Poha Cutlet

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Poha cutlet recipe with step by step photos – This is an easy and tasty snack recipe of mix veg poha cutlet or poha tikkis. These cutlets or tikkis make for a super yummy appetizer for your parties and get-togethers. A vegan recipe.

poha cutlet served on a white plate with a bowl of tomato ketchup kept on the top and text layover.

Poha or flattened rice is an ingredient that can be used in many ways. From poha various recipes can be made for breakfast as well as snacks. Making cutlets with them is a novel way of using them.

I have used potato as a binding agent in this recipe of Poha Cutlet. Since I also wanted to make these cutlets nutritious and wholesome, I added some vegetables to it. I have used finely chopped carrots and blanched French beans. The veggies also add a crunch and texture in these poha tikkis. Even the sesame seeds added to it, adds to the crunch factor.

For a completely smooth texture, you can either cook the carrots or grate them. You can also add your choice of grated or cooked veggies or you can skip the veggies if you want.

Tip – if using green peas, then cook potato and peas together.

These poha cutlet taste best when they are served hot or warm. You can pair these poha tikki with mint chutney, coconut chutney or tomato ketchup.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Poha Cutlet

1. Take 1 cup of thick poha and rinse it once or twice. Then in a bowl soak the poha in water just about covering them for 3 to 4 minutes.

poha for poha cutlet recipe

2. Then using a strainer, drain all the water from the poha. The poha should get softened well but there should be no water in them. So use a strainer to drain all the water.

poha for poha cutlet recipe

3. Steam or boil 1 large potato in a stovetop pressure cooker or steamer till the potatoes are softened and cooked really well. Then peel the potato when still warm.

aloo for poha cutlet recipe

4. Mash very well with a fork or with your hands.

aloo for poha cutlet recipe

Making poha cutlet mixture

5. Then add the following ingredients:

  • ¼ cup finely chopped or grated carrots
  • 4 to 5 blanched french beans (finely chopped) or ¼ cup steamed or boiled green peas
  • ¼ cup finely chopped onions
  • 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
  • ½ teaspoon ginger-garlic paste

French beans needs to be blanched before you add them to the cutlets. If using green peas, then steam the green peas with the potato. If chopping carrots, then do chop them finely or else it becomes difficult to shape the cutlets.

veggies for poha cutlet recipe

6. Add the poha.

poha for poha cutlet recipe

7. Now add the following ingredients:

  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
  • ½ teaspoon dry mango powder
  • 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds
  • a pinch of sugar (optional)
  • salt as per taste.

Note that Instead of dry mango powder, you can add ½ teaspoon of lemon juice.

spices for poha cutlet recipe

8. Mix everything very well. Check the taste and add more salt or spices if required.

mixture for poha cutlet recipe

Making poha cutlet

9. Shape into small cutlets or tikki.

making poha cutlet recipe

10. Heat a tawa or griddle. Add 3 tablespoons of oil and let the oil become hot. Place the poha cutlet on the tawa.

making poha cutlet recipe

11. When one side is lightly golden and crisp, turn them over using a spatula.

making poha cutlet recipe

12. Turn them again when the second side is lightly golden and crisp.

making poha cutlet recipe

13. Flip them a couple of times more and pan fry till the tops have become golden. The onions will also brown and that’s the indication that the poha cutlet has cooked. Do fry them on a low to medium heat.

making poha cutlet recipe

14. Place the pan fried poha cutlet on kitchen paper towels to remove excess oil.

poha cutlet recipe

16. Serve poha cutlet hot with coriander chutney or mint chutney or coconut chutney or tomato ketchup or any green chutney of your choice.

poha cutlet recipe


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poha cutlet recipe, poha tikki recipe

Poha Cutlet

This is an easy and tasty snack recipe of poha cutlet made with poha, potatoes, french beans, carrots, herbs and spices.
4.83 from 17 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Cuisine North Indian
Course Snacks
Diet Vegan
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 14 to 15 cutlets
Units

Ingredients

  • 1 cup thick poha or approx 85 grams thick poha
  • 1 large potato, approx 165 grams or ¾ cup mashed potatoes
  • 1 small carrot, finely chopped or grated or ¼ cup finely chopped or grated carrots
  • 4 to 5 blanched french beans, finely chopped or ¼ cup steamed or boiled green peas
  • 1 small onion finely chopped or ¼ cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
  • ½ teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon Garam Masala
  • ½ teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur)
  • 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds
  • 1 pinch sugar (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons oil for pan frying
  • salt as per taste

Instructions
 

preparation for poha cutlet

  • Take 1 cup thick poha and rinse it once or twice.
  • Then soak the poha in water just about covering them for 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Then using a strainer, drain all the water from the poha. 
  • The poha should get softened well but there should be no water in them. So use a strainer to drain all the water.

making poha cutlet mixture

  • Steam or boil 1 large potato in a pressure cooker or steamer till the potatoes is softened and cooked really well. Then peel the potato when still warm.
  • Mash very well with a fork or with your hands.
  • Add veggies – 1/4 cup finely chopped or grated carrots, 4 to 5 blanched french beans (finely chopped), 1/4 cup finely chopped onion, 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves, 1/2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste.
  • French beans need to blanched before you add them to the cutlets. 
  • Add the poha.
  • Now add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder, 1/2 teaspoon dry mango powder, 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds, a pinch of sugar (optional) and salt as per taste. 
  • Mix everything very well. Check the taste and add more salt or spices if required.
  • Shape into small cutlets.

frying poha cutlet

  • Heat a tawa or griddle. Add 3 tablespoons oil and let the oil become hot. Place the poha cutlet on the tawa.
  • When one side is lightly golden and crisp, turn them over.
  • Turn them again when the second side is lightly golden and crisp.
  • Flip them a couple of times more and pan fry till the tops have become golden. The onions will also brown and thats the indication that the cutlet has cooked. Do fry them on a low to medium flame.
  • Place the pan fried poha cutlet on kitchen paper towels.
  • Serve poha cutlet hot with coriander chutney, coconut chutney or tomato ketchup.

Notes

Substitutes you can make in poha cutlet
  • Dry mango powder – 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice or add as per taste.
  • White poha – red poha.
  • Instead of 4 to 5 blanched french beans, you can add 1/4 cup steamed or boiled green peas. if using green peas, then steam the green peas with the potato.

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This Poha Cutlet post from the blog archives first published in August 2016 has been updated and republished on December 2022.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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41 Comments

  1. Tried this recipe yesterday. They turned out so well,exactly as shown in the pic.When eaten hot they were so tasty, crispy and crunchy.
    What I like about these recipes is that the measures are always bang on and the end result is always amazing. I have become such a huge fan that I make it a point to include at least one of these recipes in my daily menu which is planned the previous day.5 stars

    1. that is sweet of you winnie. i am happy that the recipes are turning out good. that solves the purpose of the blog – to help readers make tasty food easily and it feels good to read your comments.

      yes most cutlets, tikki etc are best when eaten hot. thanks again.

  2. Hi,I made this cutlets.nice recipe.my family also love.nice taste….but when i try to make round shape it broke….i use oil or water then to bind easy….not broking…can i use green chillies??4 stars

    1. fine bhumika. some water can be added. for binding even rice flour, roasted besan, bread crumbs or corn flour can be added. you can use green chilies in the recipe.

  3. Hi. Can the poha tikki be prepared without using potato or any alternative for potato can be used.

    1. preeti, some binding agent is required. you can use sweet potatoes or elephant foot yam. with yam you will need a bit of lemon juice or tamarind to get rid of the itchiness. you can also use ground moong dal or chana dal and using some rice flour bind everything.

  4. Hie I made these cutlets today and they turned out awesome. My family loved it. But the only variation was I made it in an air fryer. The cutlets were quite crispy and tasty. Thanku and please come up with some air fryer recipes.5 stars

    1. thanks smriti. good to know that the poha cutlet recipe turned out awesome in air fryer. i have to share some air fryer recipes which readers have requested. for now i have only made french fries and onion pakoda in air fryer. will definitely add more recipe that can be made in air fryer.

  5. Turned out very tasty. Thanks fr th recipe. Also made ur onion poha fr breakfast. It was good too.

  6. Hi ma’am, I tried this recipe today but my cutlets broke in oil. They completely shattered. When I mix them they bind properly but as I put them in oil they shattered. What cud be the reason.5 stars

    1. did you deep fry them? these cutlets are meant to be pan fried or shallow fried. let me know.

  7. Thank you so much for this recipes. The pictures actually help alot ..many more to experiment..

  8. Hi Dassana!! Tried these today.. n as usual turned out amazing like many other recipes! I have tried soo many of ur recipes n often forget to leave a feedback! A big thank you for all the recipes n the pics(they r so so useful). Keep up the good work n best wishes to u! ?4 stars

    1. Welcome PriyaR. Nice to know that you like the recipes. Thanks for your positive feedback and best wishes.

  9. Do you have any recipe where the chakli mix can be used other than for making chakli?

  10. That looks wonderful but what is poha? and where do I get it? In Hawaii we have poha berries, not the same I think. Thanks, Jeanne

    1. jeanne, poha is flattened rice. its not poha berries. you can buy poha online or in an indian super store.

  11. I tried these cutlets and they came out very well. Your step by step pictures were of great help!!

  12. Nice recipe.. i tried and it turned out pretty well.. the good part was that my toddler liked it..thanks for sharing

    1. nice to know kruti. glad that your kid liked the cutlets. thanks for the feedback.

  13. Hi… I tried dis today with my leftover aloo parantha stuffing… it turned out delicious… I want to ask you can I bake these cutlets in otg?? If yes please give me an idea about temperature and the time required? I am very New to cooking and with the help of Ur recipes I am improving a lot… and my husband is impressed with my cooking skills… I am really grateful to u… Stay blessed always..5 stars

    1. thanks a lot amy. you can bake them. usually for most baking stuff i follow this method. i grease a tray with some oil. then place the tikkis or cutlets in it. brush then with a bit of oil. then bake in a preheated oven for 180 degrees celsius for 20 to 25 minutes till they have golden specks on crusts on them. since temperatures in oven vary with make and size, you will need to keep a check. preheat the oven for 10 minutes.