Kanda Pohe

In most Maharashtrian homes, Kanda Pohe signifies a different meaning rather than a good old breakfast staple. It was essentially prepared in a arranged marriage setting, where the groom's family visited the girls family to check out the girl, family and the other statistics. Even now, when we hear anyone's marriage being fixed back home, the second natural question is; is it a Kanda pohe marriage? I am still not sure of why only kanda pohe is related to this ladki dekho and dikhao program for fixing marriages. It will a mystery to me, same as how couples joined in holy matrimony by arranged marriages live a successful life.  Yours truly was also married into holy matrimony via such program, only difference being that I went to see Mr. Ash and his home and there were no Kanda Pohe...sadly, I miss teasing him that he was selected in my Swayamvar as he made the best Kanda pohe amidst the lot of eligible grooms for Ms. Ash... hee hee. no such thing ever happened.. ours was/is a boring story and guess we still are very old fashioned in many ways.

Kanda pohe is a staple breakfast in my mom's home, when there are sudden guests, or you run out of energies or had a bad night, or simple your plan A failed and you fell on your face. This is enjoyed by one and all and it fills you up to run a  mini-marathon after eating this.

You will need;
1 small cup/ fistful of flat rice/ Thick Poha per person- I take 3 cups for 2 adults and 2 kids-- That's our lunch at times
** You get Thin poha also, do not use that for this.

1 Onion- diced small
1/2 cup peas-- we use frozen, so soaked in warm water.
5-6 curry leaves
1 tspn haldi/ Turmeric
1 tspn Lemon Juice
Salt and Sugar to taste

1 Potato-(Optional to make kanda batata poha)
1 Tbspn Peanuts-Roasted--Optional
Vegetables like carrots/cauliflower-diced small--Optional
Fresh Grated coconut and Chopped cilantro to garnish

Tadka/Tempering;
2 Tbspn Oil
1 tspn Jeera/Cumin seeds
1 Tspn Mustard./Rai seeds
2 Medium Green Chilies- Cut in small pieces
Pinch of Hing/Aesafodita


In a colander wash the thick poha and soak in cold water for 5 mins and drain and keep aside. In a wok, heat the oil and add the tempering rai, jeera and chilies and curry leaves and let that splutter and then add the onions, potatoes, peas and vegetables if any, cover and let that cook till peas get soft and veggies get cooked partially. Then add the turmeric, lemon juice and hing and stir once. Than add the pre soaked and drained Poha/ flat rice to the mixture and stir well till the oil mixture incorporates the poha, then add salt and sugar and cover and let cook on low heat for 5 mins, stirring and not letting the poha stick to the wok.

Garnish with fresh coconut and cilantro and roasted peanuts if using any. Eat hot and enjoy with a cup of Tea or coffee.