Arisi Upma

Arisi upma is a very traditional tiffin in most brahmin homes. My mom makes yummy upma but I was not a big fan of that when I was young (though I eat it). But later I started missing it. This can be made in a jiffy if you have rice rava in hand. Else also just run in your blender and make rava. Some people add all the ingredients, take it to the miller to be ground to rava texture and store it. My mom has a different way to make this upma - she sprinkles water and soaks the rava, then runs in the blender a couple of times to make uniform sized rava. Today I enjoyed making and eating this upma with her. Here is her simple recipe for the great yet simple and tasty upma. 

Ingredients

Raw rice - 1 and 1/2 cups

Toor dhal - 1 and 1/2 tbsp

Whole black pepper - 1tsp

Split yellow moong dhal - 1 tbsp

Red chilli - 2

Coconut - 2 tbsp, freshly grated

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Water - 2 and 1/2 cups plus 1/4 cup

Seasoning

Coconut oil - 1/4 cup

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Split urad dhal - 1 tsp

Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp

Curry leaf - 2 sprigs

Method

In a bowl, take the rice and sprinkle 1/4 cup water. Let it soak for 30 mins or so. Run in the blender a couple of times to get uniform sized rava texture. Keep aside.

Run the toor dhal, black pepper, split moong dhal and red chilli in the blender to a coarse texture, similar to the rice rava.

Heat oil in a pan. Add the seasonings and when the spluttering is all done, add the water. When it boils add the coconut and the dhal mixture.

Mix well and add the rice rava. Stir continuously to avoid lumps.

Add salt and stir till all the water is absorbed. Lower the flame and cover and cook for another 5 to 10 min, till the rice is completely cooked and the upma comes out without sticking.

It should be fluffy and flaky. All done. Serve with chutney, sambhar, gothsu, or pickle.

Tips

This upma can be made with any oil. Using coconut oil gives an unusual and unique flavor different from other upmas.

Coconut is optional.

Yellow split moong dhal addition gives a unique flavor but it is optional.

Alternatively, to make this rava, all the ingredients can be mixed and rava can be made in a mill.