About:

Are you stressing about what to make for light dinner tonight or maybe you haven’t even thought about dinner yet? Well, if you need a quick and easy dinner recipe, It is hands down one of our all-time favorite meals. I like to use brown hair noodles because it cooks up in a jiffy, but any pasta/noodels/vermecelli will work. Use whatever you have in your pantry!

The flavors are simple, but oh so good! Sure, you can toss in other veggies but it is good as is.

Yields-2-3 servings
Preparation time-15 minutes
Cooking time-15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Brown rice noodles- 200 gms (alternatively vermicelli can be used)
• Oil- 2 tsp
• Mustard seeds-1 tsp
• Cumin seeds-1 tsp
• Bay leaf – 1
• Cinnamon – 1′ stick
• Cloves – 4
• Cardamom – 2
• Chopped Garlic – 3 cloves
• Chopped onion-1 medium
• Chopped spinach/palak-1 cup
• Salt- to taste

For grinding:

• Grated coconut-1/4 cup
• Green chillies-3
• Cumin seeds-1 tsp
• Pepper corns-5-6
• Fresh Mint – a handful
• Fresh cilantro/coriander-a handful

For garnishing:

• Nuts /fresh coriander.

Procedure:

• Boil water in a saucepan and soak noodles for 4-5 minutes. Drain water completely and set aside.
• (I used brown rice noodles which requires just soaking in hot water)
• If using regular vermicelli-roast for 3-4 minutes/until brown and then use.

For grinding:

• Combine coconut, green chillies, coriander, Mint, cumin seeds, pepper corns and blend until crushed (without adding any water)

For upma:

• Heat oil in a pan add Bay leaf, cinnamon, clove, cardamom and garlic saute for few seconds or until fragrant.
• Then add onions and saute for a minute.
• Now add ground mixture and saute for 4-5 minutes or until raw flavour goes off.
• Add spinach and saute for a minute.
• Add soaked and drained noodles, salt toss well-simmer until combined well and heated through.
• Turn off the flame, stir in some lemon/lime juice.
• Garnish with some cashews, pistachio and serve.

Serve with either Onion Chutney OR Tomato Methi Chutney