Oats & Tofu Upma
A nutritious upgrade to the usual upma, that also is savory, flavor and texture filled, in under 20 min.
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 18 minutes mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Indian
- 3 cups rolled oats ( I used sprouted organic oats from costco)
- 1/2 block extra firm organic tofu- about 8 ounces
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp Oil- avocado or olive oil preferred -optional can be done without oil as well
- 1 Tbsp grated ginger
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- 2-3 dry red chilies
- 1 tsp brown mustard seeds
- 1/2 cup sliced red onion
- 2-3 medium green chilies slit length wise per your spice preference
- 1/2 cup sliced carrots, can use grated also
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup cabbage- I used shredded purple cabbage
- 1/2 cup bell peppers chopped - color of your choice
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast- optional
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp cumin powder- optional
- dry toasted cashews to garnish- per your preferance
- cilantro to garnish
Take a heavy bottom pan and on medium heat, add the oil if using. Once hot, add the red chilies, mustard seeds, ginger , curry leaves, turmeric powder. The mustard seeds will splutter. If not using oil, you can add sprinkles of water at this stage. Then add the onions, green chilies. Wait two minutes, before adding the veggies of your choice, one by one. More veggies, the merrier for your health. Mix them well. Saute them for 4-5 min. While the veggies are being cooked, take the tofu out of the packaging, place heavy weight on the top, and let it drain extra water for 10 min.
Now crumble the tofu with your hand and add it to the pan. Mix it well and cook for about 2 min.
Once you see that tofu lost most of its moisture, add the oats, and stir in for a minute.
Add the water, salt, cumin powder, and give it a good mix. Keep the lid on and cook for 6-8 min.
Oats should be cooked by this time. Take the lid off and let it cook for a minute more, if needed, in case you notice still plenty of moisture.
Add dry toasted cashews and chopped cilantro to garnish.
If you don't have tofu, and are in mood to upgrade plain oats upma, open up a can of beans, or if not in a time crunch, soak beans of your choice for 4-6 hours, pressure cook and add them.
Chickpeas, black beans, rajma, soy beans all work well.