Ingredients

• 200g- aval or poha (approx 3 to 4 cups)
• 1 - small onion (optional)
• 2 - green chillies
• 1/2 cup - tamarind juice
• 3 tsp - coriander seeds
• 3 - red chillies
• 1 tsp - black pepper
• 2 tsp - blackgram dal
• 2 tsp - bengalgram dal
• 1/2 tsp - mustard seeds
• 1/4 tsp - turmeric powder
• Curry leaves and coriander leaves for garnishing
• Salt to taste
• Cooking oil

How to Make Aval Upma

• Take a flat, large bowl and wash the poha or aval in water. Drain immediately. Do not allow any water to stay.
• Then, soak the aval in the 1/2 cup of tamarind juice for about 15-20 minutes after adding a pinch of salt.
• Grind the coriander seeds, red chillies, black pepper, blackgram dal and bengalgram dal after frying them in a tsp of cooking oil. Grind them into a fine texture.
• Then, take a large pan and pour some cooking oil and add the mustard seeds and allow them to splutter.
• Then, add the cut green chillies. Add the 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder and the 1/2 tsp of blackgram dal and allow them to turn light brown in colour.
• Add the onion now and fry till it turns transparent in colour.
• Then aval or poha should be added. By this time it would have absorbed all the tamarind juice.
• Add the grounded masala to the aval after this. And stir the mixture well, till the aval is coated well with the masala.
• Just check to see if there is adequate salt. Add more if needed.
• Keep the pan covered for about 2-3 minutes and garnish with the curry leaves and coriander leaves before serving.