Upma is a dish that all of India eats, either for breakfast, in the lunchbox or in the evening. The beauty of this dish is that it's absolutely customizable - you can use any grain, and your choice of vegetables. What's more, you can serve it with anything too - from ketchup to chutney! Today's recipe is a very nutritious upma - Bajra Upma, made of 100% organic bajra or pearl millet flakes. Bajra is very nutritious and is also the grain with the highest protein content. The bajra is filling on its own, so I've gone easy on the vegetables in the upma.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup 100% Organic Bajra/Pearl Millet Flakes
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 green chilli, sliced
- 1 ½ tbsp ginger, finely chopped
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp mustard seeds
- 1 tbsp Bengal gram
- ½ tbsp urad dal
- 2 tbsp oil
- Salt to taste
Method:
1. Wash the bajra flakes and soak for 5 minutes.
2. Drain the bajra and steam it in a steamer or idli cooker for three minutes. Let it cool for two minutes.
3. Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and let its splutter. Follow with the Bengal gram, urad dal, peanuts, curry leaves and green chilli.
4. Add the onion and sauté till it turns brown. Put in the grated coconut and give a quick stir, followed by the bajra flakes. Mix everything together and turn off the heat. Sprinkle coriander leaves on top.
Like we said, you can serve this upma with anything and everything! Try coconut chutney for breakfast, pickle and salad for lunch and tomato ketchup for the evening. It'll go great with everything, and you also get the many health benefits of bajra - win-win!