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1 May, 2014

Speedy steel cut oats upma (savory snack with vegetables)

Comments : 47 Posted in : snack on by : apsara Tags: , , , , , , ,

When you think of steel-cut oats, the first thought that comes to mind is the oatmeal for breakfast and anything sweet that would go into it. Here’s an easy whole grain savory snack made with it for those who don’t have a sweet tooth 🙂

Fiesta Fridays #14 (hosted by Saucy of SaucyGander and Sir Johnny of Kitschnflavours and Flours n Dainty Buns), here I come, with this savory snack to spice up your taste buds, so you can eat more of the cakes and sweets that others bring!

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‘Upma’ (‘U’ pronounced as in the word ‘butcher’) is a south-Indian term for a savory snack made of curried grain (or vermicelli) and vegetables. I often make this particular snack for the kids in the evening, since it takes very little planning and time to cook, especially if a pressure cooker is available. This is a ‘saatvik’ version (sans onion and garlic), but adding onions to this mixture will only make it even more delicious.

 Ingredients:

steel-cut oats- 1 cup

water- 1 1/2 cup

vegetables: carrot- 1, green bell pepper- 1/2 (other vegetables such as green beans, peas, potatoes, corn would go well with this too)

ginger (peeled)- small piece

Thai green chilly- 1

curry leaves- few (optional)

mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp.

to temper:

urad dal (black gram)- 1/2 tsp.

asafoetida powder- a pinch

avocado oil (or other neutral oil)- 1 1/2 tbsp.

turmeric powder- a pinch

salt- to taste

Method:

1. Add water to oats in a steel vessel and cook in the pressure cooker. Let the whistle blow 3-4 times. Allow the pressure to release from the cooker. The oats may look a little mushy, but it will not have any remaining water. If any excess water is present, drain it. Stove top cooking would also work, but may take more time than a pressure cooker. Even if it looks mushy now, trust me, in the end, it will acquire a non-gooey and crunchy texture 🙂

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2. While oats is getting cooked, chop vegetables, green chilly (slit lengthwise, for lesser heat) and ginger into small pieces.

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3. In a shallow pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds, urad dal, asafoetida powder. When the seeds sputter, add green chilly, curry leaf, vegetables.

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4. Add salt, turmeric powder and cook covered till veggies are tender.

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5. Add cooked oats, turn off the heat and toss to combine. Garnish with cilantro and serve warm.

Here’s a printable version:

steel-cut oats upma

  • Servings: 4
  • Time: 20-25 minutes
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients:

steel-cut oats- 1 cup

water- 1 1/2 cup

carrot- 1

green bell pepper- 1/2

ginger (peeled)- small piece

Thai green chilly- 1

curry leaves- few (optional)

mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp.

urad dal- 1/2 tsp.

asafoetida powder- a pinch

avocado oil- 1 1/2 tbsp. (or other neutral oil)

turmeric powder- a pinch

salt- to taste

Method:

1. Add water to oats in a steel vessel and cook in the pressure cooker. Let the whistle blow 3-4 times. Allow the pressure to release from the cooker.

2. While oats is getting cooked, chop vegetables, slit a green chilly lengthwise and chop ginger into small pieces.

3. In a shallow pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds, urad dal, asafoetida powder. When the seeds sputter, add green chilly, curry leaf, vegetables.

4. Add salt, turmeric powder and cook covered till veggies are tender.

5. Add cooked oats, turn off the heat and toss to combine. Garnish with cilantro and serve warm.

Note:

A few drops of lime juice can be added in the end to get a tangy flavor.

47s COMMENTS

47 thoughts on : Speedy steel cut oats upma (savory snack with vegetables)

    • May 1, 2014 at 10:29 pm

      my pleasure, Sonal 🙂

  • May 1, 2014 at 11:05 pm

    Looks delicious, Aspara! How wise of you to bring something a little healthier to Fiesta Friday! I, for one, am happy to be offered a little balance in my diet. 🙂

    • May 2, 2014 at 9:31 am

      thanks, Nancy. I like savory dishes, myself, even in a party 🙂

  • May 2, 2014 at 7:11 am

    Sweet! That’s the way to think out of the box! What can I sub out for urad dal- and asafoetida powder-….or is it worth looking for this…?

    • May 2, 2014 at 9:52 am

      thanks, Savvy sis! The urad dal is to add crunch, you could use peanuts in its place. Asafoetida adds a unique flavor to Indian dishes and promotes digestion, you could look for it in an international market if you plan to cook more Indian food. Or, it can be left out too!

    • May 17, 2014 at 4:23 pm

      thanks, Laura. yes, do try it.

  • May 2, 2014 at 11:23 am

    Looks so healthy and delicious! I love your garnish 🙂

    • May 2, 2014 at 12:06 pm

      thanks, Josette. 🙂

  • May 2, 2014 at 12:42 pm

    That looks so interesting 🙂 what do you do if don’t have a pressure cooker??

    • May 2, 2014 at 1:20 pm

      thanks, Elaine. You could cook the oats on stove top, with a little less water, it would just require monitoring and stirring. I love my pressure cooker. These days many vegan/vegetarian cookbooks recommend it too 🙂

  • Kripa
    May 2, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    Which pressure cooker do you use? I just use the big bulky one I have to cook lentils…would love to get a small one that I can use more frequently…

    • May 2, 2014 at 2:26 pm

      I have a 6-litre and a 4-litre pressure cooker that I got from India. The small one is very handy for this, releases pressure quickly 🙂

  • May 2, 2014 at 2:15 pm

    We need these healthy dishes to keep us in check this fiesta friday! We make something similar with Dalia (cracked wheat), Apsara so I can imagine how delicious this must have been!

    • May 2, 2014 at 2:24 pm

      yes, it tastes almost exactly like the one made from cracked wheat! I like that one too 🙂

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  • May 2, 2014 at 3:26 pm

    I love your idea of using the steel cut oats as a snack. You are right as I have only eaten them as oatmeal with some fruit and nuts. Thanks for sharing a new way for me to use these healthy oats 🙂

    • May 2, 2014 at 3:48 pm

      I’m glad you like it, Judi 🙂

    • May 3, 2014 at 8:11 am

      you’re welcome, Aneela!

  • May 3, 2014 at 12:37 am

    I just got a new pressure cooker (a gift!) and I had no idea what to do with it. Thanks for a great idea.

    • May 3, 2014 at 8:13 am

      Hilda, that is the greatest gift, ever! Also the best way to cook beans and lentils. Enjoy!

  • May 3, 2014 at 4:33 am

    This looks fantastic!! And it’s great to get your tip about substituting black gram, as I haven’t been able to find it in grocery stores. Would love to try this for a weeknight dinner, and thank you for bringing this to Fiesta Friday!! We have lots of cookies and cakes (as usual, haha), and it’s always good to have a few savoury options as well. 😀

    • May 3, 2014 at 8:15 am

      Thanks, Saucy! You’re a wonderful hostess, always enjoy FF with you 😀

    • May 3, 2014 at 12:12 pm

      thank you, Naina!

  • May 3, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    Wow! This is an unusual recipe for me, but looks so delicious! Thanks so much for bringing this to the party! 😀

    • May 3, 2014 at 8:38 pm

      thanks, Julianna. I’m glad you like it. 🙂

  • May 4, 2014 at 11:33 am

    Gosh, I’m really curious about this for two reasons. I’ve always loved oats but have never, ever cooked with them apart from porridge! And I love spices. Will have to try this. On the hob/stove top as I don’t have a pressure cooker. But I do have several types of oats in my baking cupboard – sadly neglected.

    • May 4, 2014 at 4:16 pm

      thanks, Sir Johnny. welcome to my blog!

  • May 7, 2014 at 4:23 am

    We only made once oatmeal savoury. Your recipe goes way further,…a great & genius tasty idea too, my friend! Yummm! x

    • May 7, 2014 at 9:19 am

      thanks, Sophie. I wouldn’t call myself a genius, though. This is a kind of standard snack where I come from 🙂

  • May 7, 2014 at 10:14 am

    I like the idea of using oats for upma…and your thought on my site to use quinoa too:) Glad to have the recipe!

    • May 7, 2014 at 10:36 am

      thank you, Peri!

  • May 8, 2014 at 12:02 pm

    This is going to make the ‘boring oats’ to interesting! Thanks for the recipe 🙂

    • May 8, 2014 at 12:46 pm

      you’re welcome! I just visited your blog, and like it! 🙂

  • May 9, 2014 at 12:09 am

    Good take! I would love to use raw vegetables in this. 🙂
    Yes, cooked is always an option though

    • May 9, 2014 at 8:24 am

      that’s true, but then it would be called salad with raw vegetables, I suppose! 🙂

  • May 12, 2014 at 6:34 pm

    Oh how ironic, I was planning to make oats upma this week and am impressed at how light and fluffy yours looks. I don’t use a pressure cooker though, so slow heat for me x

    • May 12, 2014 at 6:40 pm

      Thanks, Deena. I like cooking on stove top, but I don’t like the stirring part! xx

  • seema
    March 29, 2017 at 3:22 pm

    Yesterday I made this for dinner. Loved it 🙂

    • apsara
      March 29, 2017 at 3:32 pm

      Awesome. Thank you for the feedback, Seema. 🙂

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