Breakfast ideas- Aval Upma with Potatoes

This is another recipe that my mom used to make very often when we were growing up. More so this was a recipe that my maternal grandma used to make it so very well. Every time I make it, I am reminded of my grandmother and her cooking. It’s something that I can never forget and always brings a smile and a tear to my eye. She was a great cook and used to make stuff in a jiffy. Never complained about cooking and was such an excellent cook. This was a dish that she picked up from her stay in Mumbai. She was a well-travelled lady thanks to my Grandfather's job and it reflected in her cooking.

Aval or Poha in hindi or beaten rice in English you can refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaten_rice for more details on its nutritional value.

For this you will need

2 cups of Poha or aval
1 onion finely chopped

1 potato cooked and cut roughly

1 green chillies finely chopped

A pinch asafoetida

A pinch turmeric powder

Some oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp urad dhal

1 tsp bengal gram

salt according to your taste

some curry leaves

juice of one lemon

coriander leaves for garnishing

To make the Aval upma

Soak the aval in water for 3 minutes, do not over soak, else the aval will become mushy

In a kadai heat some oil and add the mustard seeds. Once they start to splutter, add the urad dhal and channa dhal, saute for a minute and add the curry leaves.

Add the onions and chillies and sauté till the onions turn gold brown.

Add the turmeric powder and the asafoetida and mix well.

Add the cut potatoes.

Add the soaked aval(if you taste it, it will not be raw) and mix well.

Add the lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves.

Your aval upma is ready. I made this today morning for breakfast but I added some carrots and peas to it. You can also add peanuts or cashewnuts to add to the crunch. Both my kids love peas and carrots. My elder son was not very enthusiastic about this, but my husband and my younger one finished it in a snap. I usually have this with Tomato Sauce. My husband had it with, what else "sambhar". But it goes very well with Tomato sauce or any pickle.

PS - Can someone help me with the pictures ? They are totally frustrating me!!!!