If there is one Odiya dish that will never make it to a cookbook (m keeping fingers crossed here), it is the very humble 'chuda dahi' or 'chuda chakta'. A mix of beaten rice (soaked), yogurt, ripe bananas, grated coconut (optional) ad sugar, it has been the staple breakfast option for many generations...that is till now. This inelegant dish is hardly a treat for the eyes which I believe is the only reason behind its failure to capture the nation's imagination. These days most people are being drawn to low calorie breakfast cereals and oats without even realizing that this wholesome dish is one of the healthiest breakfasts that one can have.
Beaten rice is commonly known as Poha or Chivda in India. It is a rich source of complex carbohydrates and high on the fiber content too. It is rich in iron and eleven essential vitamins too. Incidentally, this is one carb that has the amazing ability to soak up water/liquid three times of its volume thus elevating it to the status of a bulking agent (Good news for all those weight-watchers).
Five reasons why i simply love this dish :
1. It does not require cooking. Five minutes handiwork and lo....I can dig in.
2. It packs in carbohydrates, calcium (yogurt/milk) and some fruit (banana...and I do add apple sometimes) goodness too. Nutrition experts advice people to include one portion from each of the above in one's breakfast. So, its a complete breakfast in every way.
3. It is inexpensive.
4. Replace sugar with jaggery, or cut it out completely, either way it works for diabetics/weight-watchers. Ditto for the coconut. Skip if your cholesterol levels are on the higher side. For those with lactose intolerance/vegan folks , skip yogurt/milk (Add some soy milk/badam milk instead if you find it too dry).
5. It is free from preservatives. (now that is my latest obsession and the reason why I have chucked out the Read-To-Eat stuff from my kitchen cabinet)
6. It keeps me feeling full for a long time afterwards ( bless the complex carbohydrates/fiber in beaten rice ).
Read on for the recipe (Ha..ha, please excuse my calling it so):
Preparation Time - 5 minutes
Ingredients - 1 cup beaten rice (use red one if you wish), 1 cup yogurt, 1-2 ripe bananas, 1-2 tbs fresh grated coconut, 1 tsp sugar/powdered jaggery, 1-2 tsp milk powder ( optional..but i love it).
Preparation - Wash and soak the beaten rice. The soaking will again depend on the thickness of the flakes. ( Some varieties like Nylon chuda as not really suitable for this recipe, I prefer thick ones )
Drain all water and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add in the bananas, sugar/jaggery and milk powder. Mash everything and mix thoroughly.
Add the yogurt (some prefer milk instead...take your pick) and grated coconut and mix again.
Serve immediately . (The bananas may lead to blackening/discoloration if left to sit for sometime however it still remains fit for consumption)
Beaten rice is commonly known as Poha or Chivda in India. It is a rich source of complex carbohydrates and high on the fiber content too. It is rich in iron and eleven essential vitamins too. Incidentally, this is one carb that has the amazing ability to soak up water/liquid three times of its volume thus elevating it to the status of a bulking agent (Good news for all those weight-watchers).
Five reasons why i simply love this dish :
1. It does not require cooking. Five minutes handiwork and lo....I can dig in.
2. It packs in carbohydrates, calcium (yogurt/milk) and some fruit (banana...and I do add apple sometimes) goodness too. Nutrition experts advice people to include one portion from each of the above in one's breakfast. So, its a complete breakfast in every way.
3. It is inexpensive.
4. Replace sugar with jaggery, or cut it out completely, either way it works for diabetics/weight-watchers. Ditto for the coconut. Skip if your cholesterol levels are on the higher side. For those with lactose intolerance/vegan folks , skip yogurt/milk (Add some soy milk/badam milk instead if you find it too dry).
5. It is free from preservatives. (now that is my latest obsession and the reason why I have chucked out the Read-To-Eat stuff from my kitchen cabinet)
6. It keeps me feeling full for a long time afterwards ( bless the complex carbohydrates/fiber in beaten rice ).
Read on for the recipe (Ha..ha, please excuse my calling it so):
Preparation Time - 5 minutes
Ingredients - 1 cup beaten rice (use red one if you wish), 1 cup yogurt, 1-2 ripe bananas, 1-2 tbs fresh grated coconut, 1 tsp sugar/powdered jaggery, 1-2 tsp milk powder ( optional..but i love it).
Preparation - Wash and soak the beaten rice. The soaking will again depend on the thickness of the flakes. ( Some varieties like Nylon chuda as not really suitable for this recipe, I prefer thick ones )
Drain all water and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add in the bananas, sugar/jaggery and milk powder. Mash everything and mix thoroughly.
Add the yogurt (some prefer milk instead...take your pick) and grated coconut and mix again.
Serve immediately . (The bananas may lead to blackening/discoloration if left to sit for sometime however it still remains fit for consumption)