Welcome back to The Broke Desi Kitchen—where we make good Desi food without breaking the bank. You know those mornings when you wake up feeling lazy, hungry, and completely unmotivated to cook?
That was me.I was already running late for work, my stomach was growling, and the last thing I wanted to do was spend 30 minutes in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
But skipping breakfast wasn’t really an option either. I knew I’d be hungry again before lunchtime. So, I went into the kitchen and looked for something that could be made quickly with whatever I already had.
I found some sooji, peanuts, a few vegetables, and a little paneer. And that’s when I decided to make upma.
Upma is one of those breakfasts that is simple, comforting, and surprisingly filling. It doesn’t need a long list of expensive ingredients, and you can easily use whatever vegetables are sitting in your fridge.
That’s exactly what you want on a busy morning—something tasty that fills you up without making you late for work.
And the great thing about upma is that you can make it your own. Add more vegetables if you have them, skip the paneer if you don’t, or make it spicy with an extra chilli. No fancy ingredients. No complicated cooking. Just simple food made with what you already have.
So, if you’re feeling lazy, you’re hungry, and you’re already in a hurry for work, this quick and budget-friendly upma can save your morning. Today, I’ll show you exactly how to make it—quickly, cheaply, and with ingredients you probably already have at home.
Upma
Equipment
- 1 Frying Pan
- 1 Ladle
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Chopping Board
Ingredients
- 30 gm Semolina or Sooji
- 10 gm Peanuts
- 10 Carrots
- 10 Beans
- 10 Paneer
- 10 Onion
- 5 - 6 Pieces Curry leaves
- 1/3 tbsp Mustard
- 1/3 tbsp Salt ( as per taste)
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 4-5 tbsp Water
Video
Recipe
Step 1: Wash the Vegetables
Start by washing the carrot, beans, onion, green chilli, and curry leaves properly under running water. Drain them and pat them dry.
Step 2: Cut the Vegetables
Finely chop the carrot, beans, onion, and green chilli. Cut the paneer into small pieces or crumble it with your hands.
Step 3: Prepare the Tempering
Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in the same pan. Add a little mustard seeds and let them crackle. Then add the curry leaves and peanuts.
Step 4: Sauté The Vegetables and Roast the Sooji
Heat a pan over low to medium heat and add the 30 g sooji. Dry roast it for a few minutes, stirring continuously, until it becomes lightly aromatic or, you can add it after frying the veggies and roast it. Transfer it to a plate and keep it aside.
Add the chopped onion, carrot, beans, and green chilli. Add a little salt and cook for a few minutes until the vegetables become slightly soft.
Step 5: Add the Paneer
Add the chopped or crumbled paneer and mix everything together. Cook for another minute.
Step 6: Add Water and Cook
Add the semolina and a little bit of water, you can sprinkle and make sure the semolina does not get sticky. Taste and adjust the salt if needed.
Lower the heat and slowly cook. It helps prevent lumps from forming.
Keep stirring and cook until the sooji absorbs the water and the upma becomes soft and fluffy. If it looks too dry, add a little more water.
Step 7: Serve Hot
Turn off the heat and let the upma rest for a minute. Serve hot and enjoy your quick, tasty, and budget-friendly breakfast.
And that’s it!
A warm, tasty breakfast that’s quick to cook, filling, affordable, and perfect for those mornings when you’re rushing to the office but still want a proper homemade meal.
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