Vegetable upma

Upma has always been a quick fix for me. This South Indian dish can be made with a lot of variations. Mine is a simplified version which includes veggies to give it that i-am-eating-healthy feel.

you need:

thick sooji (semolina) - 1 cup

1 cup chopped mixed vegetables (peas, beans, carrots, cauliflower)

Onion - 1 large - finely chopped

tomato - 1 medium (optional) finely chopped

ginger - 1 inch piece - julienne or grate

green chilli - 1 finely chopped

red chilli powder - 1 tsp

turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

salt to taste

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

kadhi patta (curry leaves) - a few

urad dal/ chana dal - 1 tbsp

water - 3 cups

oil - 2 tsp

ghee - 1 tbsp

How to:

In 1 tsp oil roast the sooji till it is slightly brown and fragrant. stir frequently for even cooking.

In another pan, mix the oil and ghee and heat. Temper the mustard seeds and kadhi patta. Add the urad/chana dal and roast lightly. Add the onion and cook till brown. Add ginger and green chilly. Add the vegetables, cover and cook for a minute. Add tomatoes and all spices and cook till tomatoes are soft. Add the water, cover and cook till all vegetables are slightly soft. Add the roasted sooji and cook till all the water is absorbed. In case the semolina is too thick and is still slightly uncooked, add more water and simmer for a bit.

Serve hot garnished with some namkeen, lime juice and coriander leaves.