Upma Recipe – Healthy breakfast and snack

Upma is a delicious, flavourful, nutritious and easy to prepare snack from South Indian cuisine. The best thing about this recipe is that it makes a very healthy breakfast or evening snack and even as light tiffin option. Moreover Upma can be eaten during all seasons. But during winters variety of veggies are available like peas, carrot, sweet corns, beans. 

This South Indian Recipe is a treasure of multiple nutrients when prepared with vegetables and nuts.

This is mostly served hot alone. Although Upma goes well with coconut, tomato chutney and even with sambhar. Personally I like to have my Upma with Sambhar.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Rava (Sooji/Semolina)
• 1/4 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 2 tablespoon peanuts
• 1 teaspoon Chana Dal (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Urad Dal (optional)
• 1 pinch Asafoetida (heeng)
• 7-8 Curry Leaves
• 1 medium Onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon grated Ginger
• 2 Green Chilli, chopped
• 3 tablespoons Carrot, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons Fresh or Frozen Green Peas
• 6-8 fried Cashew Nuts (optional)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped Coriander Leaves
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon Ghee (Clarified Butter)
• 2 tablespoons Cooking Oil
• 2-3 cups Water

How to Make Upma :

1. Firstly heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a kadai and add rava in it.
2. Roast it on low flame until it turns light brown, approx 4-5 minutes. Keep stirring continuously. When done, transfer to a plate.
3. Now heat 2 tablespoons oil in same kadai over medium flame. Add mustard seeds. When they begin to crackle, add chana dal, urad dal, asafoetida, peanuts and curry leaves. Cook until dals and peanuts turn light brown. If using cashews they can also be added at this time.
4. Then add chopped onion, grated ginger and chopped green chillies and saute for 1-2 minutes until onion becomes translucent.
5. Now add chopped carrot, green peas and salt. Mix well and saute for 3-4 minutes.
6. Next add water and bring the mixture to boil, it will take around 2-3 minutes.
7. Add roasted rava and mix well
8. Stir continuously for 1-2 minutes to avoid lumps.
9. Cover it with a lid and cook on low flame until mixture turns thick, it will take around 2-3 minutes. Stir in between regular intervals.
10. Turn off heat and remove the lid.
11. Finally add fried cashew nuts and coriander leaves, mix well and serve hot.

Recipe Tips:

• Sooji or rava can be dry roasted and stored for futher use.
• You can also add boiled vegetables of your choice and make it healthier.
• Steam or boil before adding to this recipe.
• Quantity of water used can be increased or decreased.
• Always keep in mind that rava absorbs good quantity of water and thickens after preparing. So add good amount of water while preparing.