Healthy Vegetable Rice Upma – Quick South Indian Breakfast Recipe

Vegetable Rice Upma
A healthy, light, and quick breakfast option, Vegetable Rice Upma is a versatile South Indian dish that can be made with various grains like rava, wheat, oats, ragi, millets, rice, or quinoa. This rice-based variation, filled with nutritious vegetables, makes for a perfect change when you’re craving something different from the usual rava upma. The addition of vegetables not only enhances the taste but also boosts its health benefits.

Cuisine: South Indian
Course: South Indian Breakfast
Diet: Gluten-Free

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Rice
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 1 Tomato, chopped
• 4 Green Chillies, chopped
• 1-inch Ginger, grated
• 1 sprig Curry Leaves
• 1 Carrot (Gajjar), finely chopped
• 5 Green Beans (French Beans), chopped
• 1/4 cup Green Peas (Matar)
• 2 tablespoons Oil
• 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
• 1 tablespoon White Urad Dal (Split)
• 1 tablespoon Chana Dal (Bengal Gram Dal)
• Salt, to taste
• 2 1/2 cups Hot Water
• 1 tablespoon Ghee
• 1 sprig Coriander (Dhania) Leaves, chopped

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Instructions:

1. Begin by soaking the raw rice in a bowl of water for about 2 hours. Once soaked, drain the water and spread the rice on a kitchen towel to absorb any remaining moisture. Transfer the rice to a mixer and grind it coarsely to a consistency similar to regular rava (semolina). Ensure the rice is not ground into a fine powder.
2. In a pressure cooker, add the chopped vegetables (carrot, beans, peas) along with a pinch of salt and 2 tablespoons of water. Pressure cook for one whistle, then immediately release the pressure. Set the cooked vegetables aside.
3. Heat oil in a kadai (pan) over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and wait until they crackle. Then, add the urad dal and chana dal, sautéing for about a minute until golden brown.
4. Add the sliced onions, green chillies, grated ginger, and curry leaves. Sauté until the onions turn translucent.
5. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they become soft and mushy, about 2 minutes.
6. Stir in salt to taste and the cooked vegetables, and cook for another minute.
7. Pour in 2 1/2 cups of hot water and bring it to a rolling boil.
8. Reduce the heat and slowly add the freshly ground rice rava to the boiling water. Stir well to combine, then cover and cook for 3-4 minutes.
9. Once cooked, open the lid, add a dash of ghee, and turn off the heat. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves.

Serve your Vegetable Rice Upma with traditional South Indian Coconut Chutney and enjoy a flavorful meal, complemented by Kumbakonam Filter Coffee for a truly authentic South Indian breakfast experience.