Spicy Aval

This is a quick recipe for a warm, spicy snack to go with tea, ideal for those wet or cold winter afternoons.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Aval (also known as Poha)
- 3/4 cup tamarind extract
- Pinch of turmeric
- Salt to taste
Seasoning ingredients:
- 1/2 tspn Mustard Seeds
- 2-3 Red Chilies
- 1 tspn Urad dhal
- 2 tbspn peanuts
- Pinch of Hing powder
- Sprig of curry leaves
- 1 tspn oil
Method:
1. Wash and soak aval in tamarind extract, salt and turmeric powder until it becomes soft. (Usually 5-10 minutes for thin poha, 30 minutes for thick poha)

2. In a pan add the oil and add all the seasoning ingredients.

3. Once the mustard seeds start to splutter add peanuts start to change color add the soaked aval with the tamarind water and fry till it becomes completly dry.

4. Garnish it with curry leaves and cilantro and serve it hot.

Variation 1: Lemon Aval

Instead of soaking the aval in tamarind water soak it in plain water with turmeric powder and salt. Once the aval is soft follow the same procedure. After it is cooked turn the heat off and add a teaspoon lemon juice. Adjust lemon juice according to your taste.

Variation 2: Pepper, Jeera Aval

Soak aval in plain water and salt. Do not add turmeric. Fry 1 tspn of black peppercorns and 1/2 tspn of Jeera in a dry pan. Grind it to a powder. Once the aval is soft follow the same procedure. The only change is to add cashew nuts instead of peanuts. Add your soaked aval and cook till it is dry. Finally add the pepper/Jera powder and mix it well.

I am sending this recipe to Tea Time snack by EC.