Oats Upma is a delicious, comforting breakfast recipe where vegetables, Indian spices and herbs are cooked together to create a savoury porridge-like dish. Its a healthy way to start the day, a great way to load your breakfast with veggies and fibre and it comes together in just one pot!
More often than not, people who are short on time wonder what alternatives they can adopt to lead a healthier lifestyle. My favorite way to eat healthy is to include more oats in my diet. Not only are the very easily available, but they are so highly nutritious and make for a healthy and filling breakfast.
What I love about this oats upma is that this dish is extremely versatile, flavorful and easy to make, and yet again proves that not everything healthy has to be boring. I usually make this in a large batch and eat it several times a week, and it tastes just as good every time.
If this interested you, also see my 5 Savory Oatmeal Recipes for Breakfast when you donโt like it sweet
Table of contents
Ingredients You'll Need
Oats: I have used regular instant oats for this recipe, as they cook the fastest. However, you can use rolled oats if you prefer.
Veggies: I have used onions, carrots, red cabbage and capsicum for this recipe. You can add or remove any veggies based on availability and preference.
Chana and urad dal: Added to the tempering for a nice nutty flavour. Adds a bit of crunch and makes the dish even more nutritious.
Curry leaves: Added to the tempering for a nice, herby flavor.
Spices: This recipes uses green chillies, mustard seeds, turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder and raw mango powder for lots of flavor and spice.
Aromatics: Finely chopped garlic for lots of flavor and aroma.
Oil: Any neutral flavored oil such as peanut, canola, rice bran, or sunflower will work for this recipe.
Salt: For flavor and garnish
Water: To cook the oats and help adjust consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
This oats upma recipe can be used by either instant oats, rolled oats, or steel cut oats. I have used instant oats as they're most easily available and cook really quickly. That being said, steel cut or rolled oats are nutritionally riche, have a higher fiber content, and are just generally better at supporting your health goals.
Yes, oats is a way more nutrient dense than suji. Oats have more fiber, protein and a lesser carb content, which make them a healthier choice to make.
Definitely! Oatmeal is known for it's high fiber content and prebiotic qualities, making it a great addition to your daily diet. It can help to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve gut health, regulate bowel movement and keep you full for a longer period of time.
Top Tips To Make The Best Oats Upma
- The veggies in this recipe are super customisable and almost every vegetable tastes nice. I also sometimes add cauliflower, mushrooms, beets, and green peas to this oats upma.
- Always dry roast the oats with the veggies and masala to help enhance the flavors. This also prevents the oats from becoming too soggy later.
- If using rolled oats remember that they take longer to cook and will need more water.
- If you are making a larger batch, you can store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Whenever you are ready to eat, simply reheat it on the microwave or stovetop with a little water until heated through.
My life has changed since I started making this oats upma, and now they have a permanent place in my breakfast rotation. If you're a fan of healthy breakfasts that are easy, quick and taste absolutely bomb.com, then you need to try this oats upma ASAP!
Oats Upma
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup Oats
- Onions finely chopped
- Green Chili finely chopped
- 6 Curry Leaves
- ยผ cup Red Cabbage
- ยผ cup Carrots finely julienned
- ยผ cup Capsicum finely julienned
- 1 teaspoons Urad Dal
- 1 teaspoon Chana Dal
- 4 cloves Garlic finely chopped
- 1 teaspoons Mustard Seeds
- ยฝ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- Chili Powder To taste
- ยฝ teaspoon Coriander Powder
- ยฝ teaspoon Mango Powder Raw Amchoor
- 1 ยฝ cups Water
- Salt to taste
- Oil for cooking
Instructions
- Heat one and a half teaspoon oil in a pan. I use olive oil for cooking, but any oil is fine. Add the mustard seeds and wait for them to splutter. As they start to splutter add the Urad Dal and Chana Dal. Fry this on low flame for a minute
- Add the onions and saute till transparent. To this add the chopped garlic and curry leaves. Be careful not to burn the garlic but wait for the flavor of garlic and curry leaves to start wafting through air
- Add the remaining vegetables and saute for 3-4 minutes. You can cover the pan for faster cooking
- Once the vegetables are semi cooked, add the oats and all the masala and salt. Cook the oats on a low flame for 4-5 minutes. At this point, you have to dry roast the oats
- Once the oats have roasted for a while, add the water and increase the flame. Let the water reduce and in a few minutes you will see the oats getting a nice creamy consistency. Let the water reduce further and switch off the flame once you are satisfied with the amount of liquid. I don't like to dry this too much as oats can become a little cloggy
- Sprinkle with chopped coriander. I sprinkled some nice curly parsley that I had sitting in the fridge and it tasted yumm with the oats
- Serve hot!
Notes
- I go crazy with the vegetables and even add cauliflower, mushrooms, beets to mine. Basically whatever catches my fancy!
- You can add a sprinkle of lemon juice on top to give it a bit of tang.
Richa Gupta says
Absolutely! It's yum and sooo healthy. Have fun cooking! Mwah
Supriya Shyamsukha says
i keep coming back to this recipe. Finally have the packet of oats at home. Gonna try it soon and will send you a pic..
Richa Gupta says
Thanks Anitha!