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Sunday, November 20, 2011

Homemade Instant Mix for Upma


The instant mix for upma comes in very handy when you need to come up with something in a jiffy.The first time I came across this instant mix was about 15 years ago, at my in laws place. We, a party of around 30 had decided to visit our family deity at Penchalakona and spend a night there. The facilities the temple provided at the time were just the basic ones. The devotees would get rooms to stay and if any one decided to cook, the temple would just provide the cooking vessels. That was it. The only food available was the simple breakfast sold at a couple of places around the temple that were nothing but just some thatched roof huts with a couple of wooden tables laid in them. The place was kind of remote (then) and so we decided to carry instant kind food that can be cooked in a jiffy once we reached there. While my SILs were busy preparing the pulihora gojju and other savories, my BIL jumped in and said that he would take care of one of the meals and prepared this instant mix for upma. Once we reached there, all we did was boil water, add this mix, cook and enjoy a savory upma.


Ingredients:
4 - 6 Tbsp oil
A handful of peanuts / cashews
2 tsp grated ginger
6 - 8 finely chopped green chillies (I used Serrano peppers. Adjust the quantity depending upon the heat of chillies used.)
1 Tbsp chana dal / split Bengal gram
1 Tbsp urad dal / split, skinned black gram
1 Tbsp mustard seeds
1 Tbsp cumin seeds
Few curry leaves
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 cup grated, dry coconut (optional. Omit it if using fresh coconut at the time of upma making.)
Semolina / rava - 3 cups
Salt to taste

Preparation of Instant mix for Upma:
Heat oil in a pan and add ginger and chillies. Saute it until ginger turns golden brown. Then add the peanuts, chana dal, urad dal, mustard seeds and cumin seeds. When peanuts and dals turn golden brown, add curry leaves, coconut, turmeric and saute for a few seconds. Then add the semolina and roast on low flame until it starts changing color. Add salt and mix well. Cool and store it in airtight jar.


When upma needs to be made, boil water and add the upma mix slowly. Mix well, cover and cook until done. Use about 1 & 3/4 cup of water for each cup of semolina used.
Frozen veggies / fresh coconut (instead of dry coconut in the mix)can be added to the water while boiling.

This is my Day 5 entry for blogging marathon # 10. Check what my fellow marathoners are cooking, here.

17 comments:

Nisha said...

Nice tip

Priya dharshini said...

Luv the homemade ready mix idea...luvly clicks

Vardhini said...

Nice one .. think we can take this when we travel too ..

Vardhini
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Unknown said...

I'm loving this series of homemade instant mix...very useful posts

Harini said...

Good one..I used to keep this handy a few years back but now upma is almost banned at home :(
I also used to coarse grind the veggies and fry them along with the rava.

chef and her kitchen said...

I m loving this marathan of instant foods..I also make almost everything wat u mentioned..but never tried that sambar..would love 2 give a try...these things r very convenient on those lazy days

Gayathri Kumar said...

Very interesting...

Kalyani said...

enjoyed reading all your posts this BM Suma .. very resourceful and easy to make !


Kalyani
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Reva said...

Just a couple of days ago I was reading about home made instant mixes...:) Lovely to see it as a post..:)
Good job Suma..:)
Reva

Srivalli said...

Suma, your bil is brilliant!..what a lovely colour and though I know there are instant upma mixes, reading it makes it so interesting!..maybe you got to come up with all those instant stuff ideas you got tucked up..:)..thanks for sharing..I am sad that you are doing it only for a week..

Priya Suresh said...

Seriously enjoying ur instant mix series, excellent upma mix..

Prema said...

wow gr8 post dear,love the idea...sure will try...

Alpana said...

This is an excellent idea.........perfect while on a long trip.

Aarthi said...

perfect dear..useful post

Sobha Shyam said...

wow, wonderful and so useful post..

vandana said...

I subscribe to your blog, your recipes are really simple and have that touch from home...especially for someone like me who lives away from India and cannot keep making calls just to get particulars of fondly remembered dishes whenever i get a craving!!

When I was studying and had to stay at a hostel, my aunt would prepare this instant upma mix for me - brings back memories. That was a time before the markets were flooded with instant stuff (um, that suddenly makes me feel old :) ) Your homemade instant recipes would be great for kids living away from home.

Rashami Sarode said...

My mom used to make it for me, when I was staying in hostel :-)