Uttari Upma
Upma with North Indian Spicing
Adapting Upma for colder seasons with warming spices. The recipe provides 8-10 servings. The base can be doubled and half of it frozen to cut down on preparation time.
| AMT | MEAS | INGREDIENT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Cups | Steel-Cut Oats | OR |
| 3 | Cups | Pre-roasted Ragi and Rava | 1-½ cups each |
| 2 | Inch | Cinnamon | |
| 1 | tsp | Black Cumin Seeds | heaping |
| 2 | Black Cardamon | Remove seeds and grind with mortar and pestle | |
| 6 | Green Cardamon | grind seeds in mortar and pestle | |
| 1 | Medium | Onion | minced |
| 1-¼ | tsp | Salt | |
| 1 | Thai Chili | minced | |
| 2 | TBLS | Ginger | grated |
| 1 | Medium | Tomato | |
| 1 | Medium | Carrot | minced |
| ½ | Small | Capsicum | chopped finely. amount should equal carrot |
| Water | .5 cup for Oatmeal. 3–4 cups for Ragi-Rava | ||
| 2 | TBLS | Ghee | |
| 1 | tsp | Garam Masala |
- For Oatmeal: add three cups of water to oatmeal and microwave for three minutes. Stir. Microwave for another three minutes.
- Heat the oil then lower head to medium low. Add the cinnamon and allow to sizzle for 30 seconds.
- Add tightly packed finely chopped onions. Sprinkle salt over onions, stir and saute for four minutes.
- Remove cardamon from their pods and grind in mortar and pestle.
- Add the cardamon and black cumin and continue to saute for about two minutes.
- Next add finely chopped ginger and chopped green chillies. Stir and saute for a minute or so.
- Stir in the tomato, and allow to cook down for a few minutes.
- Then add finely chopped carrots and capsicum. Stir and saute for 2 minutes. Add a half cup of water.
- Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until the veggies are almost done. About ten minutes.
- Then add the roasted oats and a half cup of heated water.
- If using ragi-rava: warm water in microwave and add the first two cups to pan before adding the ragi-rava. Add the ravi next and stir so that it absorbs the water. Next slowly add the ragi at least one more cup of water.
- Lower the heat, cover the pan again with its lid. Check that it is not sticking to the bottom every few minutes
- Stir in garam masala and ghee and allow to cook for a few more minutes.
- To serve, add a few cashews before reheating. After heating sprinkle with a bit of lemon juice (best with ragi-rava) and top with Chili Garlic sauce.