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.