Suji Upma Recipe (Soft & Fluffy Rava Upma)

What Is Suji Upma?

Suji upma is a savory porridge made with suji, also known as cream of wheat, rava, sooji, or semolina. It is usually prepared by dry-roasting the semolina first. It is then cooked with a flavorful tempering and hot water.

Traditional versions often include mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chilies, ginger, lentils, and nuts. Vegetables such as carrots, peas, and onions are also popular additions.

The finished upma should be soft and fluffy. It should not be watery or sticky.

Why You Will Love This Rava Upma Recipe

• It takes about 20 minutes.
• It uses everyday ingredients.
• It is naturally vegetarian.
• You can add your favorite vegetables.
• It makes a filling breakfast.
• It works well for breakfast, brunch, or tiffin.
• It can easily be made vegan.
• It tastes delicious with chutney, pickle, or chai.

Ingredients for Suji Upma

You need 1 cup rava or suji, 2½ cups water, and a few simple ingredients.

For the tempering, use 1½ tablespoons oil or ghee, ½ teaspoon mustard seeds, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, 1 tablespoon chana dal, 1 tablespoon urad dal, and 8 to 10 cashews.

Add 1 small onion and tomato, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 1 to 2 green chilies, and 8 to 10 curry leaves.

Optional: For vegetables, I like ¼ cup finely chopped carrots and ¼ cup green peas. You can also add green beans or corn.

Finish with salt to taste, 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, and 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice. A little grated coconut and crispy sev is optional but delicious.

How to Make Suji Upma

1. Roast the rava

Place a heavy-bottomed pan over low to medium-low heat. Add the suji. Dry roast it for about 5 minutes. Stir often so it cooks evenly.

The rava should smell nutty and fragrant. It should become golden rather than becoming dark brown. Transfer the roasted rava to a bowl.

Pro Tip: Do not skip roasting the semolina. This small step makes a big difference in flavor and texture. It also helps prevent a sticky finished upma.

2. Make the tempering

Heat oil or ghee in the same pan. Add mustard and cumin seeds. Let them crackle. Add hing, chana dal, urad dal, and cashews (if using). Cook until the dal and cashews are lightly golden.

Add curry leaves(if using), ginger, and green chilies. Sauté for about 30 seconds.

3. Cook the vegetables

Add the chopped onion. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until it begins to soften. Add carrots, peas, (if using) and a little salt. Cook for another 2 minutes.

You do not need to fully cook the vegetables at this stage. They will continue cooking with the water.

4. Add the water

Pour in 2½ cups of water. Add the remaining salt. Bring the water to a full boil.

This is important. The rava cooks more evenly when it is added to hot, simmering water.

5. Add the roasted suji

Lower the heat. Slowly add the roasted rava while stirring continuously. Do not dump all the rava into the pan at once. Keep stirring as you add it.

This helps prevent lumps and gives you smooth, fluffy upma. The commonly used water ratio varies depending on the desired texture, with 1 cup rava to roughly 2 to 3 cups water being common.

6. Steam the upma

Cover the pan. Cook on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat. Let the upma rest for another 2 minutes. Remove the lid and gently fluff it with a spoon.

Add lemon juice and fresh cilantro. Give it one final stir. Your homemade rava upma is ready.

How to Make Instant Pot Upma with Rava

1. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté and dry roast the suji for 3–4 minutes, stirring often; transfer it to a bowl.
2. Add oil or ghee, then temper mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chana dal, urad dal, and cashews until fragrant.
3. Add curry leaves, ginger, green chilies, onion, carrots, peas, and turmeric. Sauté for 2 minutes.
4. Add 2½ cups water and salt, and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Slowly stir in the roasted suji, making sure there are no lumps. Cancel Sauté and close the lid.
5. Select Pressure Cook for 3 minutes on High Pressure.
6. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then carefully release the remaining pressure. Fluff with lemon juice and cilantro and sev. Serve warm.

Easy Variations

Vegetable Rava Upma

Add extra carrots, peas, green beans, corn, or bell peppers. Cut the vegetables into small pieces so they cook quickly.

South Indian Style Upma

For a more traditional South Indian flavor, do not skip the curry leaves, mustard seeds, chana dal, urad dal, and ginger. These ingredients give the dish its signature tempering.

What to Serve With Upma

Suji upma tastes wonderful on its own.

For a traditional breakfast, serve it with coconut chutney, mint cilantro chutney, tomato chutney, or Indian pickle. Some people also enjoy it with sambar.

A cup of hot chai or South Indian filter coffee makes it even better. For a fresh side, serve seasonal fruit or sliced cucumber.

How to Store Leftover Upma

Upma is best served hot and fresh.

If you have leftovers, let them cool before transferring them to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 2 days.

The texture becomes firmer when chilled. To reheat, sprinkle a few tablespoons of water over the upma. Cover and microwave until hot. You can also reheat it gently in a skillet.

Fluff with a spoon before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my upma become sticky?

Usually, the problem is too much water, under-roasted rava, or insufficient stirring while adding the rava. Roast the semolina well and add it slowly to boiling water while stirring.

What is the ratio of rava to water for upma?

For this recipe, I use 1 cup rava to 2½ cups water. This gives soft and moist upma without making it overly mushy. You can adjust the water slightly depending on the type of rava and your preferred consistency.

Can I make upma without vegetables?

Absolutely. Simply leave out the carrots and peas. You will still have delicious plain suji upma flavored with ginger, green chilies, curry leaves, and the tempering spices.

Is suji upma the same as rava upma?

Yes. Suji upma and rava upma are different names for essentially the same dish. Both are made with semolina.

More Indian Breakfast Recipes

Suji Upma is a simple comfort food. And it is one of those recipes that is always good to have in your breakfast rotation. Here are some more Indian Breakfast recipes.

• Besan Chila - Savory Chikcpea Flour Pancakes
• Paneer bhurji - Scrambled Cottage Cheese
• Misal Pav Recipe - Street Food style Sprouts Curry
• Indian Kheer Overnight Oats
• Sabudana Khichdi - Fasting recipe