Varutha Arisi Sojji / Roasted Rice Upma

How to make Varutha Arisi Sojji / Roasted Rice Upma

            Most households probably get around to making two or three kinds of upma's - semiya upma, arisi rava upma & wheat rava upma. This was new to me when my MIL made this for dinner the first time. Her story behind this goes like this - during her childhood days, her mom used to make this as a quick and low-cost meal to serve a large family living on a budget. 

            This can be a lunch box recipe (stays fresh) or can be breakfast/dinner. This can be served with Milagai podi, Chutneys/Thuvayals, Sambhar, or Gothsu. This family (MIL) recipe comes from my recipe diary & is being shared with SriValli's CCC#46 July week #4.

Ingredients for 3 servings:

Pacharisi/Raw rice - 1.5 cups

Paasiparuppu/Green gram dal - 1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Grated coconut - 3 tbsp

Crushed black pepper  - 1 tsp

Water - 1 cup (for dal) + as needed to cook your rice

[ I used, 1(rice) : 3(water) ratio ]

For thalippu/tempering:

Oil - 2 tbsp

1/2 Tsp mustard seeds

2 tsp, kadalai paruppu/bengal gram dal

Dry red chilies - 3, broken

1 tsp, jeera/cumin seeds

a pinch of asafoetida powder

a sprig of curry leaves

Stove top method:

• Dry roast the dal & rice separately in a dry kadai/pan, until slightly golden, crisp & aromatic.
• Heat the oil in a large cooker/kadai and add the ingredients listed for tempering one by one & fry for a few seconds, taking care not to burn them.
• Pour the required amount of water for the dal & rice to cook, add salt & let it come to a boil.
• When the water begins to boil, add the roasted rice, and dal. Cover & let cook on medium until rice & dal are cooked soft. (If using pressure cooker, use the weight & let cook for about 10 minutes or 2 whistles)
• Sprinkle crushed pepper powder, add grated coconut, give it a stir and turn off the heat. 
• Serve hot with Kathirikai gothsu or try any of these thuvayals or chutneys.