This is one of those recipes I can’t believe I haven’t posted yet. Its true that I mostly make it for dinner and I do prefer dalia upma over vegetable rava upma anyday! 
This is one of those healthy dishes that don’t taste healthy, atleast to me. Its delicious piping hot with some steaming sambar and chutney. I didn’t grow up eating this but I definitely make sure we have this for dinner atleast once every 2 weeks. Its perfect for weeknights if you use frozen cut vegetables to jazz it up. You can also check out my instant rava idli and quick rava dosa recipe for easy South Indian breakfast ideas. Looking for a more unique breakfast idea? Then check out this kanchipuram idli recipe.
Vegetable Dalia (Broken Wheat) Upma Recipe
Source: Amma
Total cooking time: 25-30 mins
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
1.5 cups broken wheat or dalia
3 cups water
1 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup mixed vegetables (I use frozen peas, corn, carrots and French beans)
1 tsp powdered ginger or 1/2″ grated fresh ginger
2-3 green chillies
Salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds. When they pop, add the onions and green chillies and saute until the onions turn transparent (about 2-3 mins).
2. Add the ginger powder or grated ginger, whichever you are using, and fry for another 20 seconds. Next, add the vegetables and 3 cups water. Bring to boil and cook closed until the vegetables are soft (about 5-6 mins).
3. Add salt and the broken wheat in a slow trickle, stirring as you do this. Once you have added all the broken wheat, there should be enough water to cover it completely. If not, add more. Stir frequently and cook until all the water has been absorbed and the upma comes together, soft and fluffy. Pop some of the wheat in your mouth to see if its soft. If not, add more water and keep stirring until its fully done. Also adjust salt at this stage.
Serve hot with sambar and/or chutney.
You know what we do for giving the humble upma a twist? We use quick-cook oats. Just blitz it in a grinder for a second or so (any longer and the resultant powder may not provide great texture) and follow the same recipe, more or less. A danger is not adding enough water, oats upma could become rubbery when cold.
The next time I crave for healthy upma, I'll know I have TWO options. Thanks.
i have been meaning to try the healthy oats upma for a while now. thanks for your tips on how to make oats upma 🙂
Just hope to be of some help to you.
You have no idea how much your blog has helped whet my appetite for cooking because the recipes always seem to work out. Since I am Marathi-speaking, your recipes from Kerala and Tamil Nadu are especially helpful. Thanks again. 🙂
Hey just wanted to chi can we pressure cook the dalia and then add to veggies ..if so is the proposition of water to wheat the same
Thks
i haven't tried pressure cooking dalia so can't tell for sure. why don't you try with the same? must come out well.
Nice receipe…i'l try it defintly…thank u so much for shareing it…i love your blog!! thanks agn
Hi Nags,
One Question. Don't you have to soak and drain the dalia before using it to make the upma??? Will it cook quickly in an open pan without it being pre soaked??
no
i don't do that. i just cook it directly as mentioned in the recipe 🙂
In a pan dry roast the Dalia for some time till a nice smell comes out. Then soak it. While you cook vegetables, add the soaked water as well as Dalia. It takes less time and no need of pressure cooking…
very healthy recipe
Its look great and nutritious too. Great idea wheat broken used in salty way.
Hi..
Nice clicks..simple and easy to cook..
Thanks for the recipe..
nice clicks and a very healthy recepi.. just wanted to ask you what number (#) broken wheat you buy from indian store to make as they have numbers from 1,2,3,4,5.. pls let me know i can buy and make this…
erm.. there are no numbers on them here in singapore, so i am afraid i am not sure. but i guess the numbers indicate size of the grain so go with your personal preference. i would recommend going for a mid-sized grain so that it doesn't get too mushy when cooked, but on the other hand, doesn't feel too grainy either.
This is something new to me. I will give this a try.
This rice recipe looks tasty. thank you for this recipe.
have been looking for some tasty dalia recipes and this one looks like a winner…will try out and let you know!!!
nice! i've always wanted to incorporate broken wheat in our diet but was left wondering what to do with it apart from khichdi, which the family doesn't like, or payasam, which i'm not too fond of. Looks like this is the perfect solution. Will give it a try. thanks for sharing this! Tentatively how long does the wheat take to cook and can i use a pressure cooker for this?
wow..looks really good…nice idea to use broken wheat.healthier too.
hey Nags,dont ppl in Kerala use broken wheat to make 'godambu kanji'?on btw,love the way you have listed Amma has yht source of the recipe..perfect gift for Mother's day 🙂
You don't need to pressure cook it. Once you add the broken wheat to the boiling water, it will cook in 5-6 mins.
Yes I believe this is also used for porridge 🙂 I didn't have Mother's Day in mind, actually 🙂
Yummy and healthy breakfast.
Podi ari is broken rice. This is broken wheat. Both are different 🙂
I love the shape you put it in…very pretty! And it looks so healthy which is a big plus for me!
is broken wheat same as podi ari??
ooooooo, yum !!! and what a great presentation and surely healthy 🙂
I love Dalia upma too, and prefer it over regular upma.
I mske it like regular upm/ uppitu , with buttermilk, love the tng and the wholesome-ness.
Delicious and healthy upma… My dad's fav..
http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com
Breakfast Club – Pancakes – Roundup
Delicious upma,luv the clicks…
wonderful breakfast…
Very nice dalia recipe, look forward to trying, thanks for sharing.
I love this. My mom makes it specially for me..We add more water .ie around 3 cups.
Wat a healthy filling upma to enjoy without any guilt..
Very easy and healthy dish..can be fixed up in a jiffy and no compromise on taste as well 🙂
love it any time for me
Looks very colourful and perfect,fluffy. I make both ways with less water and some times gooey too… 🙂
Nags, have something for you over at my blog. Nice clicks and I love broken wheat upma.
when my inlaws came here everyday i make this for breakfast,perfectly cooked and nicely captured
I used to HATE upma as a kid, but I love it now. I once accidently bought broken wheat instead of rava and loved how it turned out. Had no idea it was called Dalia until a friend told me.
I love broken wheat .. it is healthy and upma is always easy to prepare. Lovely pictures.
Vardhini
VardhinisKitchen
I luv this too…with chutney and sambar..nothing can beat it..Looks perfectly cooked!