Breakfast, Millets, Upma

Jowar Upma | Jonna Rava Upma | Sorghum Upma | Jolada Uppittu

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Jowar Upma or Jonna Rava Upma is a savoury pudding or Upma with Sorghum or Jowar / Millet grits. Gluten Free, served as a filling breakfast or snack in South Indian Cuisine.

Upma is usually a hit or miss in (South) Indian households, although many North Indian friends I know of enjoy upma. At home, although mom and me love it anytime, with the husband and kids they will eat this if I don’t present any other alternative (and I don’t present any other alternative too).

Upma for most folks I know is mockingly called concrete. I remember my grandmom saying that if you can make upma delish and welcome, most foods are a winner at home, and I cannot absolutely fault her words when tasty upma triumphs a lot of dishes at home (personally for me :-)) Operative word being tasty 🙂

Jowar Upma or Jonna Rava Upma is a savoury pudding or Upma with Sorghum or Jowar / Millet grits. Gluten Free, served as a filling breakfast or snack in South Indian Cuisine.
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Varieties of Upma you could make at home

We make variants of upma based on the grain / form of the grain – like usual Rava / Semolina Upma, add seasonal veggies like avarekallu (hyacinth bean) during the brief winters. Or make millet based like today’s Jowar Upma , Varagu (Barnyard millet) Upma or the semiya / Vermicelli Upma or with Rice Rava (broken Rice grits) .

Sometimes, I add a tomato puree to this and make Godhuma Rava Tomato Upma (durum wheat tomato upma) or add whole spices and make a veggie loaded Kharabhath with a flavourful spice powder (a mainstay of Karnataka cuisine). The husband man for all his not-a -fan-of-upma club stance loves the Bread Upma and Kharabhath made at home regularly.

Coming to this dish, it was very well receieved. I have been experimenting with Sorghum Rava / Broken Sorghum / Jolada Rave with Jowar Idli, so I was very confident that this Upma would turn out delish too. And it did.

Jowar Upma or Jonna Rava Upma is a savoury pudding or Upma with Sorghum or Jowar / Millet grits. Gluten Free, served as a filling breakfast or snack in South Indian Cuisine.Pin

If you are a fan of Upma and / or looking for more healthy breakfasts with millets , click on the following links:

Varagu Upma | Kodo Millet Upma – GF, Vegan
Varagu Upma or Kodo Millet upma is a quick, Gluten Free Breakfast or snack made with Kodo Milllet. Served hot for a nutritious breakfast option.
Check out this recipe
Kharabhath | Spicy Veg Upma from Karnataka
Kharabhath is a semolina based savory pudding made in Karnataka. It has vegetables added with a special spice mix. Eaten as breakfast or snack
Check out this recipe
kharabhath
Biyyapurava Majjiga Upma
Biyyapurava Majjiga Upma is an Andhra style majjiga upma (rice semolina based savoury pudding made with cracked rice and buttermilk). Served as breakfast or tiffin
Check out this recipe
Biyyapurava Majjiga Upma is an Andhra style majjiga upma (rice semolina based savoury pudding made with cracked rice and buttermilk). Served as breakfast or tiffin
Jowar Idli | Sorghum Idli ~ How to make Jonna Idly
Jowar Idli | Sorghum Idli is a Gluten Free, Vegan no-Rice Idli (steamed savoury cake) made with Cracked Sorghum and Lentils. Served for Breakfast or a light dinner. 
Check out this recipe
Jowar Idli | Sorghum Idli is a Gluten Free, Vegan no-Rice Idli (steamed savoury cake) made with Cracked Sorghum and Lentils. Served for Breakfast or a light dinner.
Ragi Sevai | Ragi Semiya Upma | Finger Millet String Hoppers
A sevai / Upma /savory pudding made with Ragi Sevai / Ragi Vermicelli or Finger Millet string hoppers. Served as a South Indian Breakfast or Snack. 
Check out this recipe
Ragi Sevai | Ragi Semiya Upma | Finger Millet String Hoppers
Avarekai Karabhath | Avarekaalu Khara Bhath
Avarekai KharaBhath is a delicious savoury Semolina Upma made with Hyacinth beans (Avarekai) and a special spice blend. Served for breakfast or snack
Check out this recipe
Avarekai KharaBhath is a delicious savoury Semolina Upma made with Hyacinth beans (Avarekai) and a special spice blend. Served for breakfast or snack
Thinai Khara Pongal | Foxtail Millet Pongal or Savoury porridge | How to make Thinai Ven Pongal
Thinai Pongal or Foxtail millet is a nutritious one pot meal made with foxtail millet and lentils. Makes for a hearty breakfast or brunch option, and is served with chutney and sambar
Check out this recipe
Thinai sevai | Foxtail millet vermicelli veg upma 
Thinai Sevai is a quick, nutritious breakfast made with Foxtail Millet vermicelli and veggies. Can be served as a snack or light dinner too.
Check out this recipe
Thinai Sevai is a quick, nutritious breakfast made with Foxtail Millet vermicelli and veggies. Can be served as a snack or light dinner too.
Avarekaalu Akki Thari Uppittu | Hyacinth Beans Upma with Broken Rice
A savoury pudding (upma) made with Avarekaalu or hyacinth beans. It is entirely gluten free and is served for breakfast or snack.
Check out this recipe
A savoury pudding (upma) made with Avarekaalu or hyacinth beans. It is entirely gluten free and is served for breakfast or snack.

Let’s get to making this quick breakfast with millet. The process is almost the same as making Rava Upma, but with a few twists and tips as listed below.

Prep time – 10 mins, Cook time – 15. mins, Serves – 2

Cuisine – South Indian ; Course – Breakfast / Snack / Light Dinner / evening Tiffins

Tips to make tasty and delish Jowar upma:

  1. wipe the store bough grits / rava once with a clean and soft white cloth before using. Sometimes, it can contain dust / small stones which can come with milling
  2. Add the boiling water to the pan and than add the jowar rava. Else the upma could turn lumpy
  3. Unlike Sooji / Semolina upma, this rava needn’t be roasted before using.
  4. Any combo of veggies can be used. I haven’t used tomato here, but you can saute that with other veggies if you prefer.
  5. Store Jowar rava in an airtight container in a cool place. Use the pack quickly as it turns rancid quickly.

What you need for Jowar Upma

  • 1 cup Jowar Rava (you can get this online / major supermarkets / local groceries depending on your location)
  • 2 TBSP Oil
  • 1 tsp bengal gram (Channa dal)
  • 1 tsp split black gram (Urad dal)
  • 1 tsp Ghee (sub with 1 tsp oil for vegan version)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup mixed vegetables (I used carrots ,peas, french beans)
  • 1 Onion (medium, minced, optional)
  • 1 tbsp cashews (halved, optional)
  • 1 tsp chillies (minced)
  • 1 tsp ginger (minced)
  • 1 sprig curryleaves
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp Coriander leaves (minced)
  • 1 TBSP lemon juice

How to make Jowar Upma

  1. Heat 1/2 tsp oil in a pan, and fry the halved cashews till they are golden brown.
  2. In the same pan, add the rest of the oil.
  3. Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal and channa dal
  4. Once dals are golden brown, add the curry leaves, onions and minced ginger
  5. Let the onions turn translucent
  6. Then add the veggies and salt. saute for 3-4 mins
  7. Add 1/4 cup of water and let the veggies cook through
  8. You can skip above step if veggies are already steamed.
  9. Now add 3 cups boiling water to the veggies.
  10. Slowly pour in the jowar rava / sorgum semolina and whisk well till no lumps are formed.
  11. Cover and cook on medium heat for 8-9 mins till done
  12. FInish with sauteed cashews, minced coriander leaves and lemon juice
  13. If using ghee, add at the end to give it a wonderful finish. Else skip.
  14. Serve hot for breakfast or a snack
  15. The upma is spicy and flavourful on its own. If can however be enjoyed with some lemon or mango pickle too.

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Jowar Upma or Jonna Rava Upma is a savoury pudding or Upma with Sorghum or Jowar / Millet grits. Gluten Free, served as a filling breakfast or snack in South Indian Cuisine.Pin
Jowar Upma or Jonna Rava Upma is a savoury pudding or Upma with Sorghum or Jowar / Millet grits. Gluten Free, served as a filling breakfast or snack in South Indian Cuisine.
Jonna Rava Upma | Jowar Upma | జొన్న రవ్వ ఉప్మా |Millets recipe|Sorghum upma #sizzlingtastebuds
Jowar Upma or Jonna Rava Upma is a savoury pudding or Upma with Sorghum or Jowar / Millet grits. Gluten Free, served as a filling breakfast or snack in South Indian Cuisine.Pin

Jowar Upma | Jonna Rava Upma | Sorghum Upma | Jolada Uppittu

Kalyani
Jowar Upma or Jonna Rava Upma is a savoury pudding or Upma with Sorghum or Jowar / Millet grits. Gluten Free, served as a filling breakfast or snack in South Indian Cuisine.
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast, Light Dinner, Tea Time Snack
Cuisine Andhra Cuisine, Karnataka Cuisine, South Indian, Tamilnadu Cusine
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Jowar Rava you can get this online / major supermarkets / local groceries depending on your location
  • 2 TBSP Oil
  • 1 tsp bengal gram Channa dal
  • 1 tsp split black gram Urad dal
  • 1 tsp Ghee sub with 1 tsp oil for vegan version
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup mixed vegetables I used carrots ,peas, french beans
  • 1 Onion medium, minced, optional
  • 1 tbsp cashews halved, optional
  • 1 tsp chillies minced
  • 1 tsp ginger minced
  • 1 sprig Curry Leaves
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp Coriander leaves minced
  • 1 TBSP lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Heat 1/2 tsp oil in a pan, and fry the halved cashews till they are golden brown.
  • In the same pan, add the rest of the oil.
  • Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal and channa dal
  • Once dals are golden brown, add the curry leaves, onions and minced ginger
  • Let the onions turn translucent
  • Then add the veggies and salt. saute for 3-4 mins
  • Add 1/4 cup of water and let the veggies cook through
  • You can skip above step if veggies are already steamed.
  • Now add 3 cups boiling water to the veggies.
  • Slowly pour in the jowar rava / sorgum semolina and whisk well till no lumps are formed.
  • Cover and cook on medium heat for 8-9 mins till done
  • FInish with sauteed cashews, minced coriander leaves and lemon juice
  • If using ghee, add at the end to give it a wonderful finish. Else skip.
  • Serve hot for breakfast or a snack
  • The upma is spicy and flavourful on its own. If can however be enjoyed with some lemon or mango pickle too.

Video

Jonna Rava Upma | Jowar Upma | జొన్న రవ్వ ఉప్మా |Millets recipe|Sorghum upma #sizzlingtastebuds

Notes

Tips to make tasty and delish Jowar upma:

  1. wipe the store bough grits / rava once with a clean and soft white cloth before using. Sometimes, it can contain dust / small stones which can come with milling
  2. Add the boiling water to the pan and than add the jowar rava. Else the upma could turn lumpy
  3. Unlike Sooji / Semolina upma, this rava needn’t be roasted before using.
  4. Any combo of veggies can be used. I haven’t used tomato here, but you can saute that with other veggies if you prefer.
  5. Store Jowar rava in an airtight container in a cool place. Use the pack quickly as it turns rancid quickly.
Keyword Jonna Rava Upma, Jowar Upma, Light Dinner, Millet Upma, Palaharam, Quick Snack, Upma, Upma variety
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Tried this recipe?Follow @sizzlingtastebuds or tag #sizzlingtastebuds!

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14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Upma with jowar rava sounds interesting and very nutritious. Need to check if I can source them here.

  2. 5 stars
    This is such a nutritious and delicious upma recipe. What a great way to incorporate millets in daily diet.

  3. 5 stars
    I was thinking about jonna rava and wondering if such a thing is even available in the market! Now that I know it does, I will look for jonna rava. I had idli on mind but upma looks very delicious and tempting. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    • Jonna Rava is definitely available online, Usha and esp in Hyd/Telangana. I had my first brush with Jonna Rava on my last trip to Hyderabad only a few years ago 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    Thanks for the delicious recipe Kalyani, it was so good and we enjoyed it with Mango pickle…Such a healthy option to use jowar in our everyday meals!

  5. Sandhya Ramakrishnan

    5 stars
    Millets are something that I definitely plan on using more this year. Thanks for letting me know that we get Jowar rava in the stores. This is so easy to make and perfect for weeknight dinner as well.

  6. 5 stars
    My husband and I have started enjoying upma mornings on Sundays.i am sure this will give me opportunity to make jowar upma too.

  7. Preethi Prasad

    5 stars
    Jonna Rava Upma with vegetables sounds so delicious. I would love to try this version .I have become a great fan of Upma only since last few years . Can’t wait to make it at home soon.

5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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