Mixed Vegetable Upma ( Uppumaavu )

Mixed Vegetable Upma / Uppumaavu

Upma is a dish ubiquitous in South India. It’s advantages are : - easy /quick to make, easy to digest and it can be made of minimum ingredients. A variety of Upma dishes can be made - right from the plain variety to the one with vegetables ( I have seen Upma with Tomatoes, green peas, carrots and all vegetables just like fried rice). It can be had either as plain, with a spicy side dish ( with potato curry - Kukka humman in Konkani cuisine, or with spicy savories like Mixture etc) or if one like sweet Upma, sprinkle a spoon full of sugar over it and here goes the sweet variety.

Featured here is a Mixed Vegetable Upma which I made for today’s breakfast made from rawa ( sooji ). This can also be made from broken whole wheat / dalia - which is more healthier.

Serves : 2 - 3
Preparation Time + Cooking time : 30 minutes

Ingredients

Please use same measuring cup to measure rawa and water

1 tablespoon ghee / sunflower oil / olive oil

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 teaspoon cumin ( jeera ) seeds

1/2 teaspoon urad dal

2 green chillies , slit lengthwise

1 - inch piece ginger,  finely chopped

1 spring dark green curry leaves or 6 nos

1 onion, finely sliced

1 / 4 cup ( 50 g ) finely chopped carrots and French beans

1 cup / 200 ml  dry roasted rawa ( sooji ) (Indian standard measuring cup of 200 ml / 8 oz capacity

1 3/4 cup water

3/4 teaspoon salt ( or to taste )

1/4 cup / 3 tablespoon  grated coconut for garnishing ( optional )

Method

Heat oil in a wide karahi / frying pan . Add mustard seeds. When they start splutter add jeera ( cumin ) seeds and urad dal. Saute for 2- 3 minutes.

Add slit green chillies, ginger and curry leaves. Shallow fry for 3 - 4 minutes or till it fragrant.

Add chopped onions and fry on a low heat till golden brown in color.

Add finely chopped carrots and French beans. Saute for 5- 8 minutes .

Add water and salt. Cover with a lid and boil water on a medium heat.

When the water starts boiling , remove the lid, reduce heat to minimum. Pour rawa evenly with one hand and simultaneously stir with a spatula with the other hand. Mixing of rawa in boiling water is very important while making upma. It should be mixed evenly - else it may form lumps - which totally spoils the dish.

Cover with a lid and cook on a low heat for 5 - 8 minutes till all the water evaporates. Mix/ turn the Upma once in a while. Once ready, sprinkle grated coconut ( optional) and serve with Kerala Mixture / Alu Bhujia / Kukka Humman / Potato Palya ...

Eggless Buns

Eggless Buns

Makes: 6

You will need

225 g refined flour ( maida )
15 g / 3 teaspoon butter
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
100 ml - 110 ml lukewarm water
2 teaspoon extra butter

Method

Mix yeast in 2 tablespoon lukewarm water and keep aside for 20 minutes ( If the yeast is active it will ferment after 15 - 20 minutes )

Use the remaining lukewarm water to dissolve sugar and salt.

Sieve the flour and mix with sugar - salt solution, add fermented yeast and make into a soft dough.

Knead with butter again and make a very soft dough.

Divide the dough into 6 portions.

Make round balls and shape them into desired shapes and sizes.

Place on greased baking tray and leave in a warm place with a wet cloth wrapped over it.

Keep aside for 2 hours ( until it doubles in size ).

Knead again gently each ball and keep aside for 1 hour.

Brush with little milk on the buns and bake at 230 * C or 450* F for 10 - 15 minutes till golden brown.

Remove and brush with melted butter.

Cup Cake

Cup Cake

Makes: 10 - 12

Ingredients

1 cup ( 200 g ) flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/ 4 teaspoon salt
3 /4 cup sugar
1 / 3 cup butter
3 /4 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Method

Soften butter and keep aside.

Sieve flour, baking powder and salt.

Mix half of the flour mixture, half milk, sugar, butter and slightly beaten egg. Mix until the flour is dampened.

Beat this mixture at low speed for two minutes.

Add remaining milk and vanilla essence. Beat for a minute longer.

Spoon into paper bake cups or greased cupcake pan ( up to 3 /4 level ) and bake at 375 * F or 190 * C for 15 minutes or until done.

Easy Pumpkin Upkari

Easy Pumpkin Upkari

Serves: 2

You will need

200 g pumpkin, cut into desired shape and size
2 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 green chilli, slit lengthwise
1/2 teaspoon salt ( or to taste )

Method

In a pan, heat oil. Add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add slit green chillies and saute for 2 minutes.

Add pumpkin pieces and salt to taste.

Do not add water.

Cover with a lid and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes or until done.

Serve as a side dish with Rice, Rasam, Sambar, Gashi ...