Cracked Wheat Upma

My mom makes Cracked wheat upma at least once in a week for breakfast/dinner for my dad. Cracked wheat was one among the item in the untouchable list when I was young. So she used to make different items for me and my sisters whenever she made this. Now being mom of two, I don't have any untouchable list (to be a role model to my kids). Cracked wheat is available in most of the Indian stores in USA but I couldn't find the finely ground sambha rava which is available back in INDIA. You can also pressure cook the samba rava (1:3) like you do for rice and have with sambar and vegetable. This is a very nice alternative to rice.





Ingredients

Crack Wheat (Samba Rava) 2 Cups
Cut mixed vegetables 1 cup
Green chillies 3
Red chillies 2
Ginger 1 inch piece
Curry Leaves few sprigs
Mustard Seeds

Method

Dry roast the cracked wheat in a pan and keep it aside. Break the red chillies into two and slit the Green Chillies lengthwise. Heat the oil in a pan. Put urad dhal and mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds start to splutter , add green chillies, red chillies, onions, ginger and curry leaves. Sautee them until the onions turn into golden brown. Add the mixed vegetables. Sautee till the vegetables becomes soft. Add water and cover the pan with a lid. Once the water comes to rolling boil, add the cracked wheat slowly to avoid lumps. Keep stirring and cover the pan with a lid . Let the sambha rava gets cooked in reduced heat for 5 mts. Garnish with freshly grated coconut on top if needed.

Serve with Chutney or pickle.

Ridge Gourd Chutney

Ingredients

Ridge Gourd - 1 Medium size
Red Chillies - 15
Freshly Grated
Coconut - 1 cup
Tamarind - One small gooseberry size
Mustard Seeds
& Urad dhal - 1 tbs
Salt - 1 tbs (Add according to the taste)


Method.

Heat the Skillet with little oil.
Roast the Red Chillies first and take it out.
Then Roast the Ridge Gourd pieces till it becomes soft and light brown.
Tamper the mustard seeds with urad dhal and Asafoetida(hing) and fry it
till golden brown.
Grind Together Red Chillies , Coconut and tamarind. Add the Ridge Pieces to
it and pulse it in Mixer.
Add the Mustard seeds and urad dhal at the end. Give one more pulse
and the Chutney is ready to be served with Idli or Dosa.