Uppuma

Hello everyone. Hope you are having a great day. Today I'm sharing the recipe for 'Uppuma' .

Uppuma is a popular dish had for breakfast in India. And it's easy to prepare. The best thing about it is you can add whichever veggie you like in it. You can have it just as it is or with some curry or even have it sweet - with some sugar. I personally  enjoy having uppuma with a little sugar and a banana.

So What Do We Need?

• 1 cup of Semolina (around 250 ml cup)

If you don't have a packet of already roasted semolina then dry roast the semolina first in a pan over a low to medium flame. Keep stirring while you roast to avoid it from getting burnt. Roast it till it appears drier - feels sort of crispy crunchy. It doesn't take too long. Around 3 minutes. Don't let it brown off. Once done, put it in a bowl and keep it aside to cool off.

• 1 tablespoon Ghee (Clarified Butter)

Ghee will give the best flavor to the dish. But again if you want you can choose any vegetable oil of you choice instead.

• 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon Urad dal
• 8 to 10 Cashew nuts or as per your choice.
• 2 - 3 Shallots or 1 medium size Onion - finely chopped
• 1/2 inch of Ginger - finely chopped
• 1/2 or 1 Carrot depending on size - finely chopped or grated
• 1 Green Chilli - finely chopped
• 1 sprig of Curry Leaves
• 2.5 cups of clean Water
• 1 or 2 teaspoon sugar ( optional)
• Salt as required
• Fist full of cleaned Coriander Leaves - finely chopped 

Let's Do This

1. In a pan which has a fitting lid -  over a low to medium flame, melt the ghee and then add the mustard seeds.
2. Once they begin to splutter, add the cumin seeds and urad dal. Fry it off. Be careful not to burn it.
3. Then add in the cashew nuts. Fry till the cashews turn a nice golden brown.
4. Now add the shallots/ onion. Fry till they turn a light golden color.
5. Then add the chopped ginger, green chilli and curry leaves. Fry till the raw fragrance of ginger is gone completely. Keep stirring.
6. Add the chopped/ grated carrot. Fry till it softens.
7. Now add 2.5 cups of water. Increase the flame to high to bring it to a boil.
8. Once it comes to a bubbling boil, add enough salt. Taste to check if the salt is sufficient. Add sugar as well if you like at this stage.
9. Now reduce flame to low and add the semolina little by little. Stir through well each time you add the semolina.
10. Once you have added all the semolina, Mix in the chopped coriander leaves.
11. Then close the pan with a lid and let it cook for about 2 minutes more and then put the flame off.
12. And you are done.  :-) 

Suggestions

• Although Sugar is optional, I personally find that adding a bit of sugar while cooking the dish adds so much more flavor and tastes better.
• Don't restrict yourself to just the veggies I have mentioned. You can add which ever veggies you like. I have even added a side of capsicum to my Uppuma which turned out yummy. Beans is another option. Just make sure you cook the veggies off well before adding the water and semolina.
• Try getting yourself a good chopper. It's easier and quicker to get all the veggies finely chopped with a chopper. Saves a lot of time and you will feel like adding more veggies into your Uppuma. 

 I hope you try this out. Please do. Take care, stay happy and Enjoy.

 

Uppuma