!
Pavani says
What a delicious way to spice up good old poha. Love that usal topping -- adds protein and makes it a complete meal. Absolutely delicious.
Gayathri Kumar says
Just now read about Usal poha at Preeti's space. I think I missed Vaishali's post on that. The combination of usal and poha sounds wonderful Valli..
simplytadka2 says
Same i post with U.. usal poha.. your recipe looks so perfect.
mayurisjikoni says
That's an interesting combination Srivalli. It's not just a chaat snack but can be a wholesome meal. I was waiting impatiently to see what you would come up with letter U.
cookingwithsapana says
I guess you and Preeti crossed minds while choosing for letter U, the usal poha looks very inviting and with all those accompaniments it must have tasted just amazing.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
We are a 2 week road trip right now and I am simply drooling over this delicious Usal Poha. My taste buds are begging me for some tangy food and this is exactly what I need right now.
manjulabharathkumar2016 says
wow usual poha looks so tempting valli , It is such a whole some street food..am drooling here !! Love the toppings you included !!
Suma Gandlur says
Lovely variation to poha. I can visualize myself enjoying this bowl of usal poha chaat. 🙂
Padmajha PJ says
The whole spread looks so inviting Srivalli. In many of the recipes when I see sugar I skip it when I prepare it at home.My folks want a dish to be savory / sweet and not a mix of both!! I really want to try this one as I feel the kids will like it!
Priya Srinivasan says
i m drooling here, love how you have served a soup bowl!!! i m salivating more as i read the steps!!! i need to make this asap, poha is made often at home, will try this next time!!!