Karnataka Avarekai Upma Recipe – Healthy South Indian Breakfast with Lilva Beans

Karnataka Style Avarekai Upma

Description:
Karnataka Style Avarekai Upma is a delightful and healthy South Indian breakfast dish, widely loved for its crunchiness and aromatic flavors. The dish features avarekalu (Lilva beans), a seasonal ingredient available during December and January, adding a unique texture to the dish. It’s perfect for both kids and adults and makes for a wholesome start to your day.

Cuisine: Karnataka
Course: South Indian Breakfast
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups Sooji (Semolina / Rava)
• 1 1/2 cups Avarekalu / Lilva Beans
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 3 Green Chillies, slit
• 1 inch Ginger, grated
• 1/2 cup Dry coconut (kopra), grated
• 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds (Jeera)
• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
• 1/2 tsp White Urad Dal (Split)
• 1/2 tsp Chana dal (Bengal Gram Dal)
• 1 tsp Turmeric powder (Haldi)
• 6 Curry leaves
• 1 tsp Whole Black Peppercorns, crushed
• Salt, to taste
• 3 cups Water
• 1 tbsp Ghee
• 2 tbsp Oil

Preparation Time:

10 minutes

Cooking Time:

20 minutes

Instructions:

1. Roast the Semolina:
   Heat a pan on medium flame and dry roast the sooji (semolina/rava) until it turns golden brown. Set it aside.

2. Boil the Beans:
   In a separate saucepan, add water, avarekalu (Lilva beans), and salt. Bring it to a boil, then turn off the flame. Drain the water and set the beans aside.

3. Prepare the Water:
   In another saucepan, heat 3 cups of water and keep it ready for later use.

4. Tempering the Spices:
   Heat oil in a pan over medium flame. Add mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, cumin seeds, and curry leaves. Let the curry leaves crackle and release their aroma.

5. Sauté the Onions and Spices:
   Add the chopped onions to the pan and sauté until they turn golden brown. Then add green chilies, ginger, turmeric powder, and the boiled avarekalu beans. Toss everything together.

6. Mix the Roasted Rava:
   Add the roasted rava (sooji) to the pan and mix well.

7. Add Water and Cook:
   Slowly pour in the boiling water, stirring continuously. Adjust the seasoning with salt and crushed pepper. Allow it to boil and cook the rava until it absorbs the water.

8. Finish with Coconut and Ghee:
   Once the rava is cooked and the consistency is to your liking, add the grated coconut and ghee. Toss everything together until well combined.

9. Serve:
   Serve the Karnataka Style Avarekai Upma hot with Coconut Peanut Chutney and Jaggery Coffee Without Milk for a delicious and wholesome breakfast.

Enjoy the vibrant flavors and textures of this Karnataka specialty!