A light, crispy snack the Poha Chivda is a traditional snack from Maharashtra (Western India) where I grew up. My mom often made this tasty, can’t-stop-eating savory mid-day snack made from roasted flattened rice. Low in calorie, this Chivda is easy to make with a few optional add-ins that enhance its flavor and texture.
Poha
Poha is flattened rice and comes in few different varieties. For this roasted chivda you want the “thin” poha available in all Indian grocery stores. The thick version is used for the hot breakfast poha dish and will not work well for this chivda.
In addition to an every day snack, Poha Chivda often is made as part of the Diwali sweets and savories also known as “Faral”. This spicy cereal makes for a healthy addition to the variety of other sweets and savories. Along with traditional delicacies such as the ladoo, chakli, shankarpale and karanji, chivda is a perfect dish to share with family and friends.
Tips
Here are my pro tips to make the best poha chivda:
- Use thin variety of poha. Do not over-mix the poha while roasting as it will cause the flakes to break. Instead, either gently toss if roasting on stovetop or use the bake option that I have explained in the recipe
- Crushed green chili and curry leaves add a lot of flavor and nutrition to this Chivda. You may choose to simply cut them finely with kitchen sheers instead of crushing in the blender
- Nuts, coconut strips and roasted chana dal can be baked instead of frying
- Remember to adjust the heat levels so you do not burn the poha, tadka, nuts or the chilis. Most of the cooking in this recipe is done on low-medium heat
- Allow roasted poha to cool down before adding other ingredients
- Wear disposable cooking gloves to mix in all the ingredients to prevent your nails from turning yellow from the turmeric
- Cool down the Chivda completely and then store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks
Process
Maharashtrian Chivda recipe is easy to make and a few additional steps adds a ton of flavor, texture and nutrition. Let me show you with step by step photos here:
Step 1: Prep the poha
Using a medium sieve, sieve poha and discard any powdery / small broken pieces of poha. Roast the poha, either in the oven or on stove top.
Method 1 Oven: preheat the oven at 300 degree F. Evenly spread poha (5 cups in each) in two large baking trays. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes gently mixing half way through.
Method 2 Stovetop: In a large, heavy bottomed pot add half of the poha. Roast on low-medium heat for 10 to 15 mins. Either gently stir the poha using a wooden spatula or toss the pot gently after every 2 to 3 mins, this will prevent the poha from breaking as you roast.
Reserve the roasted poha and allow it to cool down as you prepare the remaining ingredients.
Step 2: Prep nuts and coconut
In a small saucepan, heat oil. Adjust the heat to low, add nuts, coconut & roasted chana daal. Cook stirring constantly until the nuts turn light golden. Take out the nuts in a bowl and reserve.
Note: For a low-oil recipe, arrange the choice of nuts, sliced coconut and roasted chana daal on a baking tray and bake for 10 mins at 300 degrees mixing half way through.
Step 3: Chili & Curry Leaves
Add the chilies and curry leaves in a small blender jar. Pulse few times to finely crush the chilies and curry leaves. If you do not have a small blender, you can also finely chop the chilies and curry leaves with kitchen shears.
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil on low heat in a small saucepan. Add the crushed curry leaves and green chili and cook for 1 to 2 minutes stirring constantly as it turns crisp and slightly golden. Make sure the heat is low so you do not burn the chilies and curry leaves. Reserve
Step 4: Tadka
Heat oil on medium heat. Add mustard seeds and once they start popping turn off the heat. Add asafetida, turmeric, sesame seeds & curry leaves. Reserve.
Step 5: Mix
To the roasted and cooled poha, add the reserved fried nuts, coconut & roasted chana dal. Add the fried crushed chili & curry leaves. Pour over the tempering of mustard seeds, turmeric, asafetida, sesame seeds & curry leaves. Sprinkle salt, powdered sugar and citric acid. Wear cooking gloves and gently mix everything in.
Allow the Chivda to completely cool down. Store in airtight containers at room temperature for upto 2 weels. Serving size is about 3/4 cup.
Did you enjoy this delicious recipe? Here are some more of my family recipes made during the Diwali festival:
- Layered Karanji / Gujiya with rose flavored coconut filling
- Shankarpali
- Rava Ladoo with fresh coconut
- Besan Ladoo
- Saranachi Puri or Satori
- Savory Chakli with homemade rice and lentil flour
Pohe Chivda
Ingredients
- 1 lb thin poha 10 cups
- ¼ cup split roasted chana daal dalia (optional)
- ¼ cup raw unsalted cashews optional
- 1/4 cup thin dry sliced coconut optional
- ¼ cup raw unsalted peanuts optional
- 2 tablespoons oil
Tadka
- 2 tablespoons oil
- ¼ teaspoon asafetida
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ tablespoon mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 12 curry leaves optional
Chilies & Curry Leaves
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 40 curry leaves big handful
- 4 small green chilies add more for spicy chivda
Additional Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon fine kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon citric acid powder optional
Instructions
- If using coarse salt make sure to grind it in a mortar and pestle, so you have fine salt which mixes in well in the chivda. Grind the citric acid in a mortar and pestle to make a fine powder.
- Wash curry leaves and green chilies. Pat dry with paper towels so they are completely dry.
- Using a medium sieve, sieve poha and discard any powdery/small broken pieces of poha. Roast the poha, either in the oven or on stove top.
- Oven Method : Pre heat the oven at 300°F (150°C). Evenly spread poha (5 cups in each) in two large baking trays (10" X 15"). Baked for 10 to 12 minutes gently mixing it half way through.
- Stovetop Method : In a large, heavy bottomed pot add half of the poha. Roast on low-medium heat for 10 to 15 mins. Either gently stir the poha using a wooden spatula or toss the pot gently after every 2 to 3 mins, this will prevent the poha from breaking as you roast.
- Reserve the roasted poha and allow it to cool down as you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- In a small saucepan, heat oil. Adjust the heat to low, add nuts, coconut & roasted chana daal. Cook stirring constantly until the nuts turn light golden. Take out the nuts in a bowl and reserve. Wipe down the saucepan to remove any extra oil and use in the next step.
- Heat oil on medium heat. Add mustard seeds and once they start popping turn off the heat. Add asafetida, turmeric, sesame seeds and curry leaves. Reserve.
- Note: For a low-oil recipe, arrange the choice of nuts, sliced coconut and roasted chana daal on a baking tray and bake for 10 mins at 300°F (150°C) mixing in half way through.
- Add the chilies and curry leaves in a small blender jar. Pulse a full time to finely crush the chilies and curry leaves. If you do not have a small blender, you can also finely chop the chilies and curry leaves with kitchen shears.
- Heat oil on low heat in a small saucepan. Add the crushed curry leaves and green chili and cook for 1 to 2 minutes stirring constantly as it turns crisp. Make sure the heat is low so you do not burn the chilies and curry leaves. Reserve
- To the roasted and cooled poha, add the fried nuts, coconut & roasted chana dal. Add the fried crushed chili & curry leaves. Add the tempering of mustard seeds, turmeric, asafetida, sesame seeds & curry leaves. Add salt, powdered sugar and citric acid. Wear cooking gloves and gently mix everything in. Allow the Chivda to completely cool down. Store in airtight containers at room temperature for upto 2 weels. Serving size is about 3/4 cup.
Video
Notes
- Use thin variety of poha. Do not over mix the poha while roasting as it will cause the flakes to break. Instead, either gently toss if roasting on stovetop or use the bake option that I have explained in the recipe
- Adding crushed green chili and curry leaves, add a lot of flavor and nutrition to the chivda. You may choose to simply cut them finely with kitchen sheers instead
- Nuts, coconut strips and roasted chana dal can be baked instead of frying
- Remember to adjust the heat levels so you do not burn the poha, tadka, nuts or the chilis. Most of the cooking in this recipe is done on low-medium heat
- Allow roasted poha to cool down before adding other ingredients
- Wear disposable cooking gloves to mix in all the ingredients to prevent your nails from turning yellow from the turmeric
- Cool down the Chivda completely and then store in an airtight container
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