Masala upma or Masale uppittu

Upma or Uppittu, as we say in Kannada, is a very popular breakfast recipe. Almost all households have it on their breakfast menu, as it's the quickest to make. Today I am sharing Masala upma recipe. This recipe requires the addition of ground spices which gives a distinct aroma and flavour to the regular upma. So when the usual Upma gets bored, this recipe can be tried to give it a twist. So, off to the recipe.

Ingredients:

• Rava/ Semolina : 1 cup
• Mustard seeds : 1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds : 1/2 tsp
• Channa dal : 1 tsp
• Green chillies : 3 , slit
• Curry leaves : few
• Ginger garlic paste : 1/4 tsp
• Bayleaf : 1
• Spices ( to powder) : Clove - 1, Cinnamon stick - 1 small, Peppercorens - 2, Saunf  seeds - few
• Onion : 1 big, sliced
• Carrot : 1, chopped finely
• Peas : 1/2 cup
• Tomato : 1, chopped finely
• Turmeric powder : 1/4 tsp
• Coriander leaves : to garnish
• Lemon juice : 1 tsp
• Water : 2 cups
• Salt : 1 tsp or as per taste
• Oil : 3 to 4 tsps
• Ghee : 1 tsp

Preparing Masala upma:

• Dry roast Rava / Semolina in low flame for about 6 to 8 minutes.
• In a cooking pot, add oil. Once hot, add mustard seeds. When it crackles, add cumin seeds, channa dal, green chillies, ginger garlic paste, bay leaf and curry leaves. Let it sizzle for a minute.
  
• Then add chopped onions and fry until they become translucent. 
• Crush the spices, mentioned under Spices to powder, with a pestle.
  
• Add Carrots, peas, salt, spices powder and turmeric powder. Let it cook for about 5 minutes.
  
• Add in chopped tomatoes and cook until they are soft.
  
• Pour in the water and allow it to boil. Check the salt at this point. It has to be a little salty.
  
• Then add the roasted rava, mixing it well to avoid formation of lumps. Add a spoon of ghee and close the lid for a second.
  
• Add coriander leaves, lemon juice and mix well. Close the lid and turn off the heat.
  
  Leave it for a few minutes and piping hot Upma is now ready to be served, either with Chutney of your choice or along with Kesari bath or both.
  

Tip for roasting Rava:
 For new cooks, it's hard to find out, at what point the rava is fully roasted. So here's a tip.  While roasting rava, add few raisins into it. As the rava gets heated, the raisins start swelling up as well. When the raisins are fully swollen, it indicates the rava is roasted well.