Kande Pohe - A Traditional Maharashtrian Delicacy

Dear All,

Finally the winter has come to an end with sun shining bright in the sky. The temperatures are getting roaring high here in Pune. Last weekend we went for shopping to the very famous Laxmi Road, we left in the afternoon and by the time we came back, we were tired as hell. After a tiring day of shopping, getting up on sunday morning was painful. Usually on weekend i prefer to have a heavy brunch. Poha is one of my all time favorite breakfast. Its very popular dish in Maharashtra and very close to its cousin Batata Poha which is very famous in Gujarat. Both the dish are very similar in nature with few differences in the ingredients used. Its perfect breakfast for lazy weekends when you want to cook something quick. I usually have Poha on weekends for brunch with a slice of brown bread and filter coffee. You can also serve Poha with coconut chutney, the combination is extremely tasty!

Ingredients:-
1 1/2 cup of Poha (beaten rice flakes)
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 tbsp grated coconut (optional)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp sugar
Salt to taste
1 tsp fresh lime juice

For tempering:-
2 tsp oil
a pinch of asafoetida
1 tsp mustard seeds
few curry leaves
2 small green chillies finely chopped
2 tbsp peanuts
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Procedure:-

• In a wide strainer run the poha through running water, squeeze out the extra water and keep aside for 5 to 8 mins. Make sure you dont add lots of water or else poha will become mushy. Poha should be soft when touched but should not be soggy or mushy.
• Sprinkle salt and turmeric powder. Mix gently to incorporate turmeric powder and salt well.
• In a wide saucepan heat 2 tsp oil, add in mustard seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves, green chillies and peanuts. Saute for 2 mins, until peanuts become crispy.
• Add in finely chopped onions and cook them for 3 to 4 mins, until the raw smell disappears.
• Add in the poha, sugar and mix well. Adjust the salt.
• Just before serving, drizzle some lime juice on poha and garnish with coriander leaves and grated coconut. Serve hot.
• You can also add some sev on top before serving, gives a nice crunch.

Gud Poli - Jaggery, Poppy Seeds, Sesame stuffed between Flat Breads

Dear Readers,

Wishing you all a very Happy Makarsankranti and Pongal. Last year when I was in Switzerland I missed most of the festivals back home; I remember how my sister used to make me jealous on phone by describing how much fun they had celebrating all the festivals :-( Kite Flying is very popular festival in India, especially in the cities of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Jaipur and Hyderabad. Kite flying usually starts a month before the actual festival. On the day of Makar Sankranti the entire sky is filled with colorful kites and you can see everyone on top of their building roofs and having a blast! I remember few years back, during makar sankranti we visited my aunt's place where we spent the whole day flying kites and lanterns. We even made a BIG kite using several kites together joining their threads and finally attaching a lantern to it. It was a beautiful sight especially as we flew the kite in the night. I wish I had my camera with me to capture the brilliant shinning star!!

Makar Sankranti is celebrated in all parts of the country with great devotion. On this day tilgud laddoos made of sesame seeds and jaggery and are given as token of love and appreciation. A very famous saying in marathi is "Til-gud ghya, god god bola" meaning accept these tilguds and speak sweet words. Another famous dish which is prepared on this day is Gud Poli. Gud Poli's are prepared for lunch on Makar Sankranti. Grated jaggery, roasted poppy seeds and sesame seeds mixture is stuffed between two flat breads. The recipe is very  popular among kids and is perfect way to celebrate sankranti.

                       Cashewnuts, Roasted Sesame seeds, Cardamon seeds, Roasted Poppy seeds

Recipe Source: My dear friend Vrushali
Gud Poli: Recipe yields 6-7 polis
Ingredients for Stuffing:
1 cup grated jaggery (Adjust as per taste)
3 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp poppy seeds
8-10 cashewnuts
seeds from 3 cardamon pods
1 tbsp roasted gram flour
1 tbsp warm sesame oil

Ingredients for Flat Bread dough:
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (atta)
3/4 cup all purpose flour (maida)
2 tbsp gram flour
1 tbsp warm sesame oil
water as required

Procedure:-

• Roast the sesame and poppy seeds on a pan until light brown, keep them aside.
• In the same pan roast the gram flour for about 2 mins.
• Mix all the ingredients together in a mixer and pulse until well blended.
• You should be able to form a medium consistency dough. You dont need to add any liquid as grated jaggery will become quite soft and mouldable.Grease your hands with oil/ghee and make small balls of stuffing and keep them aside.
• For outer cover, mix everything together in a bowl. Slowly add little water and make a firm dough. The dough should not be too soft but more on a firmer side.
• Make 14 equal sized balls from the dough.
• On a floured surface, roll the ball to 3 inch diameter circle. Flatten the stuffing with your hands and place on top of the rolled dough. Roll another dough ball to similar size and place it on the stuffing.
• Using very little water pinch in the sides of the dough to join them firmly.
• Now very carefully and lightly roll the dough to spread the stuffing evenly.
• Cook these polis in a non stick pan on slow heat, applying ghee/clarified butter on both the sides while cooking. 
• Similarly make rest of the gud polis.
• Make sure you have pinched both the ends properly or else the jaggery may ooze out during cooking which can  get quite messy!
• Serve gud polis warm.

Verdict: I am not a huge fan of sweet polis/flatbreads but these were insanely tasty and i just couldnt stop eating them. I took few to office and my colleagues went crazy over these; they literally..I mean literally fought for these! I am planning to make these again this week for my family and I am sure everyone will enjoy these delicious sweet polis! I would urge you all to try these polis once TRUST ME you'll love it !!!

Gud Poli is off to Cooking with Sesame seeds event hosted by Priya