Oats upma is soo filling and wholesome with the addition of vegetables. You can serve oats upma for breakfast or dinner or even as a snack.
About this Oats Upma
This oats upma is very easy to prepare and takes just 15 mins of cooking time and takes 30 mins on the whole which includes preparation time also. You can prepare oats upma with just onion and spices but the addition of vegetables gives it a nice crunch while eating and of course wholesome too. Oats Upma is my favourite. I have tried oats upma few times but it ended up sticky most of the time…but finally got the trick to get this flaky version after few trials and now am hooked onto this recipe either for breakfast or even as a snack. The key rule to make flaky oats upma is first roast oats then sprinkle water and cook oats. You can add oats to boiling water but add water very very little and cook to get flaky upma.
Oats Upma Ingredients
Oats : I have used regular quick cooking oats, you can use rolled oats too. If using rolled oats it takes a bit more time to cook so sprinkle water atleast 3-4 times cover and cook.Vegetables : I used onion, carrot, peas but you can add any of your favourite vegetable as per the availability.Tempering : A basic tadka is made using mustard seeds, cumin seeds and green chilli.Others : You can add any nuts of your choice to enhance the taste of the upma. I roasted and added peanuts, you can even add fried cashews. Make sure to roast it first remove and add it only at the final stage else the nuts will become soggy while the upma is getting cooked. Adding ginger gives a nice flavour to the upma.
Oats Upma 2 Methods
Oats upma can be cooked in 2 ways
The first method is to use more water but sprinkle and add in intervals as I have shared in the first version. This method works perfectly if you are looking for a flaky oats upma.The second method is adding water fully, boiling it then adding oats and cooking as I have shared in my lemon oats upma below. Though this method yields a tasty upma it is slighlty sticky as you can see.
I prefer the first method which works perfeclty everytime no worries for oats to stick or become mushy as you can have an eye while sprinkling water. But basically it is your preference of taste and texture.
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📖 Recipe Card
How to make Oats Upma
Roasting Oats
2.Transfer to a plate and set aside to cool down.
Fry Nuts
3.Add oil and roast peanuts until crisp and browned a bit. Transfer to a palte and set aside.
Temper the spices
4.Heat oil add mustard seeds let it crackle then add cumin seeds let it crackle, Add green chilli and ginger chopped.
Add veggies
- Add onion along with salt to get it brown quicker. 6.Saute until onions turn transparent and slightly golden. 6.Add carrot and peas.
- Saute the veggies for 2 mins.
Cook veggies
8.Add 1/4 cup water. 9.Cook covered until veggies are cooked. 10. Open and check if veggies are soft but not mushy. Make sure if all the water is absorbed. if water is still there then cook in high heat for 2 misn for water to evaporate.
Add Oats
11.Now add roasted oats. 12.Saute for 2 mins.
Cook oats
13.This is a very important step. Take 3/4 cup water sprinkle very little. 14.Do not add water fully, sprinkle only very little water. 15.Cook covered for 2 mins. 16.Open give a quick mix. 17.Again sprinkle remaining water. 18.Cook covered. Cook until oats is soft and flaky not sticky.
Garnish
19.Open fluff the upma. Check if oats is fully cooked and finally add fried peanuts. You can even add coriander leaves if you like. 20.Mix it well 11.Oats upma ready.
Expert Tips
Do not add the water fully, just add little by little and cook covered that’s the trick here to get flaky upma.You can dry roast oats and store it so that its easier to make during the morning hours.As I used quick cooking oats, just little water was enough for it to get cooked. If you are using rolled oats, you need to add more water accordingly.Add vegetables of your choice.
Variations
You can add coriander leaves and lemon juice at the end for a different flavour.You can replace peanuts with cashewnuts.Adding vegetables is purely your choice, you can add any vegetable of your choice.I used quick cooking oatsm you can use rolled oats too.I used regular cooking oil but you can use coconut oil for more flavour add grated coconut as garnish.
Serving & Storage Suggestion
You can serve oats upma as such or with any chutney like tomato chutney, onion chutney etc. This upma keeps well for a day and it tastes great when had hot so incase if you want to serve later, reheat it and then serve. You can either steam it in a steamer or use microwave to heat it. If you want to extend shelf life then you can refrigerate it and it stays well for another day too.
1.What kind of oats should I use for oats upma?
It is best to use quick cooking oats but you can use rolled oats too but make sure to add water accordingly. Rolled oats may need 1(oats) : 1(water) ratio.
2.Does oats upma reduce weight?
Oats is a gluten free healthy grain, low in cholestrol and fat and high in fibre which is essential for weight loss. So with regular diet and exercise if you include oats in your diet then it will surely help in weight loss.
3.How can I make easy oats upma?
You can make oats upma quickly : First dry roast oats for few minuttes until nice aroma comes. Just temper spices in oil along with onion,green chilli and ginger then add turmeric powder, sambar powder give a quick mix. Then add roasted oats and cook covered by sprinkling water little by little.
Lemon Oats Upma
Lemon Oats is a quick alternate to our usual oats upma. Lemon oats is just oats upma with lemon flavour. I made it just like how we make lemon rice and it turned out super tasty. The texture is purely your choice if you want it more separate then follow the technique I have mentioned in oats upma recipe.This is very quick to make so handy for breakfast, do try this easy oats upma with lemon.
Lemon Oats Upma Ingredients
1/2 cup oats1/2 lemon1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder1/2 cup watersalt to taste
To temper:
2 teaspoon oil1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds1/4 teaspoon urad dal1/2 tablespoon chana dal1 tablespoon peanutsfew curry leavesa tiny pinch hing2 nos red chillies
How to make Lemon Oats Upma
1.Soak chana dal in water for 15mins,set aside.In a pan heat oil – add the items listed under ‘to temper’ along with turmeric powder and chana dal fry till the dals turn slightly browned.Then add peanuts and fry for a minute. 2.Then add water,salt and being it to boil.Once it starts boiling add the oats in spreaded manner and keep mixing. 3.Cook covered for 3 mins.Once it gets cooked and is fluffy switch off and then add lemon juice and give a quick stir. Lemon oats upma ready.
