Poha paruppu usli with rainbow veggies

POHA PARUPPPU USLI WITH RAINBOW VEGGIES –
Poha(flattened rice) upma is the commonest breakfast in our household. There are lot more varieties in it. Kandha poha (already posted) & this one is our favourite & prepared frequently. It’s a perfect meal by itself as it has protein, lots of vibrant veggies & the probiotic poha. We end this meal with a refreshing vegan buttermilk. I’ll share the link below.
You can add any veggies of your choice & availability. But carrot, beans, bell pepper/capsicum & green peas are the must.

INGREDIENTS :

• Red poha/flattened rice – 1 cup, washed & soaked for 10 mins
• Onion – 1, finely chopped (shallots can be replaced)
• Toor dal & chana dal – 1/4th cup each
• Red chili – 4 or 5
• Green chili – 2 (optional)
• Jeera – 1/2 teaspoon
• Hing/Asafetida – 1/2 teaspoon
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 teaspoon
• Finely chopped mixed vegetables – 1 1/2 cup
• Fresh grated coconut – 2 tablespoons
• Finely chopped curry leaves & fresh coriander leaves
• Ghee/clarified butter – 1 tablespoon
• Mustard, split urad dal & jeera for tadka
• Salt to taste
• Roasted cashewnut or peanut – 3 tablespoons

METHOD OF PREPARATION –
1. To prepare usli……Wash & soak the toor dal & chana dal for half an hour in warm water. In a mixer grinder add 3 or 4 red chillies, jeera, hing, salt & pulse it well. Then add the soaked dal without water. Grind them all into a coarse paste. Then steam boil it for 10 mins. Allow it to cool & break them into crumbles. Or else, pulse the steam boiled mixture to make into crumbles. Keep aside. You can prepare this usli in advance & refrigerate for a couple of days.
2. Finely chop the mixed veggies & par boil them except bell peppers, with a bit of salt. Boiling for 5 mins is absolutely fine to keep the color & crunchiness. Strain out the water & let it cool.
3. Heat a kadai with a tablespoon of ghee & groundnut oil (optional). Splutter the mustard, jeera, hing, curry leaves & finely chopped green chilies & split red chili (kept one for tadka)
4. Then add finely chopped onion & saute well until translucent. Keep the flame in medium. Add turmeric powder at this stage & mix well.
5. Then add crumbled paruppu usli & fry for a while.
6. To that add finely chopped bell peppers(mixed green, red & orange or green alone)
7. Then add par boiled mixed rainbow veggies & saute for a minute or two.
8. Add soaked red poha & salt as required. Mix well & cook for 3 minutes with a lid closed.
9. Then sprinkle fresh coconut & coriander leaves. Switch off the flame.
10. Before serving, lavishly sprinkle roasted cashews or peanuts. My choice is roasted peanuts. Its absolutely optional & you can very well skip this step.

Eat healthy & live healthy.