Rula'nv or Upma (Seasoned Cream of Wheat)

This is a staple traditional item that is made in most Konkani and South Indian homes for breakfast. It is nutritious and tasty and can be made in a jiffy.

Rula’nv or Upma

Ingredients: • 1/2 cup Roasted Rawa (medium fine or cream of wheat works as well) • 3 Green Chillies slit (use as per your taste) • 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds • 1 tsp Urad Dhal • 4 - 6 Curry Leaves

• Salt to taste • 1 tbsp Grated Coconut (you can add more or less according to your taste) • Sugar to taste (optional) • Pinch of Hing (asafoetida) optional • 1/4 tsp Minced Ginger (optional) Cashew pieces (optional) • 1 and 1/2 cup hot water • 1 and a 1/2 tbsp oil or ghee ( you can add more if you wish)

Steps: 1. Heat oil or/and ghee in a pan and season mustard seeds, and let them splutter. 2. Next add in the udad, curry leaves and slit green chillies and cashew bits and sauté for another minute. 3. Add in the rawa (semolina) roast on a low flame for about 5 minutes, till you get a nice aroma. 4. Add in the salt to taste, pinch of sugar and the chopped ginger and the hot water. Mix well and cover and cook for five minutes or until the rawa has cooked well. 5. Sprinkle fresh grated coconut and mix well and serve hot.

Notes: - Alternatively you can buy roasted rawa, or roast it ahead of time and store in an air tight container. - You can also do everything from steps 1 to 3 and cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Whenever you wish to make it, just add the salt, and sugar to taste and hot water and cook through and add the coconut. - Rula'nv is usually prepared on pooja days, festivals etc. for breakfast or snack as it is a satvik food with no onion and garlic.

Variations:

- you can also sauté some finely chopped onions till they are translucent, after you have sautéed the seasonings (step #2) and continue. If you choose this option, it can't be used as a satvik meal.

- Finely chopped cilantro garnish is an option as well.