Oats Vegetable Upma is a nourishing and healthy Indian breakfast recipe, made in an Instant Pot. Loaded with veggies, this soft oats upma is very delicious.
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What Is Upma
Upma is a popular South Indian savory breakfast recipe! It's usually made with semolina or rava, veggies, and mild spices. It has a soft, porridge-like texture. Over the years and in different Indian sub-cuisines, upma can be made with different grains like broken wheat, oats, millets, or quinoa. This staple in Indian households is known for its quick preparation and satisfying taste.
Oats Upma In The Instant Pot
Since I wanted to make a simple, quick and healthy breakfast dish, I chose to make this Vegetable Oats Upma in the Instant Pot. I substituted Semolina(Rawa) with old fashioned rolled oats to make it more nutritious and balanced.
Why Make This
- It's vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free
- Can be made in the Instant Pot as well as on the stovetop
- Is made with less oil, and lots of veggies
- Great way to incorporate oats into the daily diet
- A wholesome savory breakfast/snack recipe
- Can be made in 20 minutes
Ingredients needed 🧾
Oats - Old Fashioned Rolled Oats is what I have used. It has a chewy texture which is perfect for Upma. Steel Cut Oats can also be used. This variety of oats imparts a slightly nuttier taste than regular oats.
Veggies - I have added onion, tomatoes, green peas, green beans, and carrots to make the upma more wholesome and hearty. Feel free to add more veggies like spinach, bell peppers, potatoes, broccoli, and mushrooms.
Nuts, lentils, and seeds - mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal, chana dal, and cashews are added in this Vegetable Oats Upma recipe. The impart a nutty flavor and also give this soft porridge a crunch.
Herbs and aromatics - gluten-free asafoetida (hing), curry leaves, green chillies, ginger, and cilantro give the Oats Upma a delicious aromatic flavor.
How to make it 🔪
- Soak chana dal in water for 10 minutes. Meanwhile chop all the veggies.
- Turn on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Add vegan ghee to the Instant pot. Once the ghee melts, add mustard seeds to the ghee. Once the mustard seeds begin to pop, add cumin seeds, GF asafoetida, urad Dal, and chana dal. Fry for 15-20 seconds or till the lentils turn light golden.
- Then add chopped ginger, cashews, curry leaves, and minced green chillies.
- Now add the chopped onions. Saute till the onions turn translucent. Add few splashes of water to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the Pot.
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- Add chopped tomatoes, and saute for 30 seconds.
- Then add the veggies, turmeric powder and red chilly powder. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Mix well and add salt, steel cut oats and water.
- Turn off the saute mode and close the lid. Press the manual or pressure cook button and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Release the pressure naturally and then open the Instant Pot.
Serving suggestions 🍽
Garnish with chopped cilantro, mix and serve hot with some ketchup on the side. You can also prepare this Upma on the cook-top by following the same steps. Oats and Vegetable Upma is a delicious breakfast that can be enjoyed anytime of the day but is best when had first thing in the morning.
Top recipe tips 💭
Feel free to add more fresh or frozen veggies like spinach, bell peppers, potatoes, broccoli, and mushrooms. Instead of vegan ghee, you can also use any vegetable oil or plant-based butter. Instead of cashews, you can add peanuts. Skip adding an kind of nut if you are allergic. Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds can also be added instead.
FAQs 📖
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats is what I have used. It has a chewy texture which is perfect for Upma. Steel Cut Oats can also be used. They impart a slightly nuttier taste than regular oats.
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Recipe 📖
Oats Vegetable Upma
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon vegan ghee
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon GF asafoetida
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon white urad dal
- 1 teaspoon chana dal
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 5-6 curry leaves
- 2 green chillies
- 1 tablespoon cashews (whole or coarsely chopped)
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 cup mixed veggies beans, carrots, and green peas
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chilly powder
- salt
- ½ cup steel cut oats
- 2 cups water
- cilantro
Instructions
- Soak chana dal in water for 10 minutes. Meanwhile chop all the veggies.
- Turn on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Add vegan ghee to the Instant pot. Once the ghee melts, add mustard seeds to the ghee. Once the mustard seeds begin to pop, add cumin seeds, GF asafoetida, urad Dal, and chana dal. Fry for 15-20 seconds or till the lentils turn light golden.
- Then add chopped ginger, cashews, curry leaves, and minced green chillies.
- Now add the chopped onions. Saute till the onions turn translucent. Add few splashes of water to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the Pot.
- Add chopped tomatoes, and saute for 30 seconds.
- Then add the veggies, turmeric powder and red chilly powder. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Mix well and add salt, steel cut oats and water.
- Turn off the saute mode and close the lid. Press the manual or pressure cook button and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Release the pressure naturally and then open the Instant Pot.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro, mix and serve hot with some ketchup on the side.
Want to save this recipe?
We'll email this recipe to you, so that you can look at it later!
Vidya says
Super simple and healthy Indian breakfast...love it..
Rae says
This sounds like such a healthy and delicious breakfast! Easy to make, too.
Kelly Anthony says
I've been eating a lot of steel cut oats lately and they are so good. Excited to try something new with them. Thanks for sharing.
Morgan @ Host the Toast says
I'm a huge fan of a savory breakfast, but you don't find a lot of savory oat recipes. Now I'm really excited to try this one!
Heidy L. McCallum says
Wow this looks stunning and yet seems to be so easy, what a treasure! I can't wait to try this in my Instapot.
pamelagreer says
I agree with you, breakfast is so important! I never skip breakfast and I can't wait to try this one in my Instant Pot!