Go Back

Puli Aval or Tangy & Spiced Beaten Rice Flakes

A dish of beaten rice flakes cooked in a little tamarind juice and then seasoned and tempered with spices. What this makes is a dish that is a little spicy and tangy with a hint of sweet topped off with peanuts. Use any aval or beaten rice of your choice – or think of this as an opportunity to experiment with a heritage or folk rice variety. You cannot go wrong!

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups dry thick aval/ poha/ beaten rice flakes
  • 2 1/2 tbsps sesame oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 2 tsp split black gram lentils, urad dal
  • 2 tbsps Bengal gram lentils, chana dal
  • 1/8 cup skinned peanuts
  • 1/8 tsp asafoetida powder
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 2 - 3 sprigs curry leaves
  • 2 green chillies, chopped
  • A large marble-sized ball of dry tamarind
  • 1 tbsp powdered jaggery
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • To make tamarind extract, take a small round of tamarind (about the size of a marble. Put it in about 1/4 cup warm water and rub it into the water with your fingertips. This will release the pulp. Squeeze out the liquid and throw the solids away. You will need 2 tsp thick tamarind extract for this preparation.
  • Put the red/ brown aval/ poha/beaten rice flakes in a large bowl and pour enough water to immerse it. Use your fingers and lightly rub the flakes. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and then drain out the water. If you’re suing the white variety, it doesn’t need soaking. Rinse well a couple of times using your fingers. Drain well and keep aside. The rice flakes will puff a bit and soften from absorbing water. Keep aside.
  • Heat the oil in a pan or wok. Add the mustard seeds, when they splutter, add the lentils (dals) and the peanuts stirring for about a minute or till they turn a golden brown. Now add the chopped green chillies, curry leaves, asafoetida powder, turmeric powder and stir a couple of times. Mix in the tamarind extract and powdered jaggery.
  • Add the aval/ poha/ beaten rice flakes and salt to taste. Mix everything well together so the spices even coat the beaten rice flakes.
  • Serve hot, as it is, or with coconut chutney or yogurt on the side.