Sira Jolpan
A comforting Assamese breakfast made with flattened rice, curd, jaggery, and ripe banana. It comes together without cooking and tastes cool, creamy, lightly sweet, and wonderfully satisfying on warm mornings.
For 4 servings
- prep · ~5 min
Rinse the poha lightly.
Place the poha in a sieve and rinse it quickly under running water. Let it drain for 3 to 5 minutes so it softens without turning mushy.
TIPUse thick poha and rinse briefly. Soaking it in water makes the jolpan heavy and soggy. - mix · ~2 min
Mix the curd and jaggery.
In a bowl, whisk the yogurt until smooth, then stir in the jaggery. Mix until the jaggery starts dissolving into the curd.
- assemble · ~3 min
Assemble the Sira Jolpan.
1.Divide the softened poha into 4 serving bowls.2.Top each bowl with sliced banana.3.Spoon the sweetened yogurt over the top.4.Add a little milk if you want a looser, creamier texture.5.Mix gently just before eating. - serve
Serve immediately.
What to keep in mind.
7 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.
- 1Rinse thick poha very briefly, then drain fully; standing water makes Sira Jolpan pasty.
- 2Let the rinsed poha rest 3 to 5 minutes so it softens evenly before assembling.
- 3If your jaggery is hard, grate it finely so it melts into the yogurt without gritty bits.
- 4Use ripe, spotty bananas for natural sweetness and a softer texture that blends well.
- 5Add the milk a spoonful at a time; the banana also loosens the mixture as you mix.
- 6Assemble just before eating, or the poha will keep absorbing moisture and turn heavy.
- 7If the yogurt is very sour, add a little extra jaggery to keep the classic mellow balance.
Adapt it for your goals.
Vegan
Use thick coconut yogurt and a splash of chilled coconut or almond milk for a dairy-free version with similar creaminess.
low sugarLow-sugar
Reduce the jaggery and rely more on extra-ripe banana for sweetness if you prefer a lighter, less sweet breakfast.
richerRicher
Use full-fat curd and skip most of the milk for a thicker, more indulgent jolpan with a creamier mouthfeel.
fruit forwardFruit-forward
Add more banana or lightly mash it into the poha for a softer, naturally sweeter bowl that children often enjoy.
Why this is on our healthy list.
Gentle, Filling Breakfast
Flattened rice and banana make this a soft, easy-to-eat meal that feels satisfying without any frying.
Contains Probiotics From Yogurt
Fresh yogurt brings beneficial live cultures along with creaminess, making the dish both cooling and nourishing.
Naturally Sweetened
Jaggery and ripe banana provide sweetness with more depth of flavor than relying only on refined sugar.
Frequently asked questions
Thick poha works best here because it softens after a quick rinse without breaking down. Thin poha can turn mushy very fast.
