Upma ( savory cream of wheat breakfast)

 Upma is savory cream of wheat meal that is usually eaten for breakfast but really can make a great meal or snack anytime. It is one of my favorite dishes of all time and is a comfort food as well. Though I am calling rava (tamil)/sooji ( hindi) "cream of wheat" for easy translation, what is typically used is a semolina ( coarse ground up durum wheat ( not flour) , however cream of wheat can be used if you are in a pinch.

Ingredients:

Rava (sooji/ semolina) - 1 cup

Water - 3 cups ( use the 1:3 ratio of rava to water)

Onion - 1 medium onion cut into small pieces

Ginger (remove peel) - 1 inch cut into small strips

Green chillies - 2 mostly de-seeded and cut into small pieces

Curry leaf - 4 to 5

Cilantro - a few leaves ( taken off the stem)

Black mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Urad dal ( split skinned black gram) - 1 tsp

Oil ( vegetable/canola)- 3 to 4 tbsp

Salt - 1 tsp

Optional: ( these extra ingredients can be added to make Rava Kichadi - Rava upma with vegetables and has a slight tanginess/sour taste to it)

cashews roasted slightly in oil/butter and set aside.

green peans and carrot ( small cubes) - you can buy this frozen and thaw in the microwave

tomato - large chopped into cubes

turmeric powder -1/2 tsp

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan roast the rava on medium heat for a couple of minutes until the rava is hot to the touch a slightly golden brown in color (you do not want it to be burned). Set this aside.
2. In the same saucepan add the oil and heat it up. Add the urad dal , and mustard seeds so they sputter. Once oil is heated turn down the heat to medium. Add the onion, ginger, green chillies, (tomatoes, turmeric) curry leaves and sauté it as well. Sautés onions until they are translucent and slightly golden brown. Add the cilantro at this juncture ( it wilts quickly)
   

   

   
   
   
   

3. Once this is done add the three cups of water to this mixture and salt ( taste the water being sure to cool it off to prevent burns). Increase the temperature on the stove to high heat and let the water come to a boil.

4. (Vegetables, cashews can be added at this time as well).

5.Add in the roasted rava slowly a little at a time and stir it in really well (you can use a whisk if you want) so that there are no lumps.

6.Turn down the heat to medium and let the rava cook well. This takes about 5 to 7 minutes.

7.Now upma is ready to eat and you can serve it with coconut chutney (coconut chutney). I have also eaten the upma with plain yogurt/sour cream or some sugar as a side.

8. Optional: you can add a little pat of butter to your upma to enhance the taste.