Instant Rava Onion Uttapam

‘’ What day is it?’’ asked Pooh.

‘’It’s today! ’’ Squealed Piglet.

‘’My favourite day’’ said Pooh…………..

Sometimes life’s greatest truth is revealed in children’s animation films. I have watched ‘Winnie- the Pooh’ several times with my dear daughter, while she still was a toddler. Although she has out grown those cartoon stories now, but some of the contextual scenes are still stuck in my mind. So simple and so profoundly told by Pooh and Piglet. Life’s greatest lesson comes from these innocent cartoons. That’s why I always believe in to nurture the innocent child in all of us. Live for the present day and create your own beautiful moments because you only are responsible for your own happiness.

Breakfast are important part of daily meal plans. And we generally on weekends tend to have more varieties for breakfast than the mundane bread and butter. So some days its rice poha, some days Upma or pancakes, some days various fruit filled crepes etc. And then occasionally these tomato onion Uttapams.I tend to cut out the long process of soaking and fermenting ingredients for uttapams. And these instant Uttapams turn out nice and delicious – no need to soak rice etc and then wait for fermenting process.

This is how we make our instant Uttapams

Instant Rava Uttapam

Recipe requirements (makes 4-5,  5’’ inch Uttapam rounds )

•  2 heaped cups of Rava/sooji/semolina
• ½ cup of plain flour
• 1 tsp of baking soda
•  1 and half cup of yogurt
•  1 tsp of salt or to taste
•  About a cup of water

For the toppings

•  1 large onion
•  1 medium size tomato
•  5-6 green chillies
•  About a cup of chopped coriander leaves
•  Salt as per taste and bit of red pepper powder/black pepper powder
•  Cooking oil to make Uttapams.

Method

•  In a mixing bowl, mix in plain flour and sooji/semolina. Add in baking soda and salt.
• Now add in yogurt and mix with the above, it will form a dough like consistency.
• Now add in a cup of water to make a smooth and lump free batter just like dosa /pancake batter and may be even more water if it is required.
• Now let it rest for about half an hour.
• Meanwhile chop onion, tomato, green chillies and coriander leaves very finely. Add in salt and pepper powder – if using to enhance the hotness level.
• Heat up an iron tava/skillet/griddle. Now drop about 2-3 tsp of cooking oil. Rub this oil very well over the griddle.
• Now give a final mix for the uttapam batter .Drop a ladle full of this batter to the hot griddle.
• Flatten out a bit, but not much, just like a small round similar to pancake- approx. 5’’ inch rounds. The trick is to have a little thick rounds rather than big and thin rounds, so that they puff out well and turn soft also.
• Now immediately put finely chopped onion, tomato, green chillies and coriander leaves over the top of the uttapam. Press it gently with the spatula.Let it cook for about 4-5 mints.
• Flip the side very carefully and now again drop some cooking oil by the sides of uttapams.Cover the uttapamas and cook further for about 6-7 mints at med-low flame. Do not hurry otherwise the middle portions will turn out uncooked.
• Uncover the uttapam and flip the side and cook for 2-3 mints. Shift into the serving plate.
• You can have it with tomato ketchup or more traditionally with coconut chutney. These are absolutely divine straight from the hot tava/griddle. Enjoy your breakfast.

Happy Cooking Friends