#11 : Vegetable Upma

For a lot of people, Upma is a easy to put together breakfast . To me , Upma is a whole different word . I 'adore' it . When I make it , I put a lot of effort into it . I chop up vegetables , boil potato , fry cashews , pound ginger and ....
My husband jokes that I am the only person he knows who could go to a South Indian restaurant and order Upma . Need I say more !

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Semolina / Sooji / Rava
• 1 tsp Mustard seeds
• 4-5 Cashews
• 2-3 Curry leaves
• 1 small Onion (thinly sliced)
• 3 tsp of Green Peas
• 1/2 small Carrot (diced)
• 3 Green Beans (diced)
• 1/2 small Potato ( cut into small cubes and boiled )
• 1 inch piece of Ginger (pounded)
• 2 Green chillies (Slit)
• 1 Tbs oil
• 1 tsp Ghee (optional)
• 1.5 cups water
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Dry roast the Semolina / Sooji / Rava for 7-8 mins on medium heat and set aside
2. In another wide pan , heat oil and fry cashews until golden . To it add the mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chilles and fry for a minute 
3. Add onions and fry until slightly brown . Add the vegetables ( carrot , peas ,beans and boiled potato ) 
4. Add in the water , salt and bring to a rolling boil 
5. Turn back the heat / flame down to medium , add ghee and salt as required 
6. Start adding the roasted semolina to the vegetable-water mixture in small batches and keep stirring rigorously 
7. Cover and cook for 10 mins on low heat 
8. Serve with a dash of freshly squeezed lime