Poha
Ingredients
- 1 cup thick poha (flattened rice)
- 1.5 cups boiling water (from kettle)
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp roasted peanuts
- 1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
- For tempering (optional, needs induction): 1 tbsp oil, ½ tsp mustard seeds, 1 dry red chilli, 1 sprig curry leaves, ½ onion finely chopped
Steps
- 1
Boil water in the kettle
Fill your kettle with 1.5 cups of water and bring to a full boil.
- 2
Place poha in a bowl
Put the poha in a wide bowl. Sprinkle turmeric and salt over it.
- 3
Pour boiling water
Pour boiling water over the poha just enough to barely cover it. The poha will absorb water quickly. Do not use too much water or it will become mushy.
- 4
Cover and wait
Cover the bowl with a plate for 2–3 minutes. The poha will soften and absorb the water. Check: it should be soft but not soggy. Drain any excess water.
- 5
Add flavour
If skipping tempering: add lemon juice, peanuts, and coriander directly to the softened poha and mix gently. If using tempering: prepare in a small pan on induction, pour hot tempering over the poha, and toss.
- 6
Serve immediately
Garnish with more coriander and serve with a wedge of lemon.
Tips for Best Results
💡 Use thick poha
Thin poha disintegrates in boiling water. Use medium or thick variety for the kettle method — it holds its shape better.
💡 Do not soak too long
Poha absorbs water very fast. Check after 2 minutes — it should be soft but still have some texture. Over-soaked poha becomes a mush.
💡 Drain properly
After softening, tip the bowl to drain any standing water before adding flavourings.
About this recipe ↓About this recipe ↑
Poha Without a Gas Stove
Poha (flattened rice) is one of India's most popular breakfasts — light, quick, and satisfying. Traditionally it is made by sautéing poha in a pan on the gas stove with mustard seeds, onion, and spices.
During the LPG shortage, a kettle version has emerged that uses boiling water to soften the poha, while a separately prepared spiced oil mixture (made on an induction cooktop or microwave) provides the flavour. The result is not identical to stovetop poha, but it is genuinely good and ready in under 10 minutes.
This recipe gives you two options: the pure-kettle version (fastest, simplest) and the kettle + induction hybrid (better taste).
More details ↓More details ↑
More Kettle Recipes for Gas-Free Mornings
Poha is one of several Indian breakfast foods that can be made without gas. Explore more electric kettle recipes and no-gas breakfast ideas in our collection.
