Avlu is a simple, traditional breakfast that my mum would rustle up on some mornings — quick, comforting, and quietly satisfying. It’s made with flattened rice and comes together in minutes, but the flavours are surprisingly lovely. This recipe makes one serving and the accompanying picture is made with chilly powder.
Ingredients
- ½ cup flat rice flakes (known as Poha or Avlu — pronounced ow-lu in my language)
- Sugar, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- ¼ tsp red chilli powder or ¼ green chilli, finely chopped
(remove the seeds to make it less spicy) - 1–2 tbsp freshly grated coconut
(I often replace this with rehydrated desiccated coconut) - A small piece of onion, finely chopped (optional, but it adds a lot of flavour)
Method
Add all the ingredients to a bowl. Using your hand, gently mix everything together, working the mixture for a couple of minutes until the flavours come together and the rice flakes soften slightly. Taste and adjust sugar or salt if needed.
Serve immediately with a nice, warm cup of tea.
Notes
- It’s best to use thin flattened rice flakes for this dish.
- If you can only find the thicker variety, don’t worry, just rehydrate it. Pour plenty of water over the rice flakes, then immediately tip the water out. This softens them without making them soggy.
- And here’s my slightly controversial confession: I actually love eating this by pouring a little tea into it. I know it sounds disgusting, but honestly… it’s comfort food at its best.
Mrs. Mack's Spice of Life! 