Avalakkki/Poha Chiwda:

Chiwda or Chivda is an integral part of Diwali festival. It is nothing but savoury rice flakes or Poha. This is not the usual deep fried one. It is a melt in the mouth kind, is very low in calories and is a light snack. My mom used to make this with Nylon Poha or super thin Poha.

This is how my mom used to make it-

Ingredients:

Nylon Poha – 500 Gms

Tamarind powder or Amchoor powder – 2 tsp.

Salt – to taste

Sugar powder – to sprinkle.

Seasoning:

Oil – 4 tbl sp

Peanuts – 4 tbl sp

Mustard- 2 tbl sp

Cumin- 1 tbl sp

Hing – 1 tsp

Curry leaves – 7 -8 springs

White sesame seeds – 2 tbl sp

Turmeric powder – 2 tsp

Green chillies – 3 -4 Chopped

Dry Coconut bits – 3 tbl sp

Coriander leaves – 3 tbl sp

Method:

-In the morning keep beaten rice /Poha under the sun by spreading on a thin clean cloth.

-If you want you can cover this Poha by using another thin cloth to avoid dust accumulation while drying.

-Keep this for two to three hours or until it becomes crunchy.

– When it is ready, remove from outside and keeps everything ready for seasoning.

– Chop green chillies, curry leaves, coriander leaves.

– Slice coconut and make bite size pieces.

-Make sugar powder and keep aside.

-Now take one big kadai, put oil. When it is hot add peanuts.

-When it is half done, add mustard. After it splutters go on adding Cumin, hing, curry leaves and green chillies one by one.

-When curry leaves becomes crisp add coconut bits and fry a little.

-Lastly add chopped coriander leaves and fry nicely until coconut bits becomes brown.

-Now add all the powders- turmeric, salt, tamarind and sugar.

-Switch off the gas, add sun dried Poha and mix thoroughly until it holds all the masalas.

– Don’t put lot of pressure while mixing, if you do so, crunchy Poha will break and will not hold the shape.

-After mixing, cool and store this in an airtight container. This stays good for one month or more.

Enjoy this with evening tea.

NOTE: If you don’t have access to sunlight, you can roast this in kadai after doing seasoning .Keep it for some time in a low fire and make Poha crispy or use microwave for roasting before seasoning.