Tangy Aval Upma – My ‘Life-saver’!

As if having 2 blogs to write[one about food and the other on my travels] is not enough I have another blog with yet another theme coming up!Well what can I say, I really am obsessed!

Noon is the time I really get to sit ‘undisturbed’ in from of the PC [becoz that’s when Lil angel takes a nap].Its not that I don’t touch my PC at other times of the day,I do but its kinda hurried and just a few glances of other blogs I like to read or a few hurried notes about the recipe I am going to write and so on.I can sense a sort of sibling rivalry between lil angel and the PC.Maybe she feels that I give more importance to the computer than play with her.Hence I have considerably cut down the time I spend on the blog when she is awake.She is a happy girl now!

So when I sit down to write peacefully its already 3.30pm!And when I start writing ,sometimes I forget the world around me.That’s the time I really have to be careful.Many a times I have forgotten that I have to go shopping to buy some important ingredient that needs to go into the dinner menu or that I have to prepare something for hubby when he comes home from work.[These are just a few examples for I am scared to elaborate the other stuffs!]

Suddenly,it would strike me that’s its 5.30 pm already and there would be a knock on the door anytime now.So off I would run to the kitchen to see if I can prepare anything in a jiffy .Then my eyes would fall on the treasured pack of Aval [Pressed rice] and I would smile to myself.

Rinse and soak the pressed rice and again sit in front of the PC and after a few minutes can go back to the kitchen and do the seasoning.This is why I cal lit a ‘life-saver’ !No need to spend too much time in the kitchen yet you get a tasty and nutritious dish.[Pressed rice is rich in Iron you know!]

When hubby comes home,I serve it to him like a ‘good girl’ who is always keen on satisfying the hunger pangs of the bread winner of the family!!Not to mention that it will also make me look like I have been thinking about nothing but what I was planning to cook for him and spent most of the day in the kitchen!!

Anyways,if you are wondering why I call the pack of Aval ‘treasure’,its because I can’t find it around here and have to make do with the one large pack I got from India.If its all used up then I have to wait till I get back and bring back another one.

Now to the recipe..

I used:

Aval/Pressed rice/Poha – 1 cup
Onion-1/2 finely chopped
Red chillies- 3
Curry leaves – a few
Mustard-1 teaspoon
Jeera-1/2 a teaspoon
Channa dhal-1 teaspoon
Coarsely crushed peanut-1 tablespoon
Turmeric powder- a pinch
Lemon juice to taste
Salt to taste
Oil- 2 teaspoons

1. Wash the pressed rice in a couple of runs of water and drain.
2. Cover and keep aside till it is soft to touch.In this stage you will notice that it can be mashed when pressed between the fingers and also the grains are separate.If you add too much of water,it turns soggy.
3. Heat oil in a pan and put in the mustard,jeera,channa dhal,red chillies,curry leaves and when it crackles and dhal turns brown, add the onion and saute till soft.
4. Add a pinch of turmeric,pressed rice,salt and mix well.
5. Remove from the pan and mix in the lemon juice.
6. Serve warm garnished with crushes peanut.

There you go tangy aval upma in a jiffy!!!This can be served as such but if you like you can also serve with plain yogurt[my favorite] / pickle / chutney of your choice.

Note:

There are two varieties of Pressed rice – the thick and thin varieties.

If you are using the thin variety, wash the Pressed rice in a colander and use immediately.If you let it stand too long,it will get soggy.

If using the thick variety,wash it and put in a vessel.Sprinkle a little water,cover and let it stand for 10 minutes or till it is soft.Then use it in the recipe.

You might also like to to try out these varieties with pressed rice

Sweet Poha – A healthy and sweet dish that kids will adore
Kande pohe – A dish straight from Maharastra
Aval upma – The regular method
Curd aval – Delicious and cooling pressed rice in seasoned yogurt.

By the way,would you like to travel with me to Qingdao and watch a dolphin show?,then hop right over….

Happy cooking…