Lapsi upma

Lapsi is being increasingly used nowadays as it is more healthy than Bombay rava or semolina .I make upma from lapsi rava of finer variety.I buy lapsi rava & lightly dry roast till it changes colour slightly.Then I let it cool & put it away in air tight box.Whenever I have to make upma,I use this roasted lapsi so that I need not dry roast it at that time.It saves my time.

Ingredients :1 cup lapsi rava,3 cups  water , 1/4 -1/3 cup finely chopped cabbage ,1 capsicum- diced,1 carrot finely diced,2 tbsp peas,1-2 hari mirchi diced,1tsp grated ginger,1 red chilly,1 sprig kadi patta leaves,1 tsp urad dal,1tsp mustard seeds,1/4 tsp hing,2 tbsp oil,salt to taste.Fresh corainder & fresh dessicated coconut for garnish.

Method :Keep water for boiling, on gas in a container.On another gas burner ,take a kadhai with  oil & as it warms up ,put mustard seeds.When they splutter, add urad dal.They will turn golden brown.Add red chill & then all the veggies including hari mirchi & grated ginger .Roast in oil for 2-3 minutes.Then add lapsi rava.Roast it for 2 minutes along with veggies.Add the boiling water to this lapsi veggie mix .Add salt & mix everything.Cover with lid & cook .After 5 minutes,check, to see if all water has been absorbed.Mix with ladle .If the water has been fully absorbed,please put off gas.If not, keep cooking, covered with lid, till water is absorbed.

Garnish with fresh coriander & coconut when you serve.

Tips : Upma is my hubby's favorite breakfast & as he is off onions,I use only capsicums,carrots, cabbage  & peas in season.Only 2 vegetables or even 1 vegetable can be used as per ease, convenience or availability.One can add potatoes also.

Peas can be seperately boiled in water so that they are nicely cooked before adding to upma.One can also use diluted chaas to upma to give tanginess.Accordingly ,reduce the amount of water to be added.Alternatively, a piece of lemon, can be squeezed just before serving.

Bread upma

Ingredients : 1/2 packet sliced bread ( white or brown ),2 green chillies,1/2 ' grated ginger,1 sprig of curry leaves,one capsicum ,two onions,1 tomato (optional),2 tbsp oil,1/2 tsp mustard seeds,1/4 tsp hing,1/4 tsp turmeric,salt to taste, a bunch of coriander leaves for garnish,1/2 small lemon .

Method :Take oil in frying pan & put on the gas.Now put the mustard seeds .When they splutter ,add hing .Add diced onions & fry till they just start turning brown.Now add diced capsicum & turmeric to this.Fry capsicum  & cover the pan with a lid for a minute.Now add salt.,grated ginger & curry leaves & again cover with a lid.Diced tomato can be added at this time.

Take the bread slices & break each bread slice into 1/4 inch pieces with hands -crumble the slices into small crumbs about 1/2-1/4 inch big.Now put all these crumbs into the pan which has the veggies mixture.Mix the veggies & bread crumbs nicely.Add a few tsps of water - 4-5 tsp should be enough.

Cover with a lid & cook for 2 minutes.Now put off the gas.

Garnish with fresh coriander which has been thoroughly washed & finely cut.One can opt to   squeeze half a lemon on to the bread upma to get a tangy taste.

Tip :My neighbour always used pav to make this upma - pav upma ! She used to add watery chaas or diluted buttermilk to give a tangy taste.Instead of adding water at the end as stated earlier,one can use  chaas.