Vermicelli Arrabiata

I dunno why, but my husband suggested he wanted vermicelli with arrabiata sauce and I said why not!! An upma with an Italian twist!!

Vegetable Upma Kozhukattai

Upma Kozhukattai or Pidi Kozhukattai, its a regular dinner at many TamBram home; rather palaharam. So why make the same old stuff?? I tried it with some vegetables and wow, it totally tastes different.

Bread Upma

Was feeling really bored to cook anything today. But hunger doesnt know laziness, and going out on your own is frustrating. So I prepared this simple yet tasty upma.

Ingredients
Wheat Bread - 4 slices
Onion - 1
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Gram Dal - 1 tsp
Red Chili - 1
Salt to taste
Oil for cooking

Method
Heat oil, add mustard seeds and once it splutters; add urad dal, gram dal, red chili, onions and saute. I used shallots instead. They give a nice sweet taste.
Cut bread into small cubes and add them to the pan. Saute on high flame till the bread is neither crispy nor soft.
Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Bon Appetit!!
Rudra

More Koozh or More Kali

More Koozh (as in my Mum's place) or More Kali (as in my MIL's place) is a upma made from rice flour and butter milk. Nice for a light snack.

Ingredients
Rice Flour - 1 cup
Yoghurt - 1 cup
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Chana Dal - 1 tsp
More Milagai - 2 (SunDried Yoghurt chilies)
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Curry Leaves - a little
Water for the batter
Salt to taste
Oil for cooking

Method
Mix rice flour, salt, turmeric powder, yoghurt and water and make a batter of the consistency of a dosa batter. Add more yohurt and water if needed. Sour yoghurt adds taste.
Heat generous amount of oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and once it splutters; add all the remaining ingredients and saute. If you dont have more milagai, add 1 green chili and 1 red chili.
Before the dal's turn brown add the batter and keep stirring. Pour oil if the batter is getting too sticky.
Turn off heat once, the batter is thick and it comes off the pan. You can serve them as cubes (like dhoklas) or like upma.
Ideally a side isnt required for this if you use more milagai and sour yoghurt, but incase you are keen about a side, use lemon pickle. Taste's yummylicious.

If using green/red chilies, you can grind them as a paste and mix it, so that the flavors are absorbed well. Add a little maida (all purpose flour) to get better cubes.

Bon Appetit!!
Rudra

Gothuma Rava Upma

Broken Wheat(Bulgar Wheat) is a very complex carbohydrate. Its a very healthy and nutritious form of eating. Its very good for hemoglobin content in blood and had healing properties are good for eyesight. This was one recipe from my MIL's mom which we prepared yesterday.

Ingredients
Bulgar Wheat(Broken Wheat) - 1 cup
Red Chili - 1
Green Chili - 1
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tbsp
Urad dal - 1/4 tbsp
Chana Dal - 1/4 tbsp
Asafoetida - 1/4 tbsp
Coconut - 1/4 cup
Curry Leaves - a little
Salt to taste
Oil for cooking

Method
Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and once they splutter add urad dal, chana dal, asafoetida, green chilies, red chilies and curry leaves.
Add water and once its boiled add coconut, salt and broken wheat.
Stir well and close the lid. Once its cooked well garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
This can be had with any pickle or sambar or curd.

Alternatively, we can prepare this upma with vegetables. Instead of the coconut add onion, tomato, carrot, beans and potato. Use any other vegetable you like.
My grandma usually has gothuma rava sadam(rice) for dinner. You just have to pressure cook the broken wheat with equal amount of water.Just like rice you can have it along with sambar, rasam or curd. Its a lite and healthy meal for dinner.

Bon Appetit!!
Rudra