Aval (Poha) Upma

I often tell K....if I were a single grad student living in the US, I'd probably never cook at all...be happy with just cereal for b'fast lunch and dinner. In fact, when he goes out of town, thats what I do most of the time. Its too boring to cook for just one person...even more so if that one person is yourself. Here's an Indian meal you can whip up in less than 15 mts. It will be a welcome break from the junk food most single students eat. Navs...this one's for you.

















Aval Upma

Aval upma

Ingredients - serves 2

Aval Upma - Made with flattened rice and tamarind

Aval or flattened rice (approx 2 to 3 cups)
½ red onion
1 green chili
½ tsp tamarind paste
1½ tsp coriander seeds
2 red chillies
1 tsp urad dhal
1 tsp chana dhal
½ tsp mustard seeds
¼ tsp turmeric powder
Asafoetida a pinch
Curry leaves for garnishing
Salt to taste
Cooking oil

Optional (roast in a tsp of oil and grind to a coarse powder)
½ tsp urad dhal
1 tsp chana dhal
1 red chili
1 tsp coriander seeds

Method:

• Take a flat, large bowl and wash the poha or aval in water. Do not allow the water to stay and drain immediately without any traces of water.
  
• Grind to a coarse powder, the coriander seeds, red chilies, urad dhal, and chana dhal after frying them in a tsp of cooking oil.
  
• Then take a large pan and pour some cooking oil and add the mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Then add the cut green chili.
  
• Then add urad and chana dhal, dried red chili followed by onion, curry leaves and turmeric powder. Season with asafoetida. Cook until the onions are cooked.
• Now add the aval or poha. Mix the tamarind in ¼ cup of water and pour the liquid in.
• When the tamarind has been absorbed, add the ground masala to the aval along with salt. Stir the mixture well till the aval is coated with the masala powder.
• Keep the pan covered for about 2-3 minutes and garnish with coriander leaves just before serving.
• And the delicious upma is ready....Enjoy
• Aval upma with a dollop of sour cream and avakaai pickle