Pulli Upma – Poha (beaten rice) cooked in tamarind sauce

 I have always relished South Indian food. Whenever my Mom cooked Idli-Sambar, Dosa,Uttapam, Rasam -whatever,I would have it for breakfast-lunch-dinner.Now that I am married to a South Indian I have learnt to cook some of them myself.

Puli Upma- Poha (beaten rice) cooked with tamarind sauce (my Mother-in-laws recipe makes for quick but delicious breakfast.

Ingredients:

2 cups thick Poha (beaten rice)

1 onion chopped

1 tbsp tamarind pulp

2 tsp Rasam powder

2 tsp crushed jaggery

2 tsp oil

Salt as required

For the tadka (tempering):

½ tsp mustard seeds

½ tsp jeera seeds

1 tsp chana dal (split gram) soaked in water

few curry leaves

¼ tsp turmeric powder

Method:

Wash the poha in a sieve and drain excess water. Keep it aside.

Heat oil in a kadai (wok). Add mustard seeds and once they crackle add cumin seeds.

Add curry leaves and chana dal.Fry for a minute and then add chopped onion. Fry nicely till the onion becomes translucent.

Add turmeric powder.

Add the tamrind pulp, jaggery and Rasam powder.Fry nicely till the mixture starts leaving oil.

Add salt.

Add the poha and mix nicely.

Cover and cook on low flame for a few minutes.

Serve hot.