Little Millet Upma is a wholesome breakfast or dinner dish that can be made with just a few ingredients in less than 30 minutes.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes
  • Total time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Cuisine: Indian, South Indian

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup little millet (samai)
  • 1 cup water ((use ¾ cup water for instant pot))
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1/2 cup mixed veggies ((beans, carrot, peas, capsicum))
  • 2 tablespoons coconut (grated, optional)
  • 1 tablespoon coriander leaves (chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice (to taste)
  • salt (to taste)

To Temper

  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon jeera (cumin)
  • a pinch hing (asafoetida)
  • 2 green chilies (finely chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger (grated, optional)
  • 1 stalk curry leaves
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil

Method

Stovetop Pot method:

  1. Wash the little millet and soak it in water for at-least 15 minutes.
  2. In a Kadai add oil and add in the mustard seeds, jeera and, let them splutter. Then add hing, green chilies, ginger (optional), curry leaves, and saute for few seconds.
  3. Then add onion. Saute for a minute or two till the onion turns slight brown in color.
  4. Later add finely chopped mixed veggies,some salt and saute for 2-3 mins until veggies becomes soft.
  5. Add 1 cup of water and bring it to boil.
  6. Drain the water from the soaked samai and add it to the boiling water. Mix well. Adjust the salt at this stage.
  7. Cover with a lid and cook for about 8-10 minutes on medium-low flame. Note:Since we soaked it for 15 minutes, it reduces the cooking time.
  8. Once little millet is cooked (until all the water has been absorbed, completely cooked and looks grainy) turn off the gas and add grated coconut, coriander leaves and lime juice.
  9. Mix Well and serve little millet upma hot with coconut chutney or chutney powder.

Instant Pot Method:

  1. Wash the little millet and soak it in water for at least 15 minutes.
  2. Press SAUTE, add oil, once hot add in the mustard seeds, jeera and, let them splutter. Then add hing, green chilies, ginger (optional), curry leaves, and saute for few seconds.
  3. Then add onion. Saute for a minute or two till the onion turns slightly brown in color.
  4. Add chopped mixed vegetables, soaked millet, 3/4 cup of water, salt and mix well. Deglaze the pot ie make sure there is no food particle sticking to the pot to avoid burn alerts.
  5. Close the lid on the pot, and turn the pressure valve to SEALING position.
  6. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 4 minutes (If not soaking, set the timer to 6 minutes). When the instant pot beeps, do a Natural pressure release.
  7. Lastly add grated coconut, coriander leaves, and lime juice and mix well.
  8. Samai upma is ready to be enjoyed with coconut chutney and chai.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.