Poha Chivda Recipe

Crunchy and flavourful, Poha Chivda is an easy gluten-free snack you can whip up any time with pantry ingredients. It is a savoury and addictive snack you can customise to suit your tastes, pantry ingredients, or just your fancy. 

Poha, Pohe or flattened rice, is the main ingredient for this simple and popular snack. We do not wait until Diwali or any festival to make a batch of Pohe Chivda also spelt as Chevda or chiwda,chuda. Since it contains nuts, seeds, and spices, it is a perfect snack when you feel peckish. 

Jump to:

• Ingredients for Poha Chivda
• Method for Poha Chivda
• Protips for Poha Chivda
• FAQ for Poha Chivda
• Related Recipes
• Poha Chiwda Recipe

Fov, as it is called in Goa, is the main ingredient for the Diwali spread.

You will be treated to Rastle Fov, Doodhtle Fov, Tikche Fov, Batat Pov (which is similar to Kande pohe, but the onion is replaced by potato), Ammade Chutney, Chana Usal, Shankarpali, Chakli, and Bhakya Pohe Chivda. Next year, I will add Sweet Pohe to the menu. 

My go-to menu for Diwali recipes is 7 classic sweets And Phool makhana snacks.

Let’s start at the very beginning. If you are new to Poha Chiwda, you will have questions that I will try to answer.

What is Poha?

Depending on the region, it is called Pohe, Fov, Pauwa, Sira, Chira, Avalakki, Aval, or Bhojpuri. You may know of it as Flattened Rice or Rice Flakes.

 Made from de-husked rice grains are parboiled, dried, roasted, and flattened between rollers.

Since we use parboiled rice, it needs hardly any cooking. You don't cook the dish when you eat Hachid Avalakki or Dadpe Pohe.

Pohe is also healthier since the rice is not entirely stripped. It is gluten-free, easy to digest, and contains fibre. When consumed in moderation, it is suitable for weight loss. 

What is  Poha Chevda? 

Also called Namkeen, it is a versatile snack made from flattened rice flakes. With a few changes, you can customise the dish to suit your dietary preferences, like skipping the nuts for a nut-free version. 

I love to add roasted chickpeas called phutana/ puthani or roasted chana to mine. Out of coconut slices, skip them. Too many almonds and raisins in your pantry, add some roasted or fried almonds. Cashew nuts are, of course, a given. 

If you want your Chevro a bit spicy, add more chilli. For a chatpata taste, add some chat masala or lemon juice. See, I told you that Chewda is versatile. 

How do you eat  Chewda?

This Indian trail mix can be eaten as is or with some yoghurt. I love adding chopped onion, tomatoes, cucumber, grated coconut, and lemon juice. Anytime, anywhere is Chevro time for us. We eat Avalakki with tea, as a snack, or even when fasting in my maternal home.

While travelling, the first thing I pack is chivda. When watching TV, my go-to snack is, you guessed it, Chuda. Pack some as a snack for office goers or even kids’ snack boxes, and they will come raving about it. 

Why eat Poha Chevda?

It is a healthier snack than store-bought snacks that are generally fried. However, even the no-fry or baked versions are not healthy choices.

Since Chevda is roasted, it is a better option. Add nuts and seeds, and we have a great source of protein and fibre. Avoid asafoetida, and we have a gluten-free snack. The best part is since I am making the Chivda, we, decide what goes into it. 

Ingredients for Poha Chivda

• Poha (Flattened Rice): Use the thinner variety. It toasts well and has a satisfying crunch. 
• Oil: Use an oil that has no smell. I like to use a refined oil like sunflower oil. 
• Seeds and nuts: I love sunflower seeds, melon seeds, and sesame seeds, as well as nuts like peanuts, roasted chickpeas, almonds, and cashew nuts. 
• Mustard Seeds:  they add a lovely aroma. 
• Hing (Asafoetida): Asafoetida has a lovely aroma. Avoid it if you need a gluten-free snack. 
• Curry Leaves: Fresh curry leaves add a fragrance and flavour.
• Green Chilies: Use some to add a spicy kick to the Chivda.
• Turmeric Powder: the beautiful colour that Chvda has comes from turmeric powder. 
• Salt: Use it to taste.
• Red Chili Powder: Use some to increase the spice levels. 
• Sugar: Use to balance the taste of spicy, tangy chivda. 
• Optional ingredients:
• Coconut Slices: Dried coconut slices when fried taste great.
• Coriander-cumin seed Powder is an optional ingredient I like to use.
• Chat Masala or Lemon Juice: If you like tangy tasting Chivda use some.

Method for Poha Chivda

• Prepare the ingredients.
• Roast the pohe in small batches till the edges of the pohe curl. Transfer to a plate and cool.
• Fry your nuts and seeds. Transfer to the cooling Poha
• Make a tempering and mix the roasted poha. 
• Cool the mixture and store it in an airtight container.

 Is this the only way to make Chuda?

Of course not; follow the traditional way

• Make the tempering of mustard in oil.
• Add the green chillies, and the curry leaves.
• Add the peanuts, cashew nuts, roasted gram, and coconut slices.
• Lastly, add the turmeric powder and the lemon juice. The lemon juice will cause a lot of spluttering.
• Once the spluttering stops, add the roasted pohe. Switch off the flame and mix well.

Tip: While mixing the poha with the tempering, the amount of oil may feel a little less, but keep stirring; it always works for me.

Substitutes for Poha Chivda

• Poha: I have replaced it with puffed rice, puffed jowar, puffed bajra, Makhana.  
• Nuts: in case you need a nut-free snack, avoid them.
• Seeds: Use pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or melon seeds. These are perfect nut-free substitutes. 
• Green Chilies: Use red chillies in place of green chillies. 

Variations for Poha Chivda

• Garlic-Flavored: You can add sliced garlic to the tempering after the mustard seeds. This adds an excellent flavour for garlic lovers.
• Ready made Masalas: You can get ready masalas like Bhadang masala. 

Creative ways to use Poha in recipes

Poha comes in various thicknesses, from thin to thick and works wonderfully in a many recipes both as the main ingredient or as one of the many.

• I make Instant Poha Idli for a quick and satisfying breakfast or snack.
• Idlis turn out light and fluffy idlis when you add poha to your batter. While making Mallige Idli and Butter Idli, poha is one of the ingredients.
• Want to make dosas even better? Add poha to the batter for extra fluffiness.
• Again, poha is an ingredient for my Goan Methi Che Polle, even in Set Dosa, or Davangere Benne Dosa.
• When making savoury dishes like Ragda Patties or cutlets, use poha instead of bread crumbs. This will give your cutlets and sliders a crisp texture.
• Preethi makes these fantastic Poha patties; they are a must-make.
• Kalyani makes Gojju Avallakki a much-loved treat from Karnataka.
• Mayuri uses Poha to make Poha Phirni a delicious way to replace rice in Phirni.
• Seema’s Aval Thali is something I love it shows how versatile these flatten rice flakes are.

Equipment for Poha Chivda

This is the equipment that you need

• Kadhai/wok
• Spoons and Ladles
• Plate
• Airtight Container

Storage

• Transfer the cooled Poha Chivda to an airtight container. 
• The chiva remains fresh for about 15-20 days.

Protips for Poha Chivda

• Cool the Poha Chivda fully before storing it in an airtight container. 
• Use thin Poha or Flattened Rice to make Chivda.
• Use low heat to roast the poha to prevent burning. 
• Keep stirring the Poha as you heat it.
• Do not over-roast the poha,  as the poha becomes dry, and you cannot eat it. 
• Customise the spices to your taste.

FAQ for Poha Chivda

• Is Poha suitable for diabetic patients?

  Yes,  poha is a good alternative for diabetic patients. Only eat it in moderation.
  

• Can I skip the nuts in Poha Chivda?

  Of course, skip the nuts! Use roasted chickpeas and seeds instead. 
  

• Can I make the Poha Chivda spicier?

  You can add more green chillies. You can also add a sprinkling of red chilli powder. 
  

• Can I microwave the Poha for Chivda?

  Yes, you can also roast Poha in the microwave. Place poha in a microwaveable bowl and microwave on 100% power for 2-3 minutes. Again, I recommend using a small batch at a time.
  

• Can I skip curry leaves?

  Omit the curry leaves if they are unavailable.
  

• Is Poha Chivda a healthy snack?

  Poha Chivda is a healthier snack because it is lightly roasted and uses minimal oil, nuts, and seeds.
  

• What is diet Chivda made of?

  Diet Chivda uses rice flakes, nuts, sev, iodised salt and sugar and refined palm oil. 
  

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Summary

Poha Chivda is an easy snack that can be customised to suit your needs. It is a timeless classic that pairs well with tea, coffee, and friends. So make some today and have fun. Let us know what you think with a comment and rating below in the comment section.

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