A quick and healthy breakfast made with oats, herbs and basic spices. This recipe can be made using rolled oats or quick instant oats. This post shares 2 ways to make oats upma.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 5 minutes
  • Cook time: 10 minutes
  • Total time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 · 2 people
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rolled oats (or quick cook oats)
  • 1 cup water (for rolled oats, ½ cup for quick cook oats)
  • 1½ tablespoons oil
  • 1 small onion (chopped finely or sliced)
  • ½ to ¾ cup mix vegetables (optional (chopped ½ small carrot, 2 tbsps peas, 2 beans))
  • 1 to 2 green chilies ((slit) or broken red chili)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice (as needed or 1 very small tomato)
  • 2 tablespoons coriander leaves (for garnish)
  • ½ teaspoon salt ((adjust to taste))
  • 2 tablespoons grated coconut ((optional))
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • ½ teaspoon ginger (chopped finely or grated, (optional))
  • 1 pinch hing ((optional))
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin (or jeera)
  • ½ teaspoon chana dal ((optional))
  • ½ teaspoon urad dal ((optional))
  • 2 tablespoons peanuts (or 8 to 10 cashew nuts)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric

Method

Preparation

  1. Dry roast 1 cup oats in a wide pan for about 5 minutes until crisp. They do not become very crisp. Set this aside to cool.
  2. Heat a pan with 1½ tablespoon oil. Add ½ teaspoon cumin, ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds, 2 tablespoons peanuts, ½ teaspoon chana dal & ½ teaspoon urad dal.
  3. Fry them stirring often till the peanuts turn golden and aromatic.
  4. Next add 1 pinch hing, ½ teaspoon ginger, 1 to 2 slit green chilies & 1 sprig curry leaves. Fry all of them till the curry leaves turn crisp.
  5. Then add 1 small chopped onions and saute until golden.
  6. Optional - If using veggies. Then add ½ to ¾ cup vegetables and fry for 2 mins.
  7. Sprinkle 2 tbsp water. Cover and cook until the veggies are slightly soft.

How to make oats upma

  1. Next sprinkle some ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon turmeric.
  2. If using rolled oats then pour 1 cup water. or if using quick cook oats use ½ cup water.
  3. Mix well and then taste the water. The water has to be slightly salty. If needed add more salt. Bring it to a boil.
  4. Transfer the roasted oats & give a gentle mix to incorporate the water with the oats.
  5. With in 1 to 2 mins the water will be absorbed. Cover and cook on a low flame for 2 mins or until all the moisture is evaporated.
  6. Add 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves. Mix well.
  7. When the temperature comes down, pour 1 tablespoon lemon juice. You can top it with some fresh grated coconut if you have. It tastes good as it is.
  8. Oats upma is best served with yogurt.

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.