Recipes > Puli Upma (Tamarind Rice Upma)
Puli Upma (Tamarind Rice Upma)
A tangy and savory “broken rice” dish that is a traditional favorite in many Tamil households.
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Idly Rice (Broken into coarse rava) | 1 cup |
| Tamarind | Small lemon size (soaked in water) |
| Gingelly Oil (Sesame Oil) | 3 tablespoons |
| Mustard, Chana Dal, Urad Dal | 1 tsp each |
| Dried Red Chillies | 3-4 nos |
| Peanuts | 2 tablespoons |
| Turmeric & Hing | 1/2 tsp each |
Easy Puli Upma Recipe Instructions
Rice Prep
Pulse the idly rice in a dry mixer until it breaks into coarse granules (like semolina). Do not make it a powder.
Tempering
Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add mustard seeds, dals, peanuts, red chillies, and curry leaves. Sauté until golden.
The Liquid
Extract the tamarind juice. You need a total of 2.5 cups of liquid (tamarind water + plain water). Add this to the pan with turmeric, hing, and salt.
Cooking
Once the water boils, slowly add the broken rice while stirring.
Simmer
Cover and cook on low heat for 12–15 minutes until the rice is soft and the water is fully absorbed.
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Idly Rice (Broken into coarse rava) | 1 cup |
| Tamarind | Small lemon size (soaked in water) |
| Gingelly Oil (Sesame Oil) | 3 tablespoons |
| Mustard, Chana Dal, Urad Dal | 1 tsp each |
| Dried Red Chillies | 3-4 nos |
| Peanuts | 2 tablespoons |
| Turmeric & Hing | 1/2 tsp each |
Easy Puli Upma Recipe Instructions
Rice Prep
Pulse the idly rice in a dry mixer until it breaks into coarse granules (like semolina). Do not make it a powder.
Tempering
Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add mustard seeds, dals, peanuts, red chillies, and curry leaves. Sauté until golden.
The Liquid
Extract the tamarind juice. You need a total of 2.5 cups of liquid (tamarind water + plain water). Add this to the pan with turmeric, hing, and salt.
Cooking
Once the water boils, slowly add the broken rice while stirring.
Simmer
Cover and cook on low heat for 12–15 minutes until the rice is soft and the water is fully absorbed.
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