Godhuma Rava Upma / Cracked Wheat Upma

Cracked wheat is called Godhuma Rava. Since cracked wheat cooks easily, it is usually resorted for an easy dinner with simple and mild spices and grams. If vegetables are added, it is all the more nutritious, and results in an easy one-pot meal. 

I never liked cracked wheat when I was growing up. However, with time constraints and long days, anything that can be made within half an hour is an appealing choice for dinner or lunch!

If you'd like more information on the Indian ingredients listed here, please refer to the Glossary

Ingredients (serves 6):

1. 3 cups godhuma rava / cracked wheat
2. 3/4 cup chopped green beans
3. 1 red onion, finely chopped
4. 1 teaspoon minced ginger
5. 2 bell-peppers, chopped - 1 yellow and 1 red for a colorful mix
6. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
7. 2-3 green chillies, chopped or sliced in two
8. 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
9. 2 teaspoons split urad dal / split husked black gram / ulutham paruppu
10. 2 teaspoons bengal gram / kadala paruppu
11. a few curry leaves
12. salt, as needed
13. 2 teaspoons ghee / clarified butter

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan. When hot, add mustard seeds and wait for them to pop. Add black gram, bengal gram, curry leaves, and green chillies and fry until the grams begin to change color. 
2. Add onion and ginger and saute until onions are soft.
3. Add the beans and bell-peppers and salt and cook for a couple of minutes. 
4. Add 8 cups of water, close the lid and bring to a boil
5. When the water is boiling, slowly add the cracked wheat and keep stirring to avoid lumps. Reduce the heat to low, close the pan and let the wheat cook.
6. Check after a couple of minutes and give a stir. Periodically check until all the water is absorbed and the wheat is cooked. This takes about 5-7 minutes, depending on the variety of wheat. 
7. Remove from heat and stir in ghee.

 

Serve warm with a side dish like chutney or sambar.