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    Home » Indian Breakfast recipes

    Poita Bhat with Aloo Pitika ~ Assamese Breakfast

    Published: Apr 4, 2014 · by Nisha

    Today's post may not be a regular breakfast recipe. Its not the fancy parathas or dosas or idlys, the Indian table usually sees.  The dish that depicts the pure, raw nature and originality of the Indian people.  It is a simple man's food - fermented rice with curd and chillies and mashed potatoes. A typical Assamese farmer's breakfast. Commonly seen in the rural household of Asssam, rice left to ferment overnight by adding water and had the next day by seasoning it with mustard oil and green chillies.

    Poita Bhat , Pazhaya soru, pazhayedhu

    This dish with slight variation, is very common in other Indian states as well. One thing to notice is that this dish is not restricted to farmers, but also many families (mine included) used to have this. Down here in the south we call this as Pazhedhu or Pazhaya Soru (Soru means rice in the local dialect and Pazhaya is left over in this context). My dad, as a kid, literally grew up with this. Those days, it is quite common to be in a joint family and usually the eldest of the siblings would take care of the whole family. My grand dad being the eldest, his house would always be buzzing with people, his own brothers and sisters, niece and nephews etc... Making a lavish meal for all of them was highly impossible, given that the entire family was run on a single income. There are times, my dad said, that he had had to take this all three times a day. Wow!

    Poita Bhat , Pazhaya soru, pazhayedhu

    Moreover, I was stunned when he said he was never bored of having it and in fact he loves it and miss having them now. This makes me wonder, if things in the present are evolving fast and blind without acknowledging the traditional and important things from our roots. There are so many things that are forgotten not limited to food. We boast about having multigrains in our breakfast, vitamins as supplements etc., but little do we know of  what our ancestors had like pazhaya soru, Kanji, Keppai Koozh, Angaya Podi viz. The previous generation seems to have been so much happy and content with these kind of simple things. They also seem to be more hale and healthy than us. Even though we are well advanced in medicine now, there seems to be no reduction in the number of invalids. What my mom gets (ailments) at 50, I am getting it at 25 ! I wonder if I will be able to move myself without some one's help at her age.

    Poita Bhat , Pazhaya soru, pazhayedhu

    Even though this can be termed as a poor man's food, this has a real punch to it. It is plain and simple, no doubt. You may even wonder what possibly can be great and say it's just another curd rice. Well, I may not be able to put it eloquently, but all I can say is just have it once. Try this out the authentic way. Here in tamil Nadu we will have this with small onions and green chillies. In Assam, this is had with aloo pitika, mashed potatoes. Whichever way you prefer, it has such a refreshing taste.  The sourness of the curd and the stinging bite of that green chilli, will wake up your taste buds. Needless to say about its healing and health benefits, fermented rice is a pandora of nutrition. It is the best coolant in the summer months and a natural cure for mild acidity and stomach upsets.

    So friends, keep this in mind as Summer is fast approaching!!!

    Poita Bhat , Pazhaya soru, pazhayedhuPoita Bhat with Aloo Pitika ~ Assamese Breakfast

    Slightly fermented rice mixed with curd, chillies and onions. Served with mashed potatoes and dry fish in the rural Assamese household.

    Prep time: 5 mins | Rest Time 10 Hours | Cook time: NIL | Total time: 10 Hours | Serves: 2

    Ingredients
    For Poita Bhat

    • 1 Cup Cooked Rice, soaked in water overnight
    • ½ Cup Buttermilk (2)
    • Salt To taste
    • 1 Green chilli, finely chopped
    • ½ cup Finely chopped Onions
    For Aloo Pitika
    • 4 medium sized Boiled potatoes
    • 2 Green chillies, finely chopped
    • 2 tablespoon Mustard Oil
    • Salt to taste
    • 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
    Instructions

    1. For Poita Bhat, Combine the buttermilk, salt, chillies and onions and the rice along with its water.
    2. Drizzle some mustard oil, check for seasoning and serve. 
    3. For Aloo Pitika, peel and mash the potatoes finely. Add salt, turmeric powder, mustard oil and chillies and mix well. 

    Notes

    1. This dish in the north east is served with dry fish. 
    2. Buttermilk is not added in the authentic preparation. It is added to enhance the flavour as some may find it bland to have as such. 

      This post falls under the Assam state of North east India. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 39

      View other "Indian Breakfast recipes" recipes

      • Sabudana Khichdi | Javvarisi Upma - Perfect & Non sticky pearls
      • Ginger chutney - Allam Pachadi
      • Adai recipe, South Indian lentils dosa ( pancakes )
      • Peanut chutney - Kadalai chutney for idli and dosa

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Sapana Behl says

        July 11, 2014 at 3:02 pm

        Both the dishes looks simple yet delicious and filling..

        Reply
      2. Suma Gandlur says

        May 08, 2014 at 1:57 am

        Both the dishes lare simple and rustic.

        Reply
      3. Usha says

        May 04, 2014 at 8:12 pm

        Every state has a variation of this rice. I remember this use to be consumed in villages even in Andhra and seldom seen or prepared nowadays. Poita bhat with aloo pitika seems like a nice combination and a flavorful breakfast.

        Reply
      4. Padmajha PJ says

        May 01, 2014 at 12:53 pm

        You are so right! We are now turning to all sort of diets after getting the ailments and our ancestors knew how to prevent them with simple home made dishes! Nicely captured recipe! I too made aloo pitika 🙂

        Reply
      5. Sreevalli E says

        April 19, 2014 at 1:49 am

        Comforting dishes.. They look yum.

        Reply
      6. Nalini's Kitchen says

        April 17, 2014 at 3:10 pm

        Such a healthy and comforting breakfast option...

        Reply
      7. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

        April 15, 2014 at 8:16 pm

        SO well written....The poor man's dish is actually something that has the most flavor with few ingredients...How similar the dishes are across the country and not to mention, this will be one healthy breakfast!

        Reply
      8. Chef Mireille says

        April 06, 2014 at 2:01 pm

        you are such a good writer. Interesting and informative

        Reply
      9. vaishali sabnani says

        April 05, 2014 at 5:47 am

        Wow so well written. .and so well captured.
        I love that zing of green chilly..and I am actually getting the taste of the dish.

        Reply
      10. Archana Potdar says

        April 05, 2014 at 12:33 am

        Unity in diversity thats what India is all about. Simple hearty meal callled different names but shared all across India. Thanks Nisha for sharing this beautiful, smple meal that reminds us about what we are missing in our materialistic living.

        Reply
      11. Srivalli says

        April 04, 2014 at 4:48 pm

        Ah this is indeed a dish across states..and yes it is typically breakfast dish Nisha..infact I actually read about this being so famous in Orissa, that's when I realised we have such similar dishes across states..lovely pictures..and love your theme..

        Reply
      12. Jayanthi Padmanabhan says

        April 04, 2014 at 9:34 am

        very true cannot agree more.. we're spoilt for choices but none the healthier

        Reply
      13. Harini-Jaya R says

        April 04, 2014 at 9:04 am

        Good one. Even in our families,it is said that curdled milk mixed with rice overnight is a very healthy form of breakfast.

        Reply
      14. Nivedhanams Sowmya says

        April 04, 2014 at 6:23 am

        simple and homey!!! very healthy...

        Reply
      15. Gayathri Kumar says

        April 04, 2014 at 6:15 am

        Whatever mom made for breakfast, we needed some palaya saadam to finish with vadu maangai. Your post is making me nostalgic. The combination of aloo with rice looks yumm...

        Reply
      16. Priya Suresh says

        April 04, 2014 at 5:02 am

        Wat a fancy name for our oldie goldie Pazhaya saadham, poita bhat and aloo pitika looks comforting.

        Reply
      17. Saraswathi Tharagaram says

        April 04, 2014 at 3:37 am

        Tempting click dear with awesome presentation and this is our pazhayathu recipe but never tried with aloo..

        Reply
      18. The Pumpkin Farm says

        April 04, 2014 at 2:59 am

        nice combination and you have make it appear so relishing

        Reply
      19. Kalyani says

        April 04, 2014 at 2:50 am

        Kanji kooZh is indeed the natural way of staying fit and adding nutrition to the body..great combo there NISHA ! Yummy clicks

        Reply
      20. Pavani N says

        April 04, 2014 at 1:47 am

        Lovely post Nisha. Both the dishes, though simple to make, are comforting and nutritious. Clicks are amazing.

        Reply
      21. Manjula Bharath says

        April 04, 2014 at 12:44 am

        very very comforting and healthy meal , i too like palaiye sadam a lot 🙂 very healthy and paired with an very inviting pithika 🙂

        Reply

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      Nisha freelances as a food & product photographer/recipe developer & content creator in the F&B space.

      She loves everything about food and their stories! You can find her mostly in the kitchen trying to whip up something or reading culinary anecdotes.

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