Semolina Upma (Breakfast) --- made on 1st April, 2012

What did I use:

1. Rava / Sooji / Semolina ~ 1 Cup
2. Grated carrot ~ 1/2 cup
3. Chopped Beans ~ 1/4 cup ( Very small pieces )
4. Chopped Onions ~ 1/2 cup
5. Ginger ~ 1/2 tbsp
6. Garlic ~ 1/2 tbsp
7. Green chillies ~ 2 Nos
8. Turmeric powder ~ 3 pinch
9. Hot water ~ 1 cup
10. Urad Dal (Uzhunnu ) ~ 1 tbsp
11. Curry leaves ~ 4-5 leaves
12. Mustard seeds
13. Dry Red chillies ~ 2 Nos
14. Oil
15. Salt

How did I cook:

• Roast Rava / Sooji in a pan without adding oil in medium flame till it become slightly brown in color. (Note : If you are buying roasted Rava / Sooji from the grocery shop, then you can skip this step)

• Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds crackle add dry red chillies (2 pcs) and curry leaves. Then add Urad Dal and fry till it becomes light brown in color. 

• And then add chopped onions, chopped ginger, chopped garlic and chopped green chillies. Saute it till onions become soft. Then add chopped vegetables. And fry it for another 5-10 minutes. 

• Then add 1 cup of hot water along with salt and turmeric powder and bring it to a boil.

• Then lower the flame and add Rava / Sooji and immediately mix it nicely in order to avoid the formation of lumps. Continue stirring for almost 1 minute or until almost all water is absorbed by the Rava / Sooji. And then remove from the flame.

• Garnish with chopped coriander leaves (Optional)

When Vermicelli is in vogue ... Upma made of Vermicelli (Breakfast)... made on 30th March 2012

      

 What did I use:

1. Semiya / Indian Vermicelli ~ 1 1/2 cups ( broken into small pieces )
2. Onions ~ 1 No (Big sized )
3. Green chillies ~ 3-4 Nos
4. Chopped ginger ~ 1 tsp
5. Cashew Nuts ~ 10 Nos
6. Raisins ~ 10 Nos
7. Turmeric powder ~ 1/4 tsp
8. Dry red chillies ~ 2 Nos
9. Urad Dal / Uzhunnu ~ 1 1/2 tbsp
10. Mustard seeds
11. Oil
12. Salt

      How did I cook:

1. First heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan and roast the vermicelli / semiya in a low flame till the vermicelli becomes golden brown in color. Do stir continuously otherwise it may get burnt. Roasting will prevent vermicelli from sticking to each other.
2. Then cook semiya by adding enough water along with enough salt in a medium flame for about 8 minutes or till the vermicelli becomes soft. Then drain it in a colander.
3. Meanwhile heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When it crackles, add dry red chillies, urad daal, cashew nuts and raisins, and fry for 1-2 minutes. Then add finely chopped onions, chopped green chillies, chopped ginger and turmeric powder and saute till onions becomes transparent.(Note: At this point, if you want then you can even add some grated carrot and finely chopped beans and fry for 5-10 minutes )
4. Then finally add cooked vermicelli and mix it nicely. Remove from the flame after 2 minutes.