• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Herbivore Cucina

  • Recipe Index
  • Indian
  • Instant Pot
  • Air-Fryer
  • International
  • Cakes & Bakes
  • More..
    • Featured
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Instant Pot
  • LTK Shop
    • Amazon Store
  • Contact
  • Get Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Me
    • Recipe Index
    • Instant Pot
    • LTK Shop
      • Amazon Store
    • Contact
  • Get Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Uncategorized

    Published: Feb 11, 2023 by Smruti · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Instant Upma Mix

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    A make ahead mix using semolina and a handful of ingredients; this Instant Upma Mix can be used to make upma within ten minutes.

    It is super handy for breakfast, for a light meal or for traveling. Plus it is great for toddlers and kids too.

    Mason jar filled with upma mix; a blend of semolina and spices in ghee.

    Breakfast is always something we love. From wholesome American classics to traditional Indian recipes, the menu changes each week and we all have our breakfast together.

    The Indian breakfasts range from Upma, Poha, Pudla, Masala Oats to sometimes Dhokla or Idli Chutney.

    While some breakfasts take a long time to come together, there are days that we need super easy, quick yet fulfilling recipes. This Upma mix comes handy on such days. After the mix is ready, the Upma comes together in 10 minutes.

    Jump to:
    • What is Upma?
    • What is Instant Upma Mix?
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients and Substitutions
    • How to make this recipe
    • Expert Tips and Notes
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Breakfast to try
    • Instant Upma Mix

    What is Upma?

    A comforting recipe for breakfast, Upma is a mix of roasted semolina with tempering. It may include vegetables like onions, peppers, carrots, peas and beans or can be made without vegetables.

    Similar to prepared Polenta; this semolina pudding is a popular South Indian restaurant staple. The grainy texture that is bursting with flavors complements the piping hot tea that is served with it.

    While the recipe is great for breakfast, we sometimes have it for light dinner too. It is easy to add a lot of vegetables and spices to the upma to make it flavorful. And that is a great way to get kids to eat their veggies too.

    What is Instant Upma Mix?

    In order to make upma we need to roast coarse rava or semolina and add tempering. Then we cook the mix with water, salt and sugar.

    So in order to reduce the time required to so these steps each time or to make upma instantly, we make this premix.

    The premix is made by roasting the semolina in ghee and tempering the mix. This mix then converts to upma in 2 easy steps and under 10 minutes. The texture, flavors and taste are pretty much like the traditional one and this comes handy when traveling too.

    Why this recipe works

    • The recipe to make Instant Upma mix takes 20 minutes from start to finish. And once the mix is ready, it takes under 10 minutes to make the Upma. Thus, the recipe is perfect to use for busy weekday mornings.
    • This Instant Upma mix can be made in advance and used for a long time. It is shelf stable up to two weeks and stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to four months.
    • While I have used ghee to sauté the mix and for the tempering, oil works great too. Plus, it helps make the recipe Vegan.
    • A super easy to customize recipe; we can add the ingredients as per our wish. Add extra urad dal, leave out curry leaves, add some chana dal etc. the possibilites are endless.
    • Traveling somewhere? Take the mix with you and microwave with boiling water for 3-4 minutes. You will have perfect upma within ten minutes.

    This recipe is a super traditional one in my household. My grandmother would roast a whole bag of semolina and keep the mix with all the tempering ingredients ready. As a large Indian family we went through these bags within a couple of weeks and the mix never reached the stage of refrigeration.

    And now each time I stand by the stove slowly roasting the semolina, I recall all the lovely memories I have shared with my grandmother. All the different recipes, techniques and tricks she taught me top better myself in the kitchen.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    Ingredients for rava mixture; rava, ghee and tempering ingredients.
    • Rava/ Semolina: This is the key ingredient in the instant upma mix recipe. I like to use coarse rava as it gives a great texture to the recipe. If using raw rava like me, it has to be roasted before cooking. Alternatively, roasted rava can be used directly to make the process quick.
    • Ghee: I use ghee to roast the rava and for the tempering. This can be substituted with oil for a Vegan version.
    • Tempering Ingredients: I use all the ingredients to the tempering that we use in a traditional upma recipe. I add mustard seeds, asafetida, cumin seeds, urad dal, cashews and curry leaves. Adding green chili is an option too. I leave that out to make non-spicy upma for the kids.

    Apart from these ingredients, salt and sugar can be added to the mix too. However, these do not tend to mix perfectly and yields a mix that is salty in parts and sweet in some. Therefore I add these while making upma.

    In order to make upma from the mix I use water, salt, sugar, lemon juice and cilantro. However, diced onions, mixed vegetables and ginger may also be used.

    See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

    How to make this recipe

    1- In a pan add one tablespoon ghee.

    2- Then add the raw semolina/rava.

    Heat ghee in a pan and add semolina.

    3- Roast on medium flame for 10-12 minutes; till the rava is fragrant and roasted well. Remove and transfer to a bowl. Set aside.

    Pro Tip: Do not roast the rava on high flame. Plus, make sure the color does not change much as we do not want to burn the rava.

    4- In the same pan add the remaining 2 tablespoon ghee. Let it heat up.

    Roast till fragrant and set aside, then add more ghee in the same pan.

    5- Once hot, add mustard seeds and asafetida.

    6- Then add cumin seeds and urad dal. Let the seeds pop.

    Add the tempering ingredients in the pan and sauté till the seeds pop.

    7- Finally add the raw cashews. Let them brown a little.

    8- Add curry leaves and let them fry for a few seconds.

    Add cashews and curry leaves and sauté for a few seconds.

    9- Transfer the roasted rava back to the pan. Mix well and distribute the tempering evenly in the rava.

    10- Let the instant upma mix cool down before transferring to an airtight container.

    Add the semolina and mix well, transfer to a mason jar and store.

    To make the Upma

    1- Heat water in a pan till it starts to boil.

    2- Add salt and sugar and mix well.

    Heat water and add salt and sugar.

    3- Once the water comes to a boil, add the upma mix slowly into it.

    4- Mix well and let the mixture cook.

    Add prepared upma mix and mix well.

    5- Add green chili if desired and cover the upma. Let it cook for 5-6 minutes; till thick.

    6- Uncover, add lemon juice and cilantro. Mix well and serve.

    Cover and cook; then open and add cilantro. Mix well.

    Expert Tips and Notes

    • Ensure that the rava is roasted well but on medium flame. Rushing through the roasting process will burn the rava and make it bitter.
    • In case all the tempering ingredients are not available, leave out the unavailable ones. However, adding them all gives the upma a great taste and flavor.
    • The mix should be kept in an airtight container. It can be refrigerated for up to a month.
    • Use the upma mix to make intstant upma with just boiling water, salt and sugar. However, adding diced vegetables like carrots, onions, peppers and tomato is an option too.
    • Moreover, the same mix can also be used to make rava dhokla and rava idli.
    • The nutrition below shows the values for ½ cup of the mix. Additional ingredients to make the upma are not accounted in it.
    Side view of upma mix in a mason jar with a breakfast setup around it.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is Upma?

    A comforting recipe for breakfast, Upma is a mix of roasted semolina with tempering. It may include vegetables like onions, peppers, carrots, peas and beans or can be made without vegetables.

    Do we make Upma with coarse or fine rava?

    The upma made with coarse rava is far better in texture as it is grainy. However, upma made with fine rava tends to be more like khichdi. So I prefer to use coarse rava for making upma.

    How long can the Instant Upma mix be stored?

    The upma mix can be stored at room temperature for 2 weeks. To keep it longer, refrigerate it up to 4 months.

    Is Upma rich in protein?

    For every serving of upma there is 13 grams of protein. Given that semolina is a traditional superfood; it is pretty good with protein value. As it is the prime ingredients here, upma becomes great in protein too.

    Can I add vegetables to Upma?

    Yes certainly. Heat some oil and sauté vegetables before adding water to cook the upma. Or steam the vegetables before adding them to the upma mix.

    Side view of semolina upma with chutney and sev in a gray bowl with masala chai and chutney in the background.

    More Breakfast to try

    • Instant Rava Idli | Steamed Semolina Cakes
    • Quick and Easy Batata Poha
    • Instant Pot Matki Misal
    • Brazilian Tapioca Pancakes for #BreadBakers

    I love seeing when you share my recipes!

    Tag me on Instagram @herbivorecucina or mention #herbivorecucina so I can enjoy them virtually with you! You can also find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Tik Tok, and YouTube.

    Mason jar filled with upma mix; a blend of semolina and spices in ghee.

    Instant Upma Mix

    Smruti
    A make ahead mix using semolina and a handful of ingredients; this Instant Upma Mix can be used to make upma within ten minutes.
    It is super handy for breakfast, as a meal or for traveling.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Time to make Upma 10 mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 427 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups rava (coarse)
    • 4 tablespoon ghee
    • 2 teaspoon mustard seeds
    • 1 ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
    • ¼ teaspoon asafetida
    • ¼ cup cashews
    • 10-12 curry leaves
    • 1 teaspoon urad dal

    To make Upma

    • 1 ½ cup water
    • 1 green chili (chopped)
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon lemon juice
    • 2-3 stalks cilantro (to top)

    Instructions
     

    • In a pan add one tablespoon ghee.
    • Then add the raw semolina/rava.
    • Roast on medium flame for 10-12 minutes; till the rava is fragrant and roasted well. Remove and transfer to a bowl. Set aside.
    • In the same pan add the remaining 2 tablespoon ghee. Let it heat up.
    • Once hot, add mustard seeds and asafetida.
    • Then add cumin seeds and urad dal. Let the seeds pop.
    • Finally add the raw cashews and curry leaves. Let them brown a little.
    • Transfer the roasted rava back to the pan.
    • Mix well and distribute the tempering evenly in the rava.
    • Let the instant upma mix cool down before transferring to an airtight container.

    To make the Upma

    • Heat water in a pan till it starts to boil.
    • Add salt and sugar and mix well.
    • Once the water comes to a boil, add the upma mix slowly into it.
    • Mix well and let the mixture cook.
    • Add green chili if desired and cover the upma. Let it cook for 5-6 minutes; till thick.
    • Uncover, add lemon juice and cilantro. Mix well and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    • Ensure that the rava is roasted well but on medium flame. Rushing through the roasting process will burn the rava and make it bitter.
    • In case all the tempering ingredients are not available, leave out the unavailable ones. However, adding them all gives the upma a great taste and flavor.
    • The mix should be kept in an airtight container. It can be refrigerated for up to a month.
    • Use the upma mix to make intstant upma with just boiling water, salt and sugar. However, adding diced vegetables like carrots, onions, peppers and tomato is an option too.
    • Moreover, the same mix can also be used to make rava dhokla and rava idli.
    • The nutrition below shows the values for ½ cup of the mix. Additional ingredients to make the upma are not accounted in it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 427kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 13gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 4mgPotassium: 234mgFiber: 4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 105IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Sev Puri Sandwich
    Potato Edamame Curry »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Me

    Smruti headshot

    This blog is dedicated to one of my greatest passions, Cooking. I have always loved to cook, especially trying out some unconventional recipes.

    Learn more about me →

    Spring Recipes

    • Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
      Spinach Artichoke Dip
    • Rice Paper Rolls | Vietnamese Spring Rolls
    • Cheesy Polenta with Sautéed Asparagus
    • Kale Dal
    • Air Fried Cauliflower Bites
    • Stir-Fried Sesame Asparagus

    Popular Recipes

    • Air Fryer noodles in a tray with vegetables
      Air Fryer Noodles
    • Front view of Papdi Chaat Dip
      Papdi Chaat Dip
    • Top view of chaat
      Khasta Kachori Chaat
    • glass with rose boba tea
      Rose Boba (Bubble) Tea
    • Air Fryer Handvo in a plate with ketchup and chutney
      Air Fryer Handvo
    • Indian Mixed Fruit Cocktail Juice

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Herbivorecucina.com