5 from 78 votes
Rava / Sooji Upma in Instant Pot
Rava Upma is a savory South Indian breakfast dish made with roasted semolina cooked in tempered spices, vegetables, and cashews. Pressure cooking it in an Instant Pot yields a fluffy, moist texture with distinct grains, balanced by the warmth of mustard seeds, curry leaves, and ginger. The addition of lemon juice brightens the flavor, while garnishing with cilantro completes the dish.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
304 kcal
Course:
Breakfast, Snacks
Cuisine:
Indian
Ingredients
- 1 cup semolina roasted, thick, aka Sooji or Rava
- 2 tablespoon ghee or oil
- 1 green chili pepper chopped
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 1/2 tablespoon ginger
- 2 carrot grated
- 1/2 cup green peas fresh or frozen
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup cashews roasted
- 3 cups water heated in microwave
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice to drizzle
- cilantro to garnish
For tempering
- 8 curry leaves aka Kadi Patta
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds aka rai
- 1 teaspoon split skinned black gram lentils split & dehusked black gram lentils, aka urad dal
- 1 teaspoon chickpeas split, aka Chana dal
Instructions
- Start the instant pot in SAUTE mode and let it heat. Add oil and all the tempering ingredients.
- When the mustard seeds splutter, add green chili, onions and ginger. Saute for 2 minutes while stirring frequently.
- Add carrots, peas, salt, sugar and cashews. Stir well. If you are adding different veggies that take longer to cook, then saute them for a few minutes.
- Add roasted rava and water. Stir it all up and scrape if anything is stuck to the bottom. Close lid with vent in sealing position.
- Change setting to MANUAL or pressure cook mode for 2 minutes. The pin may or may not come up, but the upma will still be cooked in this time.
- When the instant pot beeps, quick release the pressure. Take the stainless steel insert out of the pot.
- Sprinkle lemon juice and mix. Cover with a glass or other lid. Let the upma rest for 5 minutes. (This is an important step to let the upma not be mushy and soak up all liquid)
- Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy upma with chutney!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use thick roasted rava for best texture; thin rava may produce gummy results in the Instant Pot.
- Let the upma rest covered for 5 minutes after cooking to prevent stickiness and allow moisture to absorb evenly.
- If you see a BURN error on newer Instant Pot models, stop the cycle, scrape the bottom, and continue cooking on sauté mode until liquid is absorbed.
Nutrition Information
Serving
154g
Calories
304kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
44.04g
(15%)
Protein
9.01g
(18%)
Fat
10.64g
(16%)
Saturated Fat
4.553g
(23%)
Trans Fat
0.233g
(12%)
Cholesterol
15mg
(5%)
Sodium
626mg
(26%)
Potassium
362mg
(8%)
Fiber
4.5g
(18%)
Sugar
4.79g
(10%)
Vitamin A
12450IU
(249%)
Vitamin C
39.6mg
(44%)
Calcium
40mg
(4%)
Iron
1.8mg
(10%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 304
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 154g | |
| Calories | 304kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 44.04g | 15% |
| Protein | 9.01g | 18% |
| Fat | 10.64g | 16% |
| Saturated Fat | 4.553g | 23% |
| Trans Fat | 0.233g | 12% |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 626mg | 26% |
| Potassium | 362mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 4.5g | 18% |
| Sugar | 4.79g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 12450IU | 249% |
| Vitamin C | 39.6mg | 44% |
| Calcium | 40mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1.8mg | 10% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.