Rava Upma Recipe – Suji Upma – How To Make Rava Upma Video

March 6, 2025 | By
Rava upma recipe

Rava upma (suji ka upma) is one of the most popular South Indian breakfast/dinner recipes. It’s a bachelor friendly dish as it is fast to cook and easy to make. I am not a big fan of rava recipes but Sendhil loves anything made with rava/semolina.He likes rava upma if its fluffy( uthir uthiraa) whereas I love it with small lumps here and there (Undaium urulaiumaa).

The consistency of this upma is completely dependent on the quantity of water.Before marriage,my mom makes rava upma only in weekends.My dad & sis enjoy it adding grated coconut. I hate that combo. So my mom makes dosa especially for me by reserving some batter,how sweet. Now I crave for my mom’s rava upma and coconut combo. So this time I added some grated coconut in my upma plate and enjoyed a lot.
After marriage tables turned. I am making rava upma or kichadi at least once in a week for Sendhil’s breakfast as it is his most favorite. My MIL makes different types of upma and she is a pro in making rava upma. When I was new to cooking, I struggled a lot to get soft & flavourful upma. Usually I don’t roast rava properly and the end result would be a sticky, hard upma. I have even tried with store bought roasted rava. But it was also a super flop show. Then Sendhil taught me how to roast rava properly, quantity of oil, water etc.
When he was a bachelor, he used to prepare this rava upma often and he is an expert too. Now after many successful attempts, I thought of posting the recipe here. Of course making rava upma is not a big deal for most of you. But for beginners, its always a night mare and most of the time it will be with lumps.
This post is purely for beginners and bachelors. We love to have rava upma with sugar. So I don’t make any side dish like chutney or sambar. It makes my job very simple. This upma stays soft for some hours. So I pack it for my hubby’s breakfast when he leaves to office early from home. But it tastes the best when served hot. U can make rava upma in microwave and add some vegetables like carrot, potato and peas to make it healthy. Sometimes I add tomato too as you see in the above picture. Soon I will share wheat rava upma.

Check out my Rava Kichadi , Khara bath, Masala Rava kichadi , Rava Dosa recipes too !

Here is a full video of making rava upma :))

Rava upma

Rava upma recipe

Rava upma recipe Rava upma/Semolina upma – Easy South Indian breakfast recipe !

Cuisine: South Indian
Category: Breakfast/Dinner
Serves: Serves 2
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 20 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup = 250 ml

  • Semolina / Rava – 1 cup
  • Water – 2.5 cups ( Add 2.25 cups for fluffy upma)
  • Salt – As needed

To temper & saute

  • Cooking oil – 2 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
  • Urad dal – 2 tsp
  • Chana dal – 1 tbsp
  • Big onion – 1 no ( slice cut) OR Small onions – 1/2 cup ( chopped roughly)
  • Tomato – 1 small ( optional)
  • Green chillies – 3 nos ( for less spice,add 2)
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Ginger – 1 inch piece
  • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp ( Must add)
METHOD


  • Dry roast the rava in a kadai in very low flame for 5-7 minutes without changing the colour. Keep on mixing well to avoid discoloration in certain areas. Remove & keep it in a plate.
Rava upma
  • In the same kadai , heat oil , splutter mustard seeds , urad & chana dal . After the dals turn golden brown , add the sliced onions ,green chillies, curry leaves & ginger bits. Saute well till onion turns transparent . Add tomato and saute till mushy(Optional step). Finally add the required water , salt. Cover it and allow it to roll boil for 5 mins.
Rava upma
  • Now simmer the flame completely and add the rava in one hand and mix well with a ladle using other hand ( Use a whisk to mix if u have). This step is very important to avoid lumps.
Rava upma
  • Stir till the mixture becomes thick and all the water is absorbed by the rava. Close the kadai with a lid for 5 minutes. Open the lid and mix well and again close it for 2 minutes.
  • Rava will be well cooked , switch off the flame & add the coconut oil.. Mix well and serve hot immediately!!
Rava upma

Check out my Rava Kichadi , Khara bath, Masala Rava kichadi ,Rava Dosa recipes too !

NOTE
  • Adding small onions instead of big onions gives a nice flavour & taste.
  • The amount of oil mentioned here should be added to get the softness & flavour.
  • Roasting rava without changing color is very important to get a white colored upma. Otherwise it will be slightly yellow.Upma looks yellow even if you add tomatoes.
  • Please add more water if you want mushy upma.
  • If you are afraid of getting lumps , this step can be followed. i.e. switch off the flame after the water starts to roll boil. Remove the kadai  , add the rava little by little by stirring in one hand slowly . Mix well and make sure there are no lumps. Then again keep it on the stove and mix well till all the water is absorbed. This method can be followed for making sweet kesari too. 
  • My FIL likes to have this upma adding little lemon juice. It also tastes great. U can also add lots of grated coconut before eating to make it more rich & tasty. My sister loves this combo a lot : ))


Enjoy this easy breakfast/dinner recipe with coconut chutney or sugar !


Today I relished it adding grated coconut. It was yum !
Rava upma

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33 thoughts on “Rava Upma Recipe – Suji Upma – How To Make Rava Upma Video”

  22. GEETHA ACHAL

    Rava upma are always my fav…My mom used to make perfectly all the time…For me its sometimes hit..sometimes not…

    Reply
  29. Indra

    Hi Chitra,I'm also from t.velo.I follow your blog for vegetarian recipes. All your recipes are awesome esp. breakfast recipes(measurements and tips help a lot for beginners like me). Keep up the good work��

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Thanks a lot. Glad to know you too from TVL :) Happy that you like my recipes. Thanks again for your sweet words.

      Reply
  30. iManoj

    After making this upma multiple times during lockdown successfully with this recipe I have been made the de facto upma cook by the family !!

    Reply
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