Upma is a dish originated from the southern part of India, and is very common in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Other than India, it is highly preferred in Sri Lanka too. Upma is a vegetarian dish which is mainly made for breakfast. Uppumavu and Uppittu are some other common names by which Upma is known in South India. Upma is made up of Semolina (known as Suji).
Upma serves a great role when it comes to breakfast as it is easy to prepare and can be packed also very easily. Upma can also become an alternative to egg and cereal for breakfast.
Legacy of Upma in South India:
The legacy of Upma in South India can be understood from the fact that there are only a few houses in south India where Upma is not cooked in the morning for breakfast. Moreover, Upma is also preferred as an evening snack by many. Children take Upma to their school in lunchboxes.
Well, the Upma got the fame from hotels and restaurants when they started serving it as a starter and also gave it some spicy touch. So, let’s learn to cook this special South Indian dish in few simple steps so that you can also get that taste and serve this to your family and guests.
Preparation- 10 minutes
Cooking- 20 minutes
Serves- 2 to 3
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Semolina
- Oil
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 4 Green Chillies
- Ginger
- Asafoetida Powder
- 2 Onions
- Salt
- Turmeric Powder
- Red Chilli Powder
- Carrot
- Beans
- Green Peas
- Water
- Ghee
- Coriander Leaves
Method:
- First of all, dry roast semolina in a pan and once they are roasted, cool it down
- Now take a deep bottom pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds
- Allow the mustard seeds to flutter and later add green chillies, ginger, asafoetida powder, finely chopped onions and salt to taste
- Once the onions are slightly cooked, add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, carrot, beans, and green peas to the mixture and mix well
- Then add some water so as to cook the vegetables, cover the lid and allow it to cook for around 3 minutes
- Add roasted semolina and mix well. Since 1:2 is the ratio for upma, add two cups of water for one cup of semolina and mix it well and add coriander leaves at last for garnishing, which also gives a pleasant odour to it
The healthy and delicious upma is all to be served on the dining table in front of your family and guests. Also, coconut chutney goes well with the Upma and serves the purpose of a perfect dip with it.