Okay, so this morning I was feeling like I needed a good, solid breakfast but I was also in a hurry. You know how it is, right? So I decided to go with something Indian ’cause it’s always flavorful and filling. I remembered seeing something online about quick Indian breakfasts, and I thought, “Why not give it a try?”
First off, I checked what I had in my kitchen. I found some semolina, which I usually use for other stuff, and figured I could make Upma. I remembered reading somewhere that it’s a pretty common South Indian breakfast thing and it takes like, what, 20 minutes? I also had some leftover bread from dinner last night, so I decided to keep that for a backup plan. Could transform them into something yummy, I guess.
Making the Upma
I started chopping some veggies. I think I saw a video where they mentioned that chopping them the night before saves time? But I didn’t do that, so I just quickly chopped some onions, green chilies, and tomatoes. I heated up some oil in a pan and tossed in some mustard seeds and curry leaves. The smell was amazing, seriously. Then, I threw in the veggies and let them cook for a bit.
While the veggies were cooking, I roasted the semolina in another pan. This part is important, I guess, ’cause it gives the Upma a nice texture. Once the semolina was all golden-brown and smelled nutty, I added it to the veggies. Poured in some water, added salt, and let it simmer. It took about 10-15 minutes for the Upma to cook properly. I stirred it occasionally to make sure it didn’t stick to the bottom.
The Bread Idea
While the Upma was cooking, I thought about the leftover bread. I didn’t have a specific recipe in mind, but I figured I could just toast them and maybe spread some homemade chutney? I had some cilantro and mint chutney left over from last week. I popped the bread slices into the toaster, and once they were crispy, I spread a generous amount of the chutney on them.
Putting It All Together
By the time I was done with the bread, the Upma was ready too. It looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. I served myself a good portion of Upma and a couple of slices of the chutney-covered bread. It turned out to be a pretty balanced and filling breakfast. I mean, I had the carbs from the semolina and bread, some veggies in the Upma, and the chutney added a nice kick.
I finished my breakfast feeling pretty satisfied. It was quick, it was easy, and it definitely hit the spot. I also felt good about using up the leftover bread. It’s cool how you can take some simple ingredients and make something so delicious in such a short time. Definitely something I’ll be doing again. Maybe next time I’ll try that Poha thing I saw online, or maybe some Moong Dal Cheela. They looked interesting, and I love trying new things in the kitchen. There are just so many options, and I think I’m gonna explore more of these quick Indian breakfast ideas!