How long should you soak chira (flattened rice)?

How long should you soak chira?

Chira is a South Asian breakfast staple where it is known as poha. Poha is made by removing the husks of rice and then boiling or soaking it in hot water for 45 minutes. The time you soak the flattened rice depends on the type of dish or meal you want to use it in.

For curd-chira/sugar-chira: 5–10 minutes (to soften slightly)

Chira bhaji or chira khichuri: 2–3 minutes (then drain)

15–20 minutes (to soften thoroughly)

If you soak chira for too long, it may break and melt, making it difficult to mix and use. Press it with your hand — if it softens, then soaking is sufficient.

100 grams of chira contains 346 calories, 6.6 grams of protein, 77.3 grams of carbohydrates, 2.02 milligrams of iron, 238 milligrams of phosphorus. Meanwhile, 100 grams of rice contains 349 calories. Chira has a wonderful combination with jaggery. Eating these two foods together to fill the stomach can help you stay worry-free from eating all day long.

You will get many benefits from eating chira. One of them is that it will control the problem of acidity. The various beneficial ingredients in it work to eliminate many stomach problems. So if you have acidity, you can also eat chira or chira pola.

Yogurt chira is a popular food in sweet shops. Although there are many benefits of eating chira, consuming too much sugar and high glycemic index foods increases the concentration of serum triglycerides and reduces the level of good cholesterol, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Chira does not accumulate fat in the body and bad calories do not settle in the body. Those who want to lose weight can include chira-muri in their diet regularly. Since the amount of sodium in chira-muri is low, weight is completely under control.

100 grams of chira contains about 346 kilocalories of energy, 7 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat, 77 grams of carbohydrates, and 1 gram of fiber.