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Bread Poha (Bread Upma) is a quick, flavorful, vegan, and comforting Indian brunch made by tossing bread with aromatic spices and classic Indian masala. It comes together in minutes and pairs perfectly with a steaming cup of masala chai.
If you love poha but want something even easier, this Bread Poha is a game-changer! It’s a simple yet genius idea – toss bread with Indian spices, let it soak up all the flavors, and you’ve got a warm, comforting dish in minutes.
This aromatic and flavorful recipe was inspired by Kiran, whose stunning food photography had me drooling. I had to try it for myself, and I made a few tweaks along the way. I used less bread, less tomato, and extra Indian spices and paired it with a vibrant cilantro chutney. The result? Absolutely delicious!
Perfect for a quick breakfast or brunch, this Bread Poha pairs beautifully with a hot cup of Kadak Masala Chai – especially on a cozy, rainy afternoon. Hope you give it a try!
More Indian Breakfast Recipes
Tried this recipe? If so, please leave a comment & rate this recipe. That would mean so much to me. If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creations. I’m happy to share and mention you. Thank you!
Bread Poha
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 green chilies, finely chopped
- 1 spring curry leaves / curry pata
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 small tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 tsp red chili powder
- 2 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- salt to taste
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 medium size white potatoes, microwaved, peeled, cubed
- 8 slice 100% whole wheat bread, 1 inch cubes
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
Instructions
- Start by chopping the green chilies and onions. Set aside the curry leaves.
- Heat a pot on medium heat, add oil, once hot, add the mustard seeds.
- Once they splutter after a few seconds, add the turmeric powder. Stir.
- Add the green chilies and curry leaves. Stir and allow this to cook for about 10 seconds.
- Add the onions and season with salt. Stir. Let the onions cook for about 5 minutes or until they are slightly golden.
- Chop the tomatoes.
- Add the tomatoes to the onions.
- Season with red chili powder, coriander powder, and salt. Stir.
- Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low-medium heat (dial 4). Let the tomatoes cook down for about 10 minutes until you have a paste-like consistency.
- In the meantime, microwave, peel, and cube the potatoes.
- Also, cube the 8 slices of bread.
- Check on the onion-tomato mixture, this is what you should have… masala mixture.
- Add water.
- This is what you should have
- Add the potatoes. Stir and let the potatoes cook for about 3 minutes.
- This is what you should have.
- Add the bread.
- Toss well. Takes a bit of effort.
- Add the garam masala and season with salt, if need be.>
- I made this super quick Cilantro Chutney to go with it, minus the coconut.
- Serve immediately. Top with chutney, and squirt some lemon if you’d like. Heaven!
Notes
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free bread.
Wow this looks yum. Have to try. Never thought to use bread. We usually make poha with flattened rice.
Jahnavi – I usually make Poha the traditional way as well, the bread masala mixture is a unique twist on a classic. Hope you try it.
This is such a easy recipe! love it and will definitely be a good hit on weekends!
Hope you try it, let me know how it turns out.
I have never tried or heard of bread poha, sounds like a brilliant idea for a warm dish instead of eating toast ! I just made the traditional style poha, which I love and now will try this recipe. I love the recipes you choose to post, this will be the second one I am trying so far 🙂
Amelia – you would love this dish, it's like Indian Fusion. I love traditional poha too. 🙂
I've never tried bead poha, but it sounds delicious, love everything about the dish!
Hope you try it, it's like a savory bread pudding.
Yours is the third bread poha recipe that i have come across over the past two days…i guess it is some sort of divine signal to me to try this asap 😉
Lovely clicks and a very tempting poha.
easyfoodsmith – This recipe must be floating around the internet. You should try it, it's so yummy!
Love bread, love potatoes, and am totally missing the desi spices in my cooking these days. Needless to say, I'll be making this soon 🙂
Thanks.. I don't cook Indian food as often either, it's sooooooooo much effort when you are working full time. This is awesome to make for a weekend brunch. 🙂