Akki-rave Uppittu (Rice-rava Upma)

No. of servings:  4
Preparation Time:  10 mins	Cook Time:  30 mins

Gentle on the stomach, this gluten-free, vegan upma is enjoyed even by those who don't like the regular sooji upma!  This dish made from rice-rava has a very different taste and texture than the sooji upma (Khaara bhaat).

Ingredients:

• Rice-rava - 1.5 cups
• Water - 6 cups
• Onions - 2 medium
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad daal - 1.5 tsp
• Channa daal - 1.5 tsp
• Green chili paste - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 2 stalks
• Soybeans (or) Pigeon peas (or) Papdi lilva - 0.75 cup
• Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
• Salt 
• Chopped coriander - 1 fistful
• Grated coconut - 0.5 cup

Method:

• Roast the rice-rava (coarsely ground rice) till it turns brown and aromatic (about 10 mins) and transfer it to a bowl ('Saute' mode in IP) 
• Chop the onions into long thin strips
• In 1 tbsp of oil, season mustard seeds, urad daal and channa daal ('Saute' mode in IP) 
• When the mustard seeds splutter and the daals turn brown, add green chili paste and curry leaves
• Add onions and saute till traslucent
• Add the soybeans (or any other preferred bean), just a little salt and saute well
• Add the roasted rice-rava, mix and heat well
• Boil the water (in a kettle or in another vessel) and pour it into the rava
• Add salt and mix well
• Cover and cook well (about 3-5 mins)
• Turn off heat, add lemon juice, cover and leave it for 10-15 mins
• In the base of a cup, put coriander leaves and coconut
• Fill the cup with the upma and invert the cup on to the plate
• Serve the beautifully decorated upma from the mold with pickle or yogurt accompaniment (as preferred)

Tips and Tricks:

• If rice-rava is not available, just roast rice until it turns brown and pulsing it a few times in a blender
• Anyone can have this as it is gluten-free
• A few cups of rice-rava can be roasted and stored away for quicker meal prep later
• It is essential to cook the upma in a covered vessel for it to cook well 
• Letting it sit after turning off the heat is equally important for it to attain the right consistency 

Pictures: 

Final Outcome: