Friday, April 24, 2020

U for Upma - My favourite things to counter COVID-19 stress

(This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. I am writing this month on activities that keep me refreshed during these depressing days. It's Day 21 today.)

Upma is a common breakfast dish in India, especially in the south. It's made from a form of semolina, called by various names like 'rava', 'Bombay rava', and 'sooji'.

While it's upma in Hindi and many other north Indian languages, it's 'uppumavu' in Malayalam, 'uppma' in Tamil, and 'uppittu' in Kannada. Though at home we say 'uppumavu', I will stick to 'upma' here.

It's one of the regular breakfast options for us. We buy 'rava', roast the whole of it, and keep it in a jar so that we don't have to roast it each time we make upma.

I am not a foodie, nor I have great culinary skills. I can cook to survive! And upma is one of the few dishes I make, and it's quite easy. Pour some cooking oil on the deep fry pan, put mustard, slices of onion and ginger; curry leaves; pour water; and after it boils, put rava and stir.

Water evaporates as upma gets cooked. And after a few minutes, a very basic version of the breakfast food is ready. To add more taste and flavour, some people add cashew, peanuts, urad dal, coconut powder etc.

Quantity of water determines how dry the upma will be. More water, like 1:4 proportion of rava and water, will make it a bit soggy. I like it a bit dry and non-sticky in a loose format. That's the way my mother used to prepare. So, I use lesser water.

Some people have it with banana, I prefer to have it with sugar.

32 comments:

  1. Interesting. I've never heard of this before. For breakfast, I usually have scrambled eggs.

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  2. I like upma with coconut chutney.

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  3. Hari OM
    oh yuuummmmmmmm YES - I love upma and since I have been staying with my father I haven't made it. Now I must try and get some rava!!! YAM xx

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  4. My regular breakfast in very French: hot chocolate and toast with butter and jam ;)

    U is for Unique Style

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  5. This sounds a lot like couscous, but I'm not sure if it is. With couscous you boil water, add it, cover, and take off of heat, and it soaks up the liquid.

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    1. Hi Jade - I quickly checked out couscous. It does look very similar. What a surprise! Thanks for this information.

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  6. A picture of upma could have been posted.
    It is an Aapat bandhava coming to rescue and one that can be prepared in a iffy when unexpected guests arrive hungry!

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    1. Hi KP - Yes, it's a very quick snack. I didn't post photos because there are anyway plenty available online.

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    2. And I found photos galore. ~grin~ I'll even share a link for anyone interested.

      https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=photos+of+Indian+upma&FORM=HDRSC2

      Be well!

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    3. Oh, and I could get on board with sprinkled cashews. Yum.

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    4. Hi Darla - Thanks a lot for putting a link of the photos :-)

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  7. I had Upma for breakfast this morning but without any chutney. It is one of my favorites for breakfast.
    -- rightpurchasing.com

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    1. Hi Sundeep - A lot people have upma with chutney. Thanks for visiting my blog and for the comments.

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  8. OMG! I cant believe we both chose to write on UPMA! Different views entirely.
    But I agree- its easy to make.

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    1. Hi Viyoma - O, is it? I am yet to check your post. Let me do that. Thanks.

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  9. I have come to like the health, taste and simplicity of Rava upma, of late. I prefer to eat it with tomato pickle :)

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Hi Rajesh - A friend of mine too has it with tomato pickle!

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  10. The upma from each state differs, and eventhough I am from the south, I like the Maharashtrian Upma or Upeet as they call it.

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  11. Suddenly I feel like having upma:) But as it's almost time to prepare dinner, I think I'll make some pongal instead--your recipe is making me crave something simple and south Indain.

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    1. Hi Arti - Yes, it's such simple dish to make. Thanks.

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  12. I love Upma. I sometimes add raisins. I didn`t know you eat a banana with upma..how unusual

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    1. Hi My Space - I know a friend who has upma with Papad!

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    2. I think you are talking about me ! Hahaha I have eaten it with papad many times

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  13. Gosh, that sounds different. I must admit my breakfast tastes are very conservative. Toast and jam for me :)

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    1. Hi Vallypee - I too have toast and jam some days for breakfast.

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  14. I am impressed with your post and yes I make the Upma exactly mentioned in your post; sometimes I add nuts and still at other times I add some finely cut small pieces carrots, beans and peas.

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  15. I didnt know we could roast rava and store it. But Upma is a staple breakfast option.

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  16. Upma is a breakfast option that takes less time for cooking.Sometimes i add all sorts of vegetables after finely chopping. Good post.You have chosen varieties in creating your post.Nice,Pradeep.

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  17. I too make Upma,my proportion is one-one and a half.Is it wrong?

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    1. Hi Indu - I am not an expert cook. But that proportion looks good. More water means, it could be a bit soggy. It depends on how different people like it.

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