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June 28, 2007

Mixed Vegetable Upma




My guess would be that Upma is the first thing that people learn to cook. At least in south indian homes. But then again, this is one of those dishes that takes years to master. Some people never learn at all and some can make yummy finger licking good upma each time.



I know people who wouldn't touch upma with a ten foot fork. And I know people who love upma. I fit very snugly into the "love" category. I make upma with everything I can find. Rava, Vermicelli, Wheat Dalia, Bajra Dalia, Makka flour, Oats, Rice Rava... I have even gone to the extent of mixing flours to make upma.





I was a Girl Guide and went on to receive the President's Award in 1991. I was chosen over thousands of people to receive it directly from the President of India at a function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Being a Guide meant that I went to at least one camp a year if not more. And that meant that I ate loads of icky sticky upma. But I loved it. For years I'd come back home from a camp and then crib about Amma's semi dry upma. I told her she didn't know how to make upma and I would teach her. The smart cookie that I was. And the poor lady tried to make squishy upma. I have now outgrown my love for the gooey stuff and would settle for the semi dry version any day!

Finally, I learnt how to make good upma and I make it quite often. (Good here means upma like Amma's!) And the mixed vegetable version is something I love. It kind of makes the meal more nutritious, more filling and more "complete".

Ingredients:

1 cup Rava (Sooji)
1 Onion, chopped
1 Tomato, chopped
1 cup Mixed vegetables, chopped and cooked (I used carrots, beans, potatoes and peas)
2 tbsp Oil
1/2 tsp Urad Dal
1/2 tsp Chana Dal
1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/4 tsp Asafoetida
7-8 Curry Leaves
1 Red Chilli, broken into pieces
1 tsp Green Chilli paste
1 tsp Ginger Paste
Salt to taste
1 tsp Ghee (Clarified Butter)
Coriander Leaves for garnish

Heat the oil in a kadhai. Add the urad and chana dals. When the urad dal begins to brown a little, add the mustard and asafoetida. When the mustard splutters, add the red chilli, curry leaves, onions, ginger and chilli pastes and fry for a couple of minutes. Add the tomato and fry for a minute more. Add the mixed vegetables and the rava and fry the entire mixture for 2-3 minutes. Add 2 cups of boiling hot water and salt to this. Mix well, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes on a low flame.

When done, take it off the heat and pour the ghee on top. Mix well, garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy it with some chivda and/or pickle.

13 comments:

TNL said...

wow....an award from the President himself, what an achievement!

You posted your picture!....wow..you look so pretty, you remind me of a family friend of mine...her name is Riddhi.... :)
I fall into the "LOOOOVE" category of Upma, this I could have day and night! Thanks for your recipe,I am always trying out different versions!

FH said...

Congrats on the award! That is great!:))
Love the Uppittu,it looks exactly like I do with Tomatoes!:))

Raaga said...

@Trupti: Thanks on both counts :-) I have always considered myself the ugly duckling in the family growing up... with a Dev Anand look alike for a brother!! And now a husband that every girl in our friends' circle hoped to marry.

This weekend, I plan to try the sooji dhokla. Wish me luck.

@Asha: Thanks :-) I love upma in any form :-)

Manasi said...

Hey Pretty Lady!!!! I fall in the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE upma category too! and with suji/ bulgur... love the variations!
and hey! u got an award from the Prez!! coooooooooool!!!!

Raaga said...

@Manasi: Thanks :-) I'm blushing now. Hugs

Suganya said...

What an honour to have met the President. Gr8 Raaga. And with upma, I am always in the 'Love' category.

Cynthia said...

So we are in good company - the president!

Glad to see that you are now wiser (lol) good meaning Amma's Upma.

Roopa said...

wow congrats on the award! ohh the sticky upma i remember the camps and the hunger pangs whoch made me eat literally anything they would serve. Well i too fall in the loooooove category of upma. my blog has one version too. your looks very moist and delicious too!

Raaga said...

@Suganya: Yeah. It is one of the important events in my life.

@Cynthia: Yeah... High tea with the prez in the mughal gardens :-)

@Roopa: someone who understands :-) Let me check your blog out.

ushaprashanth said...

Hi!
you would have been very thrilled to get an award from president! and upma looks very nutritious!

TNL said...

You an ugly ducking?? no way!!
Good Luck with the Sooji Dhokla, girl....just be careful with the besan and the Eno....or baking soda...too much of either will render your dhoklas into dholaks....hehe... na sur na taal.

:)

trupti

TNL said...

Dev Anand look alike for a brother????? Can I see a picture??
My dad looks like Robert Deniro. heheheh

SS blogs here said...

Hey Raaga,

I just made this Vegetable Upma from your blog and posted it on mine. I am sending it to Tried and Tasted at Dil Se. Just wanted to thank you for your efforts in maintaining such a nice blog with so many great recipes! :)

Cheers!
SS