Upma is a delicious, nutrient rich and quick breakfast which needs minimal effort! It is made with ingredients mostly available in Indian kitchen so you don’t have to rush to the market when you have a craving for upma. Upma is made by roasting sooji (also known as semolina or sooji), which is then tempered with spices and vegetables!
Rava can be roasted in extra quantity and stored in an air tight container for a month. This way, the time spent will be even lesser when you make upma next time. For the best results make upma in ghee only! And use the same measuring cup for measuring water that was used for measuring rava.
Upma is served with coconut chutney ,pickle and a steaming cup of tea/coffee and the taste will be irresistable!!
Cuisine: Indian Course: Breakfast Serves: 2-3
Ingredients:
- Ghee: 2 tbsp
- Rai/ mustard seeds: 1tsp
- Onion: 1 medium sized, chopped finally
- Chana dal: 1 tsp , wash and keep aside
- Urad dal: 1 tsp, wash and keep aside
- Green chilli: 1 chopped
- Ginger: 1/2 inch grated
- Sooji/Semolina: 1 cup
- Curry Leaves: 10-12
- Cashews: 10-12
- Salt: according to taste
- Sugar: 1/2 tsp (optional)
- Water: 3 cups
- Lime juice: 1 tbsp
- Fresh coriander leaves: 2 tbsp, chopped
Method:
- To make upma, in a kadhai or a pan heat 1/2 tbsp ghee.
- Roast rava on medium flame for 2-3 minutes ,till it is fragrant, stirring occasionally. Dont brown it. Transfer it to a plate and keep it aside.
- In the same kadhai, heat remaining ghee and add the mustard seeds.
- When the mustard seeds crackle, add chana dal and urad dal and fry for 30- 40 seconds until light golden. Do not burn.
- Add cashews and fry for 10-15 seconds.
- Now, add chopped onions and saute until they are soft and pink.
- Next , add green chillies, curry leaves and ginger and fry for 30 seconds.
- Add 3 cups of water to this mix. Also, add salt, sugar and lime juice.
- Let the water come to a rolling boil. When the water is boiling, turn the flame to the lowest and begin adding rava to it in 4-5 batches with a spoon. Don’ t add all at once.
- Once you add some rava, stir immediately. Then add next batch and stir again.
- This way keep adding and stirring rava till all the rava is used.
- Cook for1 min so the rava absorbs the water.
- Cover and allow rava to steam for 2 minutes on low flame.
- Switch off the flame and add 2 tbsp of chopped coriander leaves. Mix well.
- You can add more lime juice here if you want.
- Serve with bhujia on top and a side of coconut chutney or mixed pickle! Enjoy!!