Semolina Pudding (Upma/Kharabath)!

 Heelo.... 😁

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Today I wish to journal & share a very popular South Indian Recipe for breakfast or snack, all over India which is an all time favorite for many of us....

Rava Upma OR Sooji Upma/Upittu/Kharabath... call it anything... but when prepared right, it shines on the top of your list of favorites....

There are several ways this recipe is prepared & I myself have tried many... from simple to rich with ingredients... And have finally settled down to this being my favorite of all.... A mix of both simple & rich.... So let's begin with the details....

Ingredients :

Semolina (rava/sooji) - 1 1/2 cup {serves 4-5}

Onion - 2 medium (fine chopped)

Tomato - 1 medium/2 small (fine chopped)

Green Chilli - 6 (slit lengthwise)

Curry Leaves - 2 medium sprigs

Cashews - a handful halved

Ginger - 1 1/2 tbsp (fine chopped/grated)

Peas - 1/2 cup (optional) Fresh/Frozen & precooked, I opted this time

Lemon - Halved & deseeded (as per taste)

Coriander Leaves - 1 tbsp (fine chopped)

Oil + Ghee - 3/4 cup (takes more to get the right taste & texture)

Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp

Asafetida (Hing) - 1 tsp

Urad Dal - 1 1/4 tsp

Salt + Sugar To Taste

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp (optional) I chose to add this time

 Water - 3 cup (ratio is 1 cup of rava:3 cup water)

Instructions :

1) Heat a combo of oil & ghee as per your preference in a wok or pan....

2)Then add in mustard seeds... Allow it to splutter completely.... ALWAYS 

(else it's a distraction if gotten in between your teeth)

3)Add in hing & stir a lil & then add urad dal & give it a stir...

4)Now add cashews & stir fry until golden (if cashews are added early it burns instantly... when added later the dal & cashew gets fried evenly)

5)Now add green chilli & curry leaves.... Allow it to splutter & stir further

6)Then add chopped onions & fry until translucent...

7)Now add in the sooji/rava.... Stir well so the tempering combines well.... (this is where the essence of the recipe lies.... frying semolina along with the tempered ingredients allows the rava to combine & absorb all the flavors along with oil & ghee)

8)Now add salt & turmeric powder... stir fry further....

Meanwhile boil the water & keep aside...

9)As you stir fry the ingredients & you smell the aroma of the fried ingredients & rava, add in the boiled water... (Since the ingredients are hot & the water is also hot, there is no chance for the formation of lumps)

10)Sit in the mixture well...

11)Add in the precooked peas + tomato chops + ginger chops & mix well.... lower the flame & allow it to cook for 5 minutes, covered... (at this point it does not take long for it to get cooked)

12)Check for salt & add in sugar + squeeze in the lemon juice & combine well again.... Turn off the flame..

13)Garnish chopped coriander leaves & leave it covered for sometime for it to settle down....

Serve Piping Hot.... (& I reiterate time & again, HOT is a taste & the food is forever enjoyed hot like you do with COLD ice-creams) 

Find the video below for an insight to the prep linked to YouTube...

& the recipe card for those who want the recipe....

Hope you would try this method to relish a simple yet rich prep.... Even those who dislike this prep, am sure would fall in love with it 😍

UNTIL NEXT, KEEP THE FAITH!!!