Semiya upma

Semiya cashew upma

There are times when we don't feel like getting up from bed in the morning. The climate here in Bangalore is very cool. It made me feel all the more lazy. I dint feel like getting up from my bed. I felt like sleeping tight and cozy under my rug. If at all, somebody could prepare a hot coffee and a nice breakfast, I would just fresh and enjoy my bed breakfast. But alas, nobody was there around. My hubby was busy getting ready for office and I had to enter the kitchen to give his lunch box and prepare breakfast for him. I generally have idli or dosa batter for breakfast. But today I dint have anything. In such cases, this semiya upma comes in handy. This is an instant and simple version of Upma which can be prepared very easily and in less time. This does not contain any veggies but is tasty and nutritious with the crunchy cashew nuts and onion. I make it spicy with lots of green chillies and ginger. This is very appetizing when served hot.

Method :

Heat oil + ghee in a pan. Once oil is hot add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. ( Cashew nuts can be added at this stage. But I have added at a later stage. )

As they splutter add onion, green chillies and ginger garlic paste. Add curry leaf powder and dry red chillies.

Add cashew nuts and fry until they are nicely fried and turn to golden brown in colour.

 Add water and salt and bring it to boil. Taste the water for salt. It should be more salty than normal. After adding semiya, it would be exactly fine for the upma. Bring this to a vigorous boil.

 

Add semiya to the boiling water and cook covered on sim flame for 3 minutes or until semiya becomes soft. It would not take more time.

  Mix well and serve.

 This can be served as it is or with any chutney or any pickle. I could not prepare any chutney but I have served a spicy and tangy gongura pickle which I prepared two days back. Hmmmm.... yummy.

Preparation time : 10 minutes

Cooking time : 15 minutes

Ingredients :

Oil 1 tsp

Ghee 1 tsp

Mustard seeds  1 tsp

Cumin seeds 1 tsp

Cashew nuts  12-15

Onion 1 large

Green chillies 3

Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp

Curry leaf powder 1 tsp

Semiya 2 cups

Water 2 cups

Dry red chillies 2

Salt  to taste

Preparation :

1. Heat ghee in a pan and roast the semiya until golden brown in colour. Transfer to another bowl or plate and keep aside.
2. In the same pan add ghee and oil. Heat it.
3. Add mustard and cumin seeds and allow them to splutter.
4. Add whole or broken cashew and fry until they turn to golden brown.
5. Add chopped onion and slit green chillies and fry for a minute or two.
6. Add dry red chillies and cury leaf powder.
7. Add ginger garlic paste and fry until onion turn pink and the raw smell of ginger disappears.
8. Add water and salt. Taste the water to check for salt. The water should be a bit more salty. After adding the semiya, it would be perfectly fine for the upma.
9. Bring this to a boil.
10. When the water is boiling vigorously, add semiya while stirring continuously.
11. Mix well. Cover with a lid and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the semiya becomes soft.
12. Remove from flame and serve hot with any chutney or pickle of your choice.

Notes :

1. Groundnuts / peanuts can be added in place of cashew nuts.
2. Black pepper powder can be added for more spiciness. This also gives a different flavour.

There is another version of this semiya upma which includes lots of veggies and spices. I will soon come with the post.