Batani- Bajil / Green peas with Beaten Rice( Poha)

Batani - Bajil

I tasted this unique breakfast dish for the first  time when we visited one of the popular veg restaurants in Mangalore recently.  

The owner of this restaurant always gives me some newly introduced dishes to taste & tells me to give an honest review. This time he gave me this particular dish called ' batani - bajil'   as a  complimentary breakfast.  We tasted it & found it really tasty and healthy too. 

I tried my level best to prepare the same combo in my own style & it turned out just as tasty as the one i tried at the restaurant.  

Earlier I have prepared other Mangalorean popular combos like ' sajjige- Bajil' , kadle- bajil', 'pandengi- bajil' wherein poha or beaten rice is served with upma , cooked chickpeas or green gram. 

Batani Bajil is a tulu name. Batani means  'green peas ' and bajil refers to 'beaten rice/ poha'. 

This is a healthy, nutritious and a wholesome breakfast combo which can be served in your kids snack box too. 

This tasty dish can be prepared with fresh peas or with frozen peas. 

It is combination of  sweet & spicy poha/ beaten rice with delicately flavoured green peas. 

My family truly enjoyed this unique, healthy combo. 

Here is my version of this nutritious combo. 

There are two steps. 

First Step:

1st step is to prepare bajil/ poha/ beaten rice. 

Bajil / Poha Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of rice flakes
• 1 cup of freshly grated coconut
• 2 tbsp sugar or jaggery
• Salt to taste
• 2-3tsp poha masala*

Poha Masala:

Poha masala

(Fry 10-12 red long chillies, add 2 tbsp coriander, 1 tsp jeera, few curry leaves( optional) and powder. Store in an airtight container.  Use required quantity for the recipe)

You can use Sambar powder too instead of Poha Masala. 

Ingredients for the Seasoning:

• 1-2 tbsp oil or ghee
• 1 medium onion
• Few curry leaves
• Little mustard
• Little jeera
• Pinch of coriander seeds

METHOD:

I have used red aval/ red rice flakes which is healthier than white rice flakes. 

In a bowl mix jaggery/sugar, coconut & poha masala. 

Add this mixture to poha. Add salt to taste. Mix well. 

Prepare seasoning by frying onion in oil/ghee, add mustard, jeera, coriander & curry leaves. 

Add this seasoning to the poha mixture & mix well. 

Delicious sweet & spicy poha is ready. 

Second step:

Second step is to prepare green peas/ batani . 

This is a very simple and easy recipe .

I have used fresh green peas.  

Batani/ green peas Recipe:

1-2 cups of fresh/ frozen green peas

For seasoning:

• 1-2 tbsp oil
• 1/8th tsp mustard
• Little jeera/ cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp urad dal
• 2-3 slit green chillies
• 1/4" ginger ( chopped)
• 1 medium onion( chopped)
• Few curry leaves
• 1 small tomato 
• Pinch of turmeric 
• Salt to taste. 

Method:

Heat oil for seasoning 

Add mustard, jeera & allow it to splutter. 

Add urad dal, fry for 30 seconds, add onion, ginger, green chillies & mix well for 1 minute.  Do not burn. 

Add tomato, salt to taste and turmeric powder. Add green peas and mix well. Add 1/2 cup water & cover & cook just for 3-4 minutes. 

Delicious green peas/ batani dish is ready. 

Serve hot with pre-prepared poha. (Bajil) 

Tastes awesome with sweet & spicy poha and a cup of hot tea/ coffee. 

Try this dish & enjoy with your loved ones. 

Please note:

Kindly use chillies,  masala powders and sugar/ jaggery as per your preference.