Poi na Thepla

Poi means Malabar Spinach in Gujarati (MayaLu in Marathi, VaaLi in Konkani). My mother in law uses poi to make bhujiya/fritters or paatra. My beautiful plant encouraged me to try something different. So I made delicious flatbread using this poi.

Poi na Thepla
Malabar Spinach Flatbread
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup wheat flour
1 1/2 cups shredded, fresh Malabar Spinach
1/2 tsp ajmo/owa/ajwain
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp ginger-green chili paste (optional)
1 tsp mild chili powder
1 tsp coriander-cumin powder
salt to taste
water as needed
 1 tsp oil

Rice flour for dredging
Oil for roasting

Suggested Accompaniment
Chhundo

Method
1. Mix flours with all the dry ingredients and Malabar spinach. Knead to a soft dough, adding water as needed.
2. Smear spoonful of oil and knead again. Set aside for 1/2 hr.
3. Heat a pan or tawa. Make 12 uniform balls.
4. Dredge each ball in rice flour and roll into a disc, one at a time.
5. Roast on a hot tawa or cast iron griddle, so brown spots appear on both the sides. Use oil as needed for roasting.
6. Place in an aluminum foil or a clean cotton napkin till ready to use.
7. Serve with chhundo/sweet & spicy grated mango pickle.

Note -
1. Add spoonful of yogurt or cream (and hence less water while kneading) to get softer theplas.
2. Check out how to grow Malabar Spinach here.

Red Stemmed Malabar Spinach

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