Vegetable Upma

Upma is a very famous South Indian dish. But nowadays it has become popular in many others parts of India especially as a form of snack & morning breakfast as it is easy to cook. Initially I used to cook the other version (mentioned in variation) which is slightly liquidy. But Kartik always loved South Indian style upma (which is less liquidy), the one which we get at South Indian restaurants in Matunga, Mumbai. So I learnt it from one of my South Indian Friend in my neighborhood. So now I make both alternately.No. of Servings: 3Preparation Time: 20Ingredients:2/3 cup Semolina (Rawa or Sooji)1 Carrot chopped½ cup Frozen peas1 Onion chopped1 tbsp ghee1 tsp Udad dal1 tsp Chana dal½ tsp Mustard seeds½ tsp Cumin seeds5 Curry leaves2/3 cup Water1½ cup fatfree Milk (also see variation)2tbsp Sugar1tsp Lemon juice½ tsp Ginger paste½ tsp chilly paste 5 cashews3 tbsp Coriander Salt as per tasteMethod:Roast rawa on a medium flame for approx 10 mins or till it turns light brown & one get the aroma of roasted rawa.On the other side heat ghee in a pan.Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add udad dal & chana dal and saute it till they start changing colours.Add cumin, curry leaves and saute for half a minute.Add carrots followed by onion & saute.Add waterThen add ginger paste, chilly paste, salt, sugar & lemon juice to water & let it boil for 1 min.Add Milk, peas and cashews & bring it to boil.Now keep on adding small amounts of rawa while stirring it continuously.After all the rawa is added, keep stirring for an additional ½ minute.Garnish with coriander. Serve hot with Coconut chutneyTips/ Variations:You can also make Upma with Buttermilk instead of Milk. For that there is minor changes as follows :Ingredients:1 cup Semolina (Rawa or Sooji)1½ cup buttermilk in place of milkMethod:The Initial 4 steps are the sameNow add roasted rawa and saute it for 1 min. Add 1½ cup boiled water. Add ginger chilly paste, lemon , sugar and let it boil.Add 1½ cup buttermilk followed by salt and then simmer till cookedAdd cashews.