Best Vegetable Upma Recipe

Rava Upma or Sooji Upma is a filling, hearty Indian breakfast food that you will love. This savory porridge will power you and your family through the morning with plenty of energy. This wholesome breakfast has a variety of veggies so you start the day off right. And you can put it together in less than 10 minutes without the stirring and babysitting, which makes it great for weekday or weekend mornings for a warm breakfast everyone will enjoy.

What is upma?

Upma is also known as uppumavu or uppittu. Upma is thick and dense savory Indian style porridge made with semolina / Rava / Sooji / Indian Cream of wheat/ Farina. It is also warm and filling, making it a great breakfast recipe that is both easy and healthy.

Some of our enticing Indian breakfast recipes 

• Khaman Dhokla
• Khatta Dhokla
• Vermicelli Upma
• Khandvi
• Poha
• Samosa
• Sooji Halva

What is Rava

Rava is a coarse flour made from durum wheat. When cooked, semolina has a soft texture. It is also known as Semolina, Sooji, Farina or Indian cream of wheat.

Ingredients to make Rava upma recipe

You’ll need the following ingredients to make upma fresh at home. 

• Semolina - rava or sooji - Indian Cream of wheat farina
• Olive oil - great for sautéing your vegetables and making sure they don’t stick
• Mustard Seeds-Optional
• Curry Leaves-  are aromatic herb used in South Indian cooking
• Thai green chilis - or any green chilis add accord  to taste
• Red onion - you can use yellow onions too
• Carrots - sliced up in small pieces 
• Green Peas - you can add chopped green beans  too
• Water
• Salt - seasoning for taste and flavor.
• Sugar- Just a dash!
• Cilantro leaves - for garnish

You can also add additional veggies if you want to for extra nutrients and flavor.

Why make upma in the Instant Pot

The pressure cooker is the perfect tool for making this easy breakfast recipe. The Instant Pot cuts down on the cook time and yields consistently delicious results each and every time you make upma.

New to cooking with the Instant Pot and nervous? Don't be! We break down exactly how to use your Instant Pot in our complete beginner's guide to pressure cooking called Is the Instant Pot Worth It?

How to make Sooji upma in an instant pot - Step by Step Recipe

Upma is really easy to make, especially when you use your Instant Pot. Here are the steps you need to take to make delicious tasting upma in a matter of minutes.

• Heat your Instant Pot on Saute mode.
• Once it is hot, add the oil and mustard seeds and let the mustard seeds splutter.
• Once they are jumping around a bit, add the curry leaves, green chilies, onions, peas, and the carrots and give it a stir.
• Add in the semolina and sauté the mixture for 2 minutes.
• While it sauté's, keep stirring the semolina and veggies. Next, add in the salt, sugar, and water.

• Use a sturdy spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot and stir the mixture. Close the lid with the vent set to sealing.
• Set the pressure to low and cook for 1 minute. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes.
• After five minutes, release the remaining pressure and open the lid. Sprinkle the chopped cilantro on top and stir.
• Serve it warm with chai tea or coffee.

Pro Tips and tricks

Follow these tips and tricks to make the best tasting homemade upma in your Instant Pot.

• To plan ahead, cut up your vegetables the night before. That way it just takes minutes to put everything in the pot.
• Don’t overcook the grains - they only need low pressure and a short natural release to have the perfect texture. If you cook them too long or on high pressure, they may turn to mush.
• You can add any vegetables you like, green beans and corn work well.
• You can add extra oil if you desire or use ghee at the end to add extra flavor
• Upma tastes best when served fresh and warm.
• Make sure you use the full 3 cups of water to make sure the grains get the best texture.
• You can add roasted cashews or peanuts to make it more festive 

How to Store and Reheat Suji Upma

Like other creamy grains, upma is best served hot and fresh. You can store leftovers, if you need to or if you want to make a batch over the weekend and serve it during the week. To store, allow it to cool to room temperature and then portion into one or more airtight containers. Place in the refrigerator for about 3 to 5 days.

To serve it, reheat in the microwave. If needed, you can add a small amount of water to help rehydrate the semolina.

Is Sooji Upma healthy?

Yes! Upma is made with semolina, a type of flour made from durum wheat. It has several vitamins and minerals as well as additional protein. It also has carrots and peas, and you can add as many other vegetables as you like. 

How to make instant upma mix

If you like to have convenient breakfasts ready to go throughout out the week, you can make an instant upma mix for busy mornings. Here’s how you can do that.

• Start by gathering all the ingredients except water.
• In a large skillet or pan, heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. Allow the mustard seeds to splutter. Once they are jumping around a bit, add the curry leaves, green chilies, onions, peas, and the carrots and give it a stir.
• Add in the semolina and sauté the mixture for 5 to 7 minutes. While it sautes, keep stirring the semolina and veggies. Next, add in the salt and sugar. Remove from heat.
• Allow it to cool until it reaches room temperature. Once it is cool, add it to sealable bags, jars, or air tight containers.
• When you are ready to serve the instant mix, boil 2 cups of water and then add one cup of the instant mix. Mix and cook for 1 minute before serving warm.

How to make Upma in a microwave?

You can make an instant version of upma in the microwave. To do this, use a premix or instant upma mix and add water to it. Microwave for around 30 seconds, mix the ingredients, and microwave for another minute. Stir it again and the nuke for another 30 seconds for a total of 2 minutes cook time.

Is Upma vegan?

Yes, our upma recipe is made using oil and no animal products. It only contains vegetables, wheat, herbs, and spices.

If you want to keep it vegan, just don’t add any ghee at the end. If you like vegan recipes, check out our Instant Pot Vegan Vermicelli Bowl – Semiya Upma.

Make it, tag it

Did you make this delicious upma recipe in the Instant Pot? Don’t forget to come back and leave your feedback and star rating. We would be THRILLED if you would take a pic and tag us on Instagram @dbellyrulesdmind or Facebook @thebellyrulesthemind