We all love our poha, and many homes in India have their own way of preparing it. But did you know about Gojju Avalakki? It is a popular, tangy, spicy-sweet Karnataka breakfast that is soft yet textured. Chef Ranveer Brar recently explained all about it in a video, and also revealed a place in Bengaluru where we can try this dish.
Ranveer Brar Explains Mandya’s Gojju Avalakki
In the video, posted by @ on Instagram, Chef Ranveer Brar talks about how “life is unfair”. The reason? He wonders why cities like Indore, Ujjain, and even Maharashtra get all the credit for poha, especially when many people have still not tasted Avalakki. The video is part of a 50 Mile Programme by 080 Lounges at the Bangalore Celebrate. Through this initiative, Ranveer Brar celebrates districts located within 50 miles of Bengaluru. In this episode, the focus is on Mandya.
Mandya is known for its sugarcane and is also famous for its tamarind. Ranveer Brar shares that in Mandya, people make an “amazing dish” called Avalakki. This dish has been part of many Karnataka homes, cooked during unhurried mornings in their kitchens. Often referred to as a Karnataka-style poha, Avalakki is described as “light, textured, and gently seasoned”.
You would like to know that some recipes of Avalakki in Karnataka also use grated cucumber along with coconut. People cherish this dish for its simplicity and comfort. But Mandya prepares this dish in a very different way.
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Where To Try This Dish In Bengaluru
According to Ranveer Brar, Avalakki might be common across Karnataka, but in Mandya, it comes with a twist. Here, the dish is called Gojju Avalakki, a poha that tastes a lot like tamarind rice. It has a sweet-and-sour flavour and does not taste like the stereotypical poha we usually know.
In Mandya, people prepare Gojju Avalakki by soaking flattened rice in a tamarind-based gravy, also known as gojju. Jaggery is added for sweetness, along with a flavourful tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, and spices. The use of tamarind and jaggery is what makes this poha stand apart. Talking about the flavour, the dish has a sweet and sour taste. It is often enjoyed as a quick breakfast or sometimes as a snack between meals.
So, if you are excited to try this dish, make sure you visit: 080 Lounge, International Departures, Terminal 2, BLR Airport. Apart from this place, you can also enjoy this special poha at traditional breakfast spots in Bengaluru.
Have you ever tried Gojju Avalakki?
Cover Image Courtesy: @080lounges/ Instagram
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