Vegetable Upma
Savoury semolina with peas, carrot, and curry leaves.
Ingredients
- 200 g Semolina (rava)
- 1 Carrot
- 80 g Frozen peas
- 1 Onion
- 1 tsp Brown mustard seeds
- 10 Curry leaves
- 2 Chili
- 3 tbsp Ghee
- 1 tsp Salt
Method
- Toast the semolina in a dry pan until golden, then set aside.
- Dice the carrot, onion, and chili.
- Heat the ghee over medium heat and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves; once the seeds start to pop, add the vegetables and cook until softened.
- Pour in hot water and add the salt, then gradually pour in the toasted semolina in a steady stream, stirring constantly until it thickens.
- Cover and let it rest off the heat for a couple of minutes, then serve.
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About Vegetable Upma
Vegetable Upma is a savory South Indian breakfast made from semolina, a staple of Tamil, Karnataka and wider South Indian kitchens where it is eaten to start the day or as a light tiffin. What makes it upma rather than any other porridge is the dry-toasting of the semolina until golden before liquid ever touches it, which is the difference between a light, separate-grained result and a gluey one. The dish is seasoned with a classic tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves bloomed in ghee, with peas, carrot, onion and chili folded through for color, sweetness and gentle heat. Pouring the toasted rava into hot water in a steady stream while stirring keeps it lump-free.
Eaten warm, upma is soft and fluffy with little pockets of vegetable and the fragrant crackle of tempered spices in every bite, savory and comforting rather than sweet. A short rest off the heat lets the grains finish absorbing steam and firm up slightly. It is typically served with coconut chutney or a squeeze of lemon, and often accompanies filter coffee at breakfast. Ready in about twenty minutes and built from pantry staples, it is one of the quickest hot breakfasts in the Indian repertoire.
Vegetable Upma: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Vegetable Upma?
A serving has about 328 calories — 9.1g protein, 46.5g carbs, 11.5g fat, 4.8g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Vegetable Upma gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Semolina (rava). You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Vegetable Upma dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Ghee. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How many servings does Vegetable Upma make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.