Oats Upma

For a long time I have been trying to include oats in our diet. The oats porridge has never worked out. I do have it a few times but it never made it to my usual breakfast item list. I find it just too bland. So to add some spice to the otherwise bland oats, I tried making an upma out of it and the results were very good. Everybody in my family liked it and I have decided that this is the best way to get oats into our diet.

I don't have to extol the goodness of oats. Regular intake of oats can help lower cholesterol levels. Oats is also supposed to be rich in protein. Read more about the health benefits of Oats here

After reading all this, we definitely have to find a way to include it in our diet. Isn't it? For us Oats upma is the way to do that. Give it a try and I am sure it will work out for your too.

The method to make this upma is not very different from how you make rava upma or kichidi.

Ingredients

Jeera - 2tsp

Old fashioned Oats - 1 cup

Water - 1.5 cups

Onion - 1/2 small

Veggies - carrot, peas, beans

Hing - 1 tsp

Turmeric - 1 tsp

Salt - to taste

Chilies - 2 slit length wise

Oil - 2 tbsp

Curry leaves - 4

Cilantro - few leaves chopped

Method

* Dry roast oats and keep it aside

* Heat oil in a pan and once hot, add jeera and allow it to splutter

* Add curry leaves, chilies and hing.

* Add onions and allow to cook

* Add in the chopped veggies one by one and saute for a few minutes.

* Add in turmeric and salt and saute for few more minutes.

* Add water and allow the vegetables to cook.

* I usually add part of the cilantro while cooking and reserve the other part for garnishing.

* Check to see if the vegetables are cooked and then add oats.

* Stir well to ensure the oats and vegetables are incorporated well.

* Allow it to cook, stirring in between.

* When the oats are fully cooked, transfer to plate and garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

Notes: I have used, carrots, peas and beans. But you can use vegetables of your choice.

Alter the amount of water to less or more depending on whether you want it flaky or more like a kichidi

I used old fashioned oats. Quick oats may not be a good option for this dish. Steel cut oats might work out well too.