Gourmet Gals Upama

February’s Gourmet Gals was a brunch cook-along on Zoom. Alpana Dhond taught us to make Upama, an Indian breakfast. We enjoyed learning from Alpana about Indian spices and cuisines. She is a great cook and has always impressed us with her tasty dishes in the past when we could get together for Gourmet Gals. After making the Upama we all showed off our dishes and ate brunch together. If you would like to try Upama the recipe is below.

Upama

Upama is a traditional Indian breakfast made with sooji.

Print Recipe

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 servings

Equipment

• Nonstick deep skillet
• wooden spatula

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup Sooji/ Cream of Wheat (origional flavor)
• ½ cup onion, chopped
• ⅓ cup frozen peas
• 2½ Tbsp canola or vegetable oil
• ½ tsp mustard seeds black or yellow
• 1 green chili, chopped Thai, Jalapeno, Serrano (take seeds out if you don't want heat) or ½tsp red chili powder
• 8 chashews, roughly chopped
• ½ tsp sugar
• ½ tsp salt or to taste
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp cilanto, chopped for ganishing

Instructions

 

• On low heat dry roast the Sooji for about 10 to 12 mins stirringcontinuously. Do not let it burn. After about 4 to 5 mins you will startgetting nice roasted aroma. The color of Sooji will change a littlebit. Don’t let it turn brown. After about 10/12 minutes take theroasted Sooji out in bowl or dish
• Now heat the oil in the same skillet on medium heat. When itsheated add mustard seeds. Turn the heat to low. When themustard seeds start splattering add green chili and cashewpieces. Cover the skillet for few seconds so that it doesn’t splatteron you.
• Take the cover off and then stir in chopped onion. Stir forabout 1 minutes until the onion becomes translucen
• Now addfrozen peas. Stir it and then add the roasted Sooji. Add salt andsugar and mix everything well. Now add the hot water to it. (Reserve about 1/2 cup water) Mix everything well and then coverthe skillet for about 2 mins
• Open the cover. Stir everything onceagain. Adjust the salt if needed. Add lemon juice. If you feel itlooks dry then Add the reserved water and mix well. Cover againfor a minute.
• Upama is ready. Garnish with chopped cilantro andserve.

Keyword Upama

Author: Pam Overly

Digital and Media Manager for New Westsiders (NWS). I moved to Avon Lake from Overland Park, Kansas, in 2013 and joined NWS later that year. I’ve served on the board as Historian and President and have also chaired several interest groups.