Eat clean and healthy this Diwali~ this delicious zucchini poha filled with goodness is all you need to light up your Diwali.
It’s Diwali time. The festival of lights is here. Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous Diwali. May God bless you all with good health and happiness always.
SHORT NOTE ABOUT DIWALI:
Diwali, also known as Deepavali is a one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. It is a festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Newar Buddhists. Every religion has a different legend or story behind the celebration but the main idea remains the same. It is a very beautiful thought~ Diwali simply means the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance.
People prepare for Diwali almost a month or two in advance. They start by cleaning their homes-sort of like a deep clean. Then, they shop for new clothes, gold, etc. They then also decorate their houses with lights, oil lamps, lanterns, flowers and rangolis (colourful designs normally made at the entrance of their houses).
DIWALI IN GOA:
In Goa, Hindus follow the legend of their God Krishna defeating the demon Narkasura. Every Diwali eve huge effigies of Narkasura are made, displayed or paraded across the city. These are artistically made and filled with straw and firecrackers, which are then eventually burnt at dawn on Diwali day.
I remember we used to go every year all the way from Agassaim to Panjim to see different Narkasuras.
DIWALI FOODS:
India is a very diverse state and this diversity can be seen in the food too. For Diwali, every state in India prepares their own delicacy. They prepare a variety of sweet and savoury foods. Some foods like Kheer (try: Rice Kheer), Halwa, Laddoos, Puran Poli, Mawa Kachori, different types of poha, nevri, chakli, Shankarpali, shev, chewda, bakarvadi, etc. are generally made and served for Diwali pan India.
VARIETY OF FOV MADE FOR DIWALI IN GOA:
Fov, as it is commonly called in Goa, is beaten rice or flattened rice. It is prepared in six different ways and served during Diwali.
The different types are as follows:
- Dudantle Fov: This is made by boiling beaten rice in milk. It is generally flavoured with sugar and cardamom powder.
- Goddache fov: This is made by mixing beaten rice with grated coconut and jaggery. Either coconut jaggery or sugarcane jaggery is used.
- Batat fov: This is a savory dish made with beaten rice and potato. It is flavoured with turmeric powder, mustard seeds, curry leaves and other ingredients too. It is also a common breakfast dish in Goa and Maharashtra.
- Nalache fov: This is made by boiling fov in a thin coconut juice and then the thick juice is added. It is flavoured with jaggery and cardamom powder.
- Dhayantle fov: This is made by adding sweet curd or yoghurt to fov. It is also make in a savoury way by spicing up the curd.
- Chewda fov: This is made by deep frying dry fov which is then flavoured with different spices and groundnuts. It is good for snacking on and also as a munchie.
There are many variations to these preparations. Some people also flavour the fov with lemon or tamarind. Some grind the fov together with grated coconut and sugar.
ZUCCHINI POHA OR COURGETTE POHA:
This recipe is inspired by the poha made in Mumbai (kanda poha) and the poha (batat poha) made in Goa brought together. I’ve only added a heathy element to it in the form of courgettes.
It is one of those dishes which you can make for your kids who are fussy about veggies. This is the best way to hide veggies in their food and make them eat a tasty yet wholesome meal.
This dish can be had for breakfast or brunch or even as a mid day snack. It is one of those all time, any time kind of comfort food. Pack it for your kids lunches or your own lunches and feel good about yourself.
Zucchini Poha
Ingredients
- 250 gms Poha
- 3 nos Potatoes medium sized
- 2 nos Red onions finely chopped
- 3 nos Zucchini or courgettes grated
- ½ inch Ginger finely chopped
- 8-10 nos Curry leaves
- Coriander leaves handful, finely chopped-for garnishing
- Salt to taste
- 1 nos Lemon juice
- 1½ tsp Mustard seeds
- 2 tbsp Turmeric powder
- Roasted or Fried Groundnuts/Peanuts Handful
- 2 nos Green chillies fresh, finely chopped
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- First wash the beaten rice well and then soak it in hot water for 2mins. Strain the water out well and let it stand.
- To the fov, add salt to taste and turmeric powder and give it a good toss.
- Get all your mis-en-place ready. Finely chop onions, ginger, green chillies and keep aside.
- Grate the zucchini and keep aside.
- Boil the potaotes, peel them, cube them and set aside.
- Place a pot on a medium flame. Once the pot is hot enough, add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Let it crackle. Once that's done, add the ginger and chillies and let them sweat away.
- Next add the onions and pinch of salt. Saute for a few minutes.
- Next add the grated courgettes. Fry until the water dries out. Keep stirring so that it doesn't get burnt or stuck to the bottom of the pot.
- In a separate pan, fry the groundnuts for a few minutes. Do not let them burn.
- In the same pan add the boiled potato cubes and shallow fry them too.
- Add this to the main pot and saute for a minute, mixing all together.
- Put the flame off and add the prepped beaten rice. Give it a good toss.
- Squeeze on some lemon or lime juice. Check the salt and add more if needed. Give it a good toss.
- Garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves and serve hot.
Notes
- You can omit this step of soaking the beaten rice in hot water if you want fuller grains.
- You can replaced the red onions with any other type of onions, whichever are available.
- This dish is best eaten hot with some masala chai as an accompaniment.
- Also, you can grate some carrot and add it to the dish too if you wish too.
Enjoy this dish for Diwali or any other festival and otherwise too as a snack. It is a 100 percent vegan recipe.
Also, share with me your Diwali special foods by tagging me in a picture on Instagram and using the hashtag #deliciouscravingsatvaniaskitchen.
Do not forget to check out Pinterest too… So far 17.6k monthly unique views, which is super cool. Would love you all to join in too.
Have a blessed Diwali.
Much love xx
Happy Diwali. 🎉🎊
Wish you the same! 😊
Nice post can we fellow each other please
Thanks!!