Broken wheat upma

www.srinainika.blogspot.com

Broken wheat upma recipe

• Prep time: 10 min
• Cook time: 30 min
• Serves: 5

Main Ingredients:

1. broken wheat

Ingredients

• Broken wheat - 2 cups
• Onions - 1, medium, sliced
• Tomato - 1, small, finely chopped
• Green chilies - 2, slit lengthwise
• Ginger - 1/2" knob, finely minced
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Coriander leaves (optional for garnish)
• For tempering:
• Mustard seeds - pinch (optional)
• Cumin seeds - pinch
• Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
• Cinnamon - 1" stick
• Cloves - 2-3
• Curry leaves - 1 sprig
• Oil – 1/2 tbsp
• Ghee - 1 1/2 tbsps

Method

1. Heat 1/2 tbsp ghee in a cooking vessel, add the broken wheat and toast it on low flame for 6-7 mins. Turn off heat and wash it thoroughly. Drain water and set aside.
2. Heat the remaining oil and ghee in a cooking vessel, add the mustard seeds and allow to splutter. Add cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, cloves, asafoetida and curry leaves and saute them till a nice aroma emanates the kitchen.
3. Add the chopped onions, green chilis, and ginger and saute for 4 min.
4. Add the turmeric powder and mix. Add the chopped tomatoes and saute on medium heat for 4 min. Add 4 1/2 cups of hot water and bring to a boil. (be careful as you add the hot water to the cracked wheat, it will splutter)
5. Reduce heat and slowly add the cracked wheat to the water and stir it continuously so that lumps don’t form and it combines well with the water.
6. Place lid and simmer for 20-22 mins or till the water is completely evaporated and the upma is done. Turn off heat and remove to a serving bowl.
7. Garnish with coriander leaves if using and serve warm with pickle or chutney of your choice.

Tips

• You can add a fistful of chopped mixed vegetables like carrots, beans and peas. Add them after frying the onions. Saute for 4 mins and then add tomatoes.
• For a thick, sticky consistency upma, you can use 5 cups of water.
• If the broken wheat is not soft at the end of 25 mins, add a few more tbsps of hot water, cover, and simmer for a couple of mins.
• You can add few broken cashew nuts or peanuts at the time of tempering.
• Vegans can omit ghee and use coconut oil instead of ghee. It enhances the flavor of the upma.
• If the tomato is not sour, drizzle 2 tsp of lemon juice after turning off the heat.