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    Home » Breakfasts / Snacks

    Oats Upma

    Published: Sep 27, 2016 · Last Modified: Aug 22, 2022 by Kanan Patel / 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Oats upma recipe - healthy version of traditional upma that is made from oats and mixed vegetables.

    Oats upma served in 2 bowls with 2 spoons on the side.

    As you know upma is the popular South Indian breakfast. At home we love the rava upma and I do make it occasionally for our breakfast. But this oats upma is much more regular in our house.

    Because it is very quick to make and also it has many more health benefits. Also the addition of veggies makes it more nutritious and healthy.

    This recipe is EASY and QUICK to make for your morning breakfast. This can be ready in only 25 minutes.

    Apart from this, sometimes I do make quinoa upma as well.

    If you prefer oatmeal or porridge in your breakfast and tired of having same thing or sweeter versions, then try this savory dish of oats. I am sure you will like this.

    Step By Step Photo Instructions:

    1) Take oats in a pan on medium heat. Dry roast them with stirring constantly.

    2) Roast them till they are slightly browned in color, it may take around 4-5 minutes. Remove it to plate and keep it aside.

    Collage of 2 images showing roasting oats with stirring with spatula.

    3) Heat the oil or ghee in the same pan on medium heat. Once hot add mustard seeds and let them pop.

    4) Then add chana dal and saute for few seconds, then add urad dal and saute till both dal turns light brown in color.

    Collage of 2 images showing tempering of mustard seeds and urad dal.

    5) Now add cashew nuts and saute till they are lightly browned.

    6) Add green chilies, ginger paste and curry leaves. Saute for a minute or till the raw smell of ginger goes away.

    Collage of 2 images showing roasting cashews and adding curry leaves and green chili.

    7) Add onion and mix.

    8) Cook till onion is light pink or translucent in color and becomes soft.

    Collage of 2 images showing adding and cooking onions.

    9) Now add carrot and peas. Also add salt.

    10) Mix well.

    Collage of 2 images showing adding and mixing peas and carrots.

    11) Cover it and cook till they are soft and tender.

    12) Do stir in between and make sure that they are not sticking to the pan. If they are sticking, you can splash of water and continue cooking.

    Collage of 2 images showing cooking covered and cooked veggies.

    13) Now add roasted oats.

    14) Mix well and cook for 2 minutes.

    Collage of 2 images showing adding oats and mixed.

    15) Now add water and mix.

    16) Cook for 2-3 minutes or till all the water dries out. Turn off the stove.

    Collage of 2 images showing adding water and cooked.

    17) Add chopped coriander leaves

    18) And squeeze the lemon juice. Mix well

    Collage of 2 images showing adding cilantro and lemon juice.

    Remove the oats upma in a serving bowls and serve.

    NOTE: Here I am using instant or quick cooking oats. So after adding water it took me only 2-3 minutes to cook. If using rolled oats or old fashioned oats then you will need more water around 1 ½ cups. Also it will take around 7-8 minutes of cooking time after adding water.

    For a variation, you can add other vegetables like green beans, capsicum, tomato. Or skip the veggies entirely and only add onions.

    Serving suggestion: Serve oats upma as a breakfast or afternoon snack. If you want you can serve any chutney on side, but I prefer as such. It can be packed into lunch box and make it more healthy by adding more veggies in the upma.

    Oats upma  in a bowl.

    Did you try this oats upma recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comment section below.

    📋 Recipe Card

    Step by Step Photos AboveWant to make it perfect first time? Don't forget to check out Step-by-Step photo instructions and helpful Tips & Tricks !!
    Oats upma recipe (How to make oats upma), healthy vegetable oats upma
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    Oats Upma

    4.75 from 4 votes
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    Oats upma recipe - the traditional south indian upma made healthy by using oats.
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: South Indian
    Calories: 239kcal
    Servings 2
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes minutes
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml) See details

    Ingredients  

    • 1 cup Instant oats (Check notes if using old fashioned rolled oats)
    • 1 ½ tablespoons Oil or ghee
    • ½ teaspoon Mustard seeds
    • ½ teaspoon Chana dal (Split bengal gram)
    • ½ teaspoon Urad dal (split, skinless black gram)
    • 5-6 Cashew nuts optional
    • 2 small Green chilies finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon Ginger paste or freshly grated or crushed
    • 7-8 Curry leaves
    • ⅓ cup Red onion chopped
    • ¼ cup Carrots finely chopped
    • ¼ cup Green peas
    • Salt - to taste
    • 1 cup Water
    • 1 tablespoon Cilantro or Coriander leaves chopped finely
    • 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
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    Instructions 

    • Take oats in a pan on medium heat. Dry roast them with stirring constantly.
    • Roast them till they are slightly browned in color, it may take around 4-5 minutes. Remove it to plate and keep it aside.
    • Heat the oil or ghee in the same pan on medium heat.
    • Once hot add mustard seeds and let them pop.
    • Then add chana dal and saute for few seconds, then add urad dal and saute till both dal turns light brown in color.
    • Now add cashew nuts and saute till they are lightly browned.
    • Add green chilies, ginger paste and curry leaves. Saute for a minute
    • Add onion and mix. Cook till onion is light pink or translucent in color and becomes soft.
    • Now add carrot and peas. Also add salt. Mix well.
    • Cover it and cook till they are soft and tender. Do stir in between
    • Now add roasted oats. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes.
    • Now add water and mix. Cook for 2-3 minutes or till all the water dries out.
    • Turn off the stove.
    • Add chopped coriander leaves
    • And squeeze the lemon juice. Mix well

    Notes

    Here I am using instant or quick cooking oats. So after adding water it took me only 2-3 minutes to cook. If using rolled oats or old fashioned oats then you will need more water around 1 ½ cups. Also it will take around 7-8 minutes of cooking time after adding water.
    For a variation, you can add other vegetables like green beans, capsicum, tomato. Or skip the veggies entirely and only add onions.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.3g | Protein: 5.6g | Fat: 14.4g | Saturated Fat: 2.1g | Sodium: 313mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 4.6g | Sugar: 3.5g | Vitamin A: 2700IU | Vitamin C: 14.9mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving
    Did you make this recipe?Snap a pic, mention @spice.up.the.curry or tag #spiceupthecurry. I would love to see.

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    1. Nanda

      January 29, 2019 at 7:43 pm

      Brilliant idea! Love using oatmeal to make Upma healthier. Thanks for sharing.5 stars

      Reply
      • Kanan

        February 01, 2019 at 12:48 pm

        you're welcome

        Reply
    2. Leon

      August 15, 2018 at 2:10 am

      Hi Kanan,
      Thanks for this lovely recipe.
      Its not mentioned in the recipe so I just wanted to confirm if the chana dal needs to be soaked and/or pre-cooked before adding it here?
      Thanks & regards
      Leon5 stars

      Reply
      • Kanan

        August 15, 2018 at 12:58 pm

        not soaked, not cooked.
        The raw dal is sauteed in hot oil till golden brown.

        Reply
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    Kanan

    Hi, I'm Kanan Patel. I share easy, delicious vegetarian recipes (mostly Indian) and Eggless baking recipes that you can sure count on!

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