Khaara bhaat (Upma, Uppittu)

No. of servings:  4
Preparation Time:  10 mins	Cook Time:  10 mins

This dish brings mixed feelings among people!  Some love it; some love to hate it :).  But made in this way, with any favorite veggies, it will soon become a staple in any household!

Ingredients:

• Roasted rava (sooji) - 1.5 cups
• Water - 4.5 cups 
• Mustard seeds - 0.5 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad daal - 1 tsp
• Channa daal - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 8-10
• Turmeric - 0.5 tsp
• Chopped onions - 1 medium
• Chopped tomatoes - 2 medium
• Chives - 1 fistful (optional)
• Peas - 0.25 cup
• Carrots - 0.25 cup
• Any prefered veggies (soybeans, papdi lilva, etc) - 0.25 cup (optional)
• Lemon or Green mango
• Green chilies or paste - 0.75 tsp
• Salt
• Grated coconut - 1 tbsp
• Chopped coriander leaves - 1 fistful 
• Alpha alpha sprouts - 1 small fistful (optional)

Method:

• Dry roast rava until it turns brown and aromatic.  ('Saute' mode in IP).  Set aside
• Set the water to boil in a separate vessel or kettle
• In a pan heat sufficient oil and season with mustard seeds, cumin, channa daal, urad daal, curry leaves and turmeric ('Saute' mode in IP) 
• Add green chili paste and saute
• Add onions and then all other vegetables (tomatoes go last)
• Saute well till oil starts to separate
• Add rava to this and mix well
• Add salt and roast for a couple minutes.  Turn the heat down
• Pour in the boiled water slowly, along with stirring
• Raise the heat, mix and let it cook till the upma starts looking shiny
• Add Lemon/green mango and chopped coriander
• Dish it out, garnish with freshly grated coconut, coriander leaves and alpha alpha sprouts 
• Serve hot!

Tips and Tricks:

• Roast rava in bulk and store for quick preparation (or) buy roasted rava
• Allowing the oil to separate from the veggies ensures quick cooking of the dish as well as smoother taste with less oil
• Adding rava to the oily veggies coats every grain of rava with oil.  This eliminates the formation of lumps completely 
• This method of cooking keeps the daals (in the seasoning) crunchy! 
• The natural goodness of alpha alpha sprouts adds a fresh nutritional crunch to the dish

Pictures: 

Final Outcome: