Oats Upma

Today, I am sharing a healthy, recipe menu which can be served both as breakfast or lunch i.e Oats Upma..Normally Upma is made with roasted semolina ( sooji/ rava)..Now I am sharing a upma with roasted oats instead of semolina, which is more healthier...Those who hate semolina upma or diabetes person can definitely have this...Earlier I shared savoury versions of upma like Oats-Rava Idli and Oats Puttu..As ramadan is approaching near, do try to make this for iftar too..My hubby loves oats upma very much..Its easy to make and do make oats upma from the change of semolina upma..Do try it and impress your family..

    Ingredients

• Instant Oats - 1 1/2 cup ( I used Quaker Oats)

• Oil - 2 tbsp

• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

• Broken cashew nut - 1 tbsp ( optional)

• Small onion,chopped - 1 ( or half of one large onion)

• Green chillies,chopped - 2

• Garlic chopped - 2 no.s

• Chopped curry leaves - 1 tbsp

• Chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbsp

• Egg - 1 no.

• Any vegetables,finely chopped - 1/2 cup ( I used beans, carrot and capsicum)

• Turmeric pdr - a pinch

• Red chilli pdr / pepper pdr - 1/2 tsp

• Garam masala pdr - 1/2 tsp

• Lemon juice - 1/2 tsp

• Water - 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp if needed

      Method

• Roast instant oats in a pan till light brown..Take care not to get burnt..Cool and set aside ** (see notes) 

• In a deep pan,heat oil and add mustard seeds and let it crackle completely..

• Add broken cashews( if using) and saute till light brown..Be careful don't get burnt..

• Add chopped onions and saute till pink..

• Add chopped ginger and green chillies and saute for few seconds..

• Add finely chopped vegetables ( I used fresh vegetables) and saute for high flame for 2 mins,without getting burnt...If using frozen vegetables, not need to cook at high flame as it is already cooked,just saute for few seconds...

• Place masala on one side and other side add egg, scramble it at high flame and combine well..

• Reduce the flame and add coriander leaves and saute well..

• Add all the spice powders and salt and saute till raw smell goes away..

• Add lemon juice and saute well.

• Add roasted oats and mix well thoroughly till masala coats on oats.

• Add water and mix well till oats is wet..If it is too dry add 1 tbsp water at a time...

• Adjust salt and spice if needed..If it sticks on pan, add few drops of oil and saute well..

• Add finely chopped curry leaves and off the flame..

• Serve warm and enjoy..

     Notes:

• Its very important to roast the oats while making upma, otherwise it turns soggy..

• Its better to use instant oats to make this upma so its cooks faster..If you don't have instant oats, don't worry,you can use rolled oats instead..Just powder the roasted rolled oats coarsely( not into fine powder) at one stroke **

• Don't add too much water like in semolina upma, otherwise oats will have thick lumps and tastes horrible...

• Always use less water as mentioned in oats upma..If you think water is too less, add extra water 1 tbsp at a time...

• You can use any desired vegetables or you can add shredded chicken too if you wish..If you are using frozen vegetable that is better..If using fresh vegetables,make sure to chop very finely, otherwise its difficult to get cooked..