Upma, a classic South Indian breakfast, is loved worldwide. Often known as Rava Upma, it's typically prepared using sooji, rava, or semolina. However, this isn't your usual upma recipe because of how it's cooked-I actually used my microwave! This recipe will show you how to make Rava Upma in the microwave, ensuring it keeps its wonderful, original taste and texture.
Jump to:
- Debjani's Note
- Jhal Sooji vs. Upma
- About this recipe
- Ingredients
- Step-by-step instructions - Rava Upma in Microwave Recipe
- Substitutions and Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Breakfast Recipes
- 30-minute cooking recipes
- Recipe Card
- Have you tried the Upma in Microwave Recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Here's the Rava Upma in Microwave Recipe Pin for your Pinterest Board
Debjani's Note
Here's another recipe in my easy microwave cooking series. I've recently started this series, sharing simple recipes you can easily make in the microwave, like a simple chicken curry or plain basmati rice. Some recipes even have microwave versions I've already written about. Of course, for this microwave series, perfectly fluffy Upma had to be included because it's so simple to cook in the microwave and tastes absolutely delicious.
Upma is one of my favorite South Indian dishes. Although it's typically a breakfast item, I often make it for my office lunch box and for Pasta's school lunch box, too. It works wonderfully.
I actually enjoy the instant upma served on national flights in India. It's a satisfying and tasty option, much better than the sandwiches typically offered.
Jhal Sooji vs. Upma
By the way, did you know that in Bengali cuisine, there's a similar savory breakfast item called Jhal Sooji? It's almost like Upma, yet still unique! I'll be sharing the recipe for Jhal Sooji very soon.
About this recipe
As I mentioned, this is your traditional rava or sooji upma recipe, but it's cooked in a microwave instead of on a stovetop. The ingredients remain the same; only the cooking process changes. And believe me, you can make upma in your microwave without using LPG and without losing any of its traditional flavors.
Ingredients
- Rava/ sooji/ semolina
- Water
- Ghee
- Salt
- Ginger paste
- Carrot, slice (optional)
- French beans, chopped (optional)
- Onion, chopped
- Green chilies, chopped
- Black mustard seeds
- Urad dal/ kolai daal
- Chana dal/ cholar dal/ Bengal gram
- Curry leaves
- Cashew nuts
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-step instructions - Rava Upma in Microwave Recipe
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Here's how to make a perfectly fluffy and delicious rava upma using your microwave.
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I like to add vegetables to my upma, not just to make it more filling, but also to make it healthier. This step is completely up to you. If you choose to add them, you'll need ⅓ cup of finely sliced carrots, ⅓ cup of small French bean pieces, one chopped onion, and 4-5 chopped green chilies. This covers most of your preparation work.
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The secret to perfect upma is properly roasting the rava. This is the first important step when cooking upma in the microwave. Here's how to roast the rava:
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Place 1 cup of rava in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of ghee to the rava and mix it well with a fork or spoon.
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Next, microwave this rava and ghee mixture on high for one minute, then remove the bowl.
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Immediately and vigorously stir the rava with a fork for about 30 seconds. This ensures the heat spreads evenly. You'll notice the rava changing color as you stir. It's very important to mix it thoroughly after heating; otherwise, it will burn. Your semolina is now perfectly prepared for cooking.
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Melt one tablespoon of ghee in a bowl by microwaving it on high for 30 seconds. Remove the bowl.
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Into the melted ghee, add half a teaspoon of black mustard seeds, one teaspoon of Urad dal, one teaspoon of Chana dal, 10-15 curry leaves, and 20 broken cashew nuts. Stir well with a spoon to ensure everything is coated.
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Now, microwave this mixture on high for 1 minute, then remove the bowl.
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You will notice the spices, nuts, and lentils have a lovely color and a pleasant smell.
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Next, add the chopped vegetables and mix them thoroughly.
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Microwave this uncovered on high for two minutes.
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Add the roasted rava or sooji, one teaspoon of salt, and one teaspoon of ginger paste (you can also use chopped ginger). Mix everything well.
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Then, pour in two and a half cups of hot water. Stir everything thoroughly before cooking.
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Cover the bowl with a lid and cook on high for 5-6 minutes.
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I cooked it in two stages: first for 4 minutes, and then for another 1.5 minutes. Take the bowl out and stir it to ensure even cooking.
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Finally, place the bowl back in the microwave without the lid and cook on high for 1.5 to 2 minutes. You will see that the upma is almost ready.
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If necessary, cook for another minute.
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If you like, add lemon juice after five minutes. Stir well before serving.
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Your fluffy, healthy upma, perfectly cooked in the microwave, is now ready to enjoy!
Substitutions and Variations
- Ghee - I use ghee to roast the semolina and to cook the upma. You can also use any unflavored oil if you prefer.
- Vegetables - For vegetables, I like to include French beans, carrots, and onion in my upma. These are optional, and you can also add green peas or leave out the vegetables entirely.
- Spices - As for spices, I prefer to add green chilies, but this is also optional.
- Nuts - Finally, I enjoy adding cashews to my upma. However, if you have an allergy or simply don't want to use them, feel free to leave them out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Upma, a popular and savory breakfast from South India, is primarily made from roasted semolina, also known as rava or suji. This dish gets its delicious flavor from a tempering of mustard seeds, lentils (such as urad or chana dal), fragrant curry leaves, ginger, and onions. For an even richer taste, cooks often add vegetables like peas and carrots, along with nuts such as cashews or peanuts.
Yes, you can absolutely cook fluffy upma in the microwave. To achieve this, you need to properly roast the semolina, and you can even do that in the microwave. Continue reading the recipe to understand how.
To answer your question, consider the ingredients used in rava upma. This dish is not only delicious but also a balanced breakfast. So yes, it is healthy.
Related Breakfast Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this for breakfast? Try these:
30-minute cooking recipes
Recipe Card
Rava Upma recipe in a microwave oven | Easy Indian Breakfast
Equipment
- 1 bowl with lid microwave-safe
- 1 flat bowl microwave-safe
Ingredients
- 1 cup rava/ sooji/ semolina use the same cup to measure water
- 2.5 cup water hot
- 1.5 tablespoon ghee
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
Vegetables
- ⅓ cup carrot slice (optional)
- ⅓ cup French beans chopped (optional)
- 1 onion chopped
- 5 green chilies chopped
Tempering
- ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon urad dal/ kolai daal
- 1 teaspoon chana dal/ cholar dal/ Bengal gram
- 15 curry leaves
- 20 cashew nuts broken
Instructions
- Here's how to make a perfectly fluffy and delicious rava upma using your microwave.
- I like to add vegetables to my upma, not just for extra flavor but also to make it a healthier and more satisfying meal. This step is completely up to you! If you decide to include them, gather ⅓ cup of finely sliced carrots, ⅓ cup of small French bean pieces, one chopped onion, and 4-5 chopped green chilies. These are your main ingredients to prepare beforehand.
- The secret to amazing upma is properly toasting the rava. This is the crucial first step when making upma in the microwave that ensures a perfect outcome. Let me show you how to toast the rava.
- Place 1 cup of rava in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Add 1 teaspoon of ghee to the rava and mix it well with a fork or spoon.
- Now, microwave this rava and ghee mixture on high for one minute. Carefully remove the bowl.
- Immediately and vigorously mix the rava with a fork for about 30 seconds. This helps distribute the heat evenly. You'll notice the rava changing color as you mix. This step is very important because if you don't mix the rava and ghee after heating, it can burn. So, keep mixing! Your semolina is now perfectly prepared for cooking.
- Melt one tablespoon of ghee in a bowl by microwaving it on high for 30 seconds.
- Remove the bowl and add half a teaspoon of black mustard seeds, one teaspoon of Urad dal, one teaspoon of Chana dal, 10-15 curry leaves, and 20 broken cashew nuts to the melted ghee. Stir everything with a spoon until well coated.
- Now, microwave this mixture on high for one minute and then take the bowl out.
- You will notice the tempering, nuts, and lentils have developed a pleasant color and aroma.
- Next, add the chopped vegetables and mix them thoroughly.
- Cook this mixture in the microwave on high for two minutes, leaving the lid off.
- Stir in the roasted rava/sooji, one teaspoon of salt, and one teaspoon of ginger paste (or chopped ginger).
- Mix well.
- Pour in 2.5 cups of hot water and give it a good stir before cooking.
- Cover the bowl with a lid and cook on high for 5-6 minutes. (I cooked it in two stages: first for 4 minutes, then for another 1.5 minutes.)
- Take the bowl out and stir the contents to ensure even cooking.
- Return the bowl to the microwave, without the lid, and cook on high for 1.5 to 2 minutes.
- At this point, your upma will be almost ready.
- If necessary, continue cooking for another minute.
- If you like, add lemon juice after five minutes. Stir well, and your perfectly cooked, fluffy, and healthy microwave upma is ready to eat!
Notes
- Ghee is my preferred choice for roasting the rava and cooking the upma. However, unflavored oil works just as well.
- For vegetables, I like to include French beans, carrots, and onions in my upma, but these are completely optional.
- Feel free to add green peas or omit all vegetables if you prefer.
- I also enjoy a bit of spice, so I add green chilies, though this is also optional.
- Finally, I typically use cashews in my upma; if you have an allergy or simply don't want them, feel free to leave them out.
Nutrition
Have you tried the Upma in Microwave Recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
Please inform me of your experience, and feel free to send a photo to [email protected]. Additionally, you can find me on various social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, Google News, X, and Thread. Don't forget to use the hashtag #debjanirrannaghar when sharing your attempts at my recipes or if you have any questions or recipe requests.
Here's the Rava Upma in Microwave Recipe Pin for your Pinterest Board
About Debjani Chatterjee Alam
I am Debjani Chatterjee Alam. A CSR specialist by profession and a food writer, food blogger, and food photographer as well. I live in Kolkata along with my Husband Mehebub who is an architect by profession, my daughter Pasta, and also my dog daughters Coffee and Luchi.
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