Spicy Garlic Flavored Red Poha~Oats Chivda.

"Spicy Garlic Flavored Red Poha (Brown Beaten Rice) ~ Oats Chivda (Chooda) with lots of Cashew Nuts~Peanuts~Raisins etc." ... I always end up worrying how to finish off the Oats purchased in larger quantity in my enthusiasm to add them to foods ... Today tried out a healthier version of chivda with addition of red poha and oats ... Yummy ... 

** Chivda / Chooda are really very easy to prepare and can be done in 15-20 minutes if all the ingredients are available in the home. I have already written about chivda in details before of that which I prepared with plain beaten rice and of beaten corn too. This one is with the addition of oats to brown poha which I consider is healthier option to munch on during monsoon. As I said, when loads of recipes and topics are written about benefits of oats, I get all enthusiastic and buy larger than necessary packs when purchasing them. My mind keeps jotting down all the options and things that can be done using them. But somehow, I am never able to consume them much in time and I do not like wastage of food or food ingredients. 

** By and large I always use Microwave method for roasting for the last 8-10 years as I have issues with neck and spine and too much of stirring triggers the pain. So my loyal friend in the kitchen are my gadgets, and I am happy that they are in existence as otherwise I could never have coped with all these cooking I do on daily basis. They are a boon to people like me who want to do so much, but have to hold back for health reasons. I roasted both the poha and oats separately in MW, putani (roasted gram), ground nuts too I roasted in the microwave and then seasoned them in kadai and the whole process was simply a breeze work. Just add in a tablespoon of freshly grated coconut to each serving plate and serve them whenever hunger hits your tummy. 

** Here is the simple method to preparing of  "Spicy Garlic Flavored Red Poha (Brown Beaten Rice) ~ Oats Chivda (Chooda) with lots of Cashew Nuts~Peanuts~Raisins etc."

** Roasting Poha / Avalakki / Povu / Beaten Rice : Sieve the Red poha / pova through a fine sieve, to remove the powders etc. if any. I used the thick Brown Organic beaten rice variety for this recipe. You can use any. Add the poha into a glassware microwave dish and microwave it on high till crisp. I used about 400-500 gms of poha and It hardly took about a few minutes (Approximately 2.5 minutes). However, do keep checking and mixing often or else you may burn it or over roast the same and then it will become too crisp. 

** Note : If you are a newbie to preparing chivda and if by mistake you find that you have roasted the poha a little bit too crisp, Just powder it and keep it aside, you can add the same to dosa batter or while preparing mande a sweet Konkani Saraswat delicacy. And yes, use fresh poha for chivda frying keeping in mind this time to not turn it too crisp. 

** Roasting Rolled Oats : The method is the same as above, I have used about 250-300 gms of rolled oats readily available in stores. Add into a glassware microwave dish and microwave it on high till crisp. It hardly took about a few minutes (Approximately 1.5 minutes). But do keep checking and mixing often or else you may burn it or over roast the same and then it will become too crisp. 

** Note : If you are a newbie to preparing chivda and if by mistake you find that you have roasted the oats a little bit too crisp, Just powder it and keep it aside, you can add the same to cutlet mixture while preparing cutlets, and also in coating / dusting them before frying. They turn awesome and also absorb excess moisture in the mixture. You can also use them to dust / roll the seasoned fish or chicken pieces instead of rava or rice powder as used for deep frying. You get a crisp fried fish / chicken pieces. And yes, use fresh oats for chivda frying keeping in mind this time to not turn it too crisp. 

** Roasting the Putani / Roasted Gram / Hurikadale : Add in half a cup again in a glassware microwave dish and microwave it on high till crisp. It hardly takes a 2-3 minutes, do keep checking often or else you may burn it or over roast the same. Remove and keep this ready aside. 

** Roasting of Groundnuts / Peanuts / Nerakadale : Add 1 cup of peanuts in the same glassware microwave dish and microwave it on high till done. This will take slightly more time than the above two, say maximum about 5-6 minutes. Keep this also ready aside. 

** A Note to Roasting all the above : You can also roast all the above Ingredients in a thick bottomed kadai on medium heat in batches of a cup at one time till done. Whichever method you use, roast them separately one by one and put them ready aside in separate plates. 

** Preparing of the "Spicy Garlic Flavored Red Poha (Brown Beaten Rice) ~ Oats Chivda (Chooda) with lots of Cashew Nuts~Peanuts~Raisins etc.": Heat about 3-4 tblsp of coconut oil (you can use any oil) in a kadai, when hot add in 2 tsp of mustard seeds (sasam / rai), when it begins to splutter, lower the heat to minimum and add in half a cup of cashew nut pieces and fry till the color changes very slightly, add 10-12 garlic cloves crushed properly with a heavy weight with the outer skin and continue frying till slightly brown. 

** Now add in 5-6 green chillies slit lengthwise and cut to pieces and continue frying till they turn crisp. Immediately add in add in a handful of raisins (dry grapes) and continue to fry for few minutes till they are swollen. Now add in ¼ tsp of haldi (turmeric powder), 1 tsp of hing powder and fry for a few seconds. 

** Now add in the roasted and kept aside putani and groundnuts along with salt to taste and 2 tsp of red chilly powder or sambar powder (I used sambar powder this time) and mix well and remove from fire. Now add immediately add in the roasted and kept aside poha and oats and mix well along with 2 tblsp of sugar powder till all the ingredients are mixed well. 

** The chivda should be well coated with spices and mixed well, just for a few minutes, do not put pressure or they may break as its still hot. Allow it cool completely before you put it n airtight container and store it away. 

** “"Spicy Garlic Flavored Red Poha (Brown Beaten Rice) ~ Oats Chivda (Chooda) with lots of Cashew Nuts~Peanuts~Raisins etc.". You can serve it as it is as a snack or as a side dish with upma / suli etc. You can also add in some freshly grated coconut to each serving in plates, mix well and serve the same, it tastes awesome as a tiffin / snack when you are tired or bored and want to enjoy some snack. 

** This one comes in handy if prepared and stored when guests drop in unannounced or whenever you feel hunger pangs. Children are always feeling hungry and want to munch up on something, this is a healthy option compared to the ready instant food that has flooded the market now. Do try it and enjoy with your family and friends. 

** Note : You can add in any nuts like almonds too, to the mixture. You can also cut thin slices of three inches of coconut and fry them in oil in seasoning and then add on to the chivda too, I have not added it as we do not like it very much. 

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