South Indian Upma Recipe of making suji upma, a salted thick porridge, uses roasted suji or Rava or semolina, tempered in ghee with mustard seeds, curry leaves and chilies. Suji is granulated wheat (broken wheat) known as Rava in South India and is used to make several savory and sweet dishes like Rava Idli, Rava/ Suji Halwa, Rava Ladoo and many more. Sauteing Suji and then combining with veggies soaked in Desi ghee makes a total comfort food for any busy day! A popular breakfast of South-Indians has already gained fame across the oceans and is a worldwide choice of several people. Classic South Indian Upma Recipe doesn’t involve adding tomatoes but my family loves tomatoes in everything. So, I tweaked the classical recipe and made Tomato Upma, which is Andhra Pradesh style Upma Recipe! This is homemade upma is any day better than ready to eat upma. Team it with Coffee or Tomato Garlic Chutney and your go-to meal is ready! Read more about my Upma-coffee stories from college days! Find More Indian Breakfast Recipes: Moong Dal Chilla Recipe, Green Moong Dal Uttapam, Bread Besan Chilla, Bread Rolls, Bread Pakora.
Why Would You Love this Recipe?
An elegant South-Indian Breakfast! Melting flavors of ghee, curry leaves and tomato Gathers quickly. Kids Friendly Can be made Vegan and Gluten Free with easy swaps. The Best South Indian Upma Recipe Ever!
Ingredients of Upma
Suji: Semolina or Rava works best for this recipe. I have used Rajdhani brand which is very popular in India. You can procure any brand that is locally available. You may also try Oats or Quinoa Upma.
Tomato: is the star ingredient of this dish. Though I love Upma plain too, but melting flavors of roughly chopped tomatoes definitely make upma an amazing one!
Onion: I have used red onions that are locally available. You may use spring onions or white onions too.
Curry leaves: add aroma to this savory Upma! Without curry leaves, I feel that the dish is not very authentic.
Peas: I love adding peas to my breakfast items like Poha. If you don’t like it, feel free to skip it.
Desi Ghee: The Best Upma can be made in desi ghee. Trust me, this comes from a person who has been making halwa for more than 2 decades and can bet upon it! I have used Mother Dairy Cow’s Ghee. You can use any brand.
How to Make South Indian Upma (Video)
How to Make South Indian Upma
Step 1 Roast Suji/ Rava
Roast Suji without ghee for 2-3 min in a heavy bottomed pan/kadai. While you roast the suji, you may chop the vegetables: tomato and onion. If you are using frozen peas, you may keep them in hot water while your vegetables get cooked. It helps remove the raw taste.
Step 2. Temper Veggies
Once Suji is roasted, keep it in a dry plate and in the kadai , add Desi Ghee, add mustard seeds, onion and tomato. Cook till onions are transparent. Then add tomatoes, peas and spices. Add Curry leaves and green chilly.
Step 3. Add water and Suji
Add water and boil it. Then add roasted suji while stirring or the lumps would form.
Step 4 Serve It.
Keep mixing till you get a one fine lump that is getting together and leaving kadai. The delicious Tomato Upma is ready! Enjoy it with your favorite Chutney!
Expert Tips
If you are looking for a perfect recipe, you are on the right page. Follow the tips for your perfect Tomato Upma:
One portion of Suji and four portions of water. Prefer Desi Ghee over any other oil. Add water first to sauteed veggies and suji later. Keep Sauteing when you add suji in water so that no lumps are formed.
What to Serve With Upma?
Coffee Tomato Dosa Chutney Coconut Chutney Dhaniya Ambi Chutney
Stories From Kitchen
I understand that for most Indians, it’s a staple breakfast. Since I am a North Indian, we never used to have it at home. Having Upma meant visits to Sagar Ratna and since I used to go after college, so it was mostly an evening snack. I used to have it with South Indian Filter Coffee. Must I say that Upma and coffee is a match made in heaven! You may also like- More Indian Breakfasts:
Amla Murabba Recipe- Indian Gooseberry Jam Crispy Poori Recipe- Indian Puffed Bread Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup With Basil- Vegan Homemade Air Fryer Crispy Rice Paper Dumplings Recipe Beet Salad With Feta and Walnuts {Easy Recipe} Beetroot Raita Recipe {Indian Beet Yogurt Dip}
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