Cauli-Corn Pohe

I made this Cauli-Corn Pohe today for a light lunch. It was great. The kids even ate it all up! The one change that I would make would be to add cashews and/or peanuts at the beginning. I love to have that crunch in my pohe. Since we have a slight allergy in the house, I skipped it all together. 

1/4 head of cauliflower, trimmed and diced into small pieces

1 cup frozen corn, defrosted

2 cups thick pohe (beaten rice)

1/2 onion, diced

1 tsp ginger paste

1/2 tsp garlic paste

1/2 tsp green chili paste

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 tbsp sesame seeds

Pinch of hing

1-2 tsp salt or per taste

1/2 tsp sugar

1 tbsp coriander powder

Juice of 1 lemon, or 2 tbsp lemon juice 

Few curry leaves

2 tbsp olive oil

Chopped cilantro for garnish

Lemon wedges for serving

1. Start by heating up oil in a big Dutch oven nonstick pot. When hot, add the mustard and cumin seeds and let them pop. Drop the curry leaves in and close lid. Remove from heat to prevent getting burned. Add the sesame seeds and hing and mix. Add the onions and return pot back on the heat.

2. Let onions cook on medium heat until shiny. Add the ginger, garlic and green chili paste and mix for about a minute. Add the cauliflower and salt next and let it cook.

3. About 5-7 minutes once the cauliflower is a bit soft, add the corn and coriander powder.

4. While the veggies are cooking, soak the pohe for about a minute or two until you see them puff up. You want to be careful not to soak for too long or else they'll get all mushy and will not retain their shape. Drain the water out of the bowl of pohe using a colander.

5. Once again, remove the pot from the heat. I bring the pot next to the kitchen sink. I squeeze out as much water from the pohe as possible and sprinkle the pohe into the pot. Return pot back on heat.

6. Let all of the flavors marry for about 5 minutes. Then add sugar and lemon juice, tasting and adjust seasoning. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with lemon wedges on side.

This dish was surprisingly delicious. The cauliflower was a great substitute for the traditional potatoes. Soybeans, peas and/or carrots would also be a great addition to bump up the nutrition level. After all, potatoes and rice alone aren't all that wholesome! Definitely give this one a try!