Breakfast is what gives you energy and enthusiasm for the day. So breakfast needs to be healthy, tasty, nutritious, and attractive, yet simple to make. Only Upma can fulfill all these qualifications and hence it takes the first place! It is the best friend of all South Indian Kitchen!
Upma or Uppittu is one of the best breakfast dishes as it has multiple advantages. Some of the positive facts about Upma is that, it is easy to prepare, taste can be changed according to one’s need, easy to pack and carry, can be eaten even when it is cold. Most of the vegetables blend well with Upma making it healthy as well.
Not just that, Upma has many variants and with simple changes, the taste varies and gives a new taste. It can be made in simple to digest way as well as rich depending on the need.
Healthy food!
Yes, Upma is healthy food because you can add lots of vegetables to this. It is prepared from Rava or Soji which is easy to digest. Also, the consistency can be very smooth making it easily digestible. Upma can be filling and one can survive for 4-5 hours with this staple food.
Not just healthy, it is tasty too!
Upma can be made rich by adding dry fruits, ghee, and coconut. Spices like Jeera, Ginger, Lemon can also be added to suit the taste. The best part of this dish is, the taste can be altered to suit every tongue.
Variants of Upma
Upma – though the name is one, there are many varieties in this. There are hundreds of varieties of Upma that can be made. Some of the most opted Upma varieties are:
- Rava Upma – This is the simplest form which can be prepared in few minutes but still serves as a good breakfast.
- Vegetable Upma: This healthy style of Upma is made using a lot of vegetables, thus making it healthy. This is filling and tasty. Also, seasonal vegetables can be used in large quantities.
- Rava Bhath is another variant of Rava Upma which is spicy and tasty. Vegetables can be added to this as per your wish to give it your favorite taste.
- Rice Soji Upma: Prepared from rice soji, this is for those who are on a gluten-free diet and love rice. This type of Upma will taste extraordinary with cereals like Avarekalu, Peas, Rajma etc.
- Oats Upma is for those who love oats and Upma. This combination is healthy and tasty and can be cooked fast making it favorite of many.
- Bread Upma: The goodness of bread and Upma is combined here giving it a special taste. Bread and Upma lovers can relish this dish to satiate their taste buds.
- Idli Upma – Prepared from Idli which is all time favorite of South Indians, this Upma is healthy and tasty. This is a combination of goodness both Idli and Upma.
These are just a few, the list continues with varieties like ginger Upma, Avarekalu Upma, Plain Upma, and the latest addition is preparing Upma from ‘Siridhanya’. The most sought-after and best is “Avarekalu Upma’. But this is seasonal as Avarekalu is available only during the season.
Convenience
It is easy to prepare this breakfast dish and can be stored in the hot box which stays hot for long. Easy to serve and can be garnished/groomed to give an attractive look. Most people like this dish.
Simple Rava Upma recipe
Here I am giving you a simple and easy Upma recipe. Only the recipe is simple, not the taste. I promise it is worth trying!
Ingredients
Rava Upma Ingredients
- Rava / Soji – 1 cup
- Green chilies – 3-4
- Onion – 1 finely chopped
- Coriander – finely chopped
- Kari Patta – A few
- Grated Coconut – 3 -4 spoons
- Oil – 4 Table Spoon
- Mustard seeds – 1 small spoon
- Jeera – 1 small spoon
- Gram dal – ½ spoon
- Urad Dal – ½ spoon
- Salt to taste
Preparation
In a thick pan dry roast the Soji for 5-7 minutes in medium flame, now add 1 tablespoon of oil or ghee and fry on low flame till it turns light orange.
Put the pan on flame, add the rest of oil, and when it is hot add mustard and let it splutter. Add Gram dal, Urad dal, Green Chilies, Jeera. Wait till the chilies turn whitish, now add chopped onions. Let the onion become golden brown, and then add Kari Patta, Salt to taste, ginger and now add water. Water measurement varies depending on the Soji used. Generally, it will be 1:1½ ratio. When the water starts boiling add roasted slowly with constant stirring. Close the lid, simmer the flame and leave it for 5 minutes. Now add coriander leaves, grated coconut. Lemon juice has to be added while serving. It can be garnished with grated Coconut, coriander and Mixture or chips as per taste. This is the easiest and best Upma recipe.
It takes just 10 minutes to cook this, healthy and tasty, easy on the tummy. For different Upma recipes, you can check the linked articles.
Yummy Chow Chow Bath
All South Indian hotels serve this Upma along with Rava Halva or Kesari Bhath and the two of them together is termed ‘Chow-Chow Bath’.
