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Upma (Semolina)

Servings: 3
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fine semolina (rava/sooji), roasted
  • 2-2.5 tbsp oil or ghee
  • 0.5-1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 0.5 tsp cumin seeds, optional
  • 1 tsp urad dal
  • 1-1.5 tsp chana dal
  • 8-10 cashews or 2 tbsp peanuts
  • 0.25-0.33 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1-2 green chilies, slit or chopped
  • 0.5-1 tsp ginger, finely chopped
  • 8-12 curry leaves or 1 sprig
  • 0.5 cup mixed vegetables (carrot, beans, peas)
  • 2.5-3 cups water
  • 0.5-0.75 tsp salt
  • Pinch hing (asafoetida)
  • 1-2 tbsp cilantro (coriander leaves)
  • 1-2 tsp lemon juice, optional

Instructions

  1. Roast 1 cup semolina in dry pan on medium heat, stirring continuously until aromatic and lightly golden
  2. Remove to plate and cool
  3. Heat oil/ghee, add mustard seeds and let splutter
  4. Add cumin seeds, urad dal and chana dal, fry till dals turn light golden
  5. Add cashews or peanuts and fry till golden
  6. Add hing, green chilies, ginger and curry leaves, sauté about a minute
  7. Add chopped onion and sauté on medium till soft and translucent
  8. Add mixed vegetables, stir well, cover and cook a few minutes till slightly tender
  9. Pour 2.5-3 cups water and add salt
  10. Mix, taste water (should be slightly salty), bring to full boil
  11. Lower heat to low
  12. Slowly add roasted semolina in 3-5 batches, stirring continuously after each addition
  13. Keep stirring until all semolina is added and evenly mixed, mixture starts to thicken
  14. Cover pan and cook on low 3-5 minutes till semolina absorbs water and is soft and fluffy
  15. Turn off heat, fluff gently with fork or spatula
  16. Mix in lemon juice and garnish with cilantro
  17. Serve hot with coconut chutney, pickle, or lemon wedge