Mixed Vegetable Upma

Mixed vegetable upma - A quick, easy and substantial breakfast from a South Indian kitchen.

When I was going through breakfast recipes at Veggieplatter recently, I realized that many breakfasts that appear regularly in my mother's kitchen which are my favorites haven't made their way yet here. Vegetable upma happens to be one of them and my mom is well known in our family circles for her special upma where each semolina particle stands out separate.

Ingredients for 6 servings:

• 2 cups semolina / rava / sooji
• 2 cups prepared and finely chopped vegetables - I used 2 onions, 1 small carrot, 1 potato, 20 green beans, 2 Tbsp of green peas
• Serrano peppers - 6
• Salt to taste (I used 2 & 3/4 tsp)

For tadka: 4- 5 Tbsp oil, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp chana dal, 1 tsp cumin seeds, few curry leaves
4 cups water

Method:
* Dry fry the rava on medium flame till the rava turns light brown.
* Heat oil in a deep bottomed pan / kadai. Add mustard seeds, chana dal and cumin seeds. When the mustard seeds start to splutter and the dals turn red, add chillies and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds and add the chopped vegetables. Cook on low flame, covered until the vegetables turn softer, for about 10 minutes.
* Now add water and salt to the pan. Set the stove to highest setting and let the water come to a rolling boil. Once the water is boiling, lower the flame. Add rava slowly in a steady stream, holding the rava container in your left hand while stirring with your right hand to avoid the lumps. Stir properly and cover the pan. Again continue to cook for a few minutes till the semolina is cooked, stirring in between once or twice.
Serve hot with chutney or chutney powder or daliya powder.

Source: Veggie Platter