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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    South Indian Bread Upma

    Published: Jul 12, 2021 · Modified: Sep 17, 2022 by Geetanjali · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    South Indian bread upma recipe with step-by-step photos: A quick, easy, tasty South Indian breakfast that can be prepared within 20 minutes. 

    Bread upma served on a white plate

    Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links meaning we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use them to make a purchase. We only recommend brands we use and trust.

    Bread Upma

    Bread upma is a popular variation of the South Indian upma made with bread, spices, herbs, and peanuts. It is also called masala bread upma and bread poha in some places. 

    If you have some leftover bread, you can give this recipe a try. Bread upma is a nice way to use up leftover bread. But I like it so much I always end up buying a fresh one. 

    This makes for a perfect breakfast or snack option. You can even pack this in your kid's lunch box. They will love this.

    About this recipe

    There are various ways of preparing this savory dish. The recipe I am sharing is the most simple way of making bread upma using a few commonly available ingredients. It takes just 20 minutes to come together and is completely vegan. The taste of this upma is derived mainly from the tempering spices, onion, and tomatoes. 

    Butter and mixed vegetables are also used to enhance the taste and add extra nutrition. Vegetables like carrots, capsicum, green peas, beans, sweet corn, and potatoes go well with this. To extend the flavor even more some pav bhaji masala could be added. Sometimes I also add a little ketchup to the masala. You can also get creative and add your own twist of spices and ingredients.

    Serve bread upma hot as it is or with steaming hot masala chai or coffee and enjoy!

    For more breakfast recipes:

    • Boiled Egg Sandwich
    • Rava Uttapam
    • Egg Kathi Roll
    • Peas Poha
    • Rava Upma
    • Sabudana Thalipeeth

    Favorite Tools

    Nonstick Fry Pan (Dishwasher Safe)

    Masala Bread Upma Ingredients

    Here are a few important notes about the ingredients you will need to make this bread upma recipe:

    Bread upma ingredients

    Bread: this recipe works with both fresh and a few days old bread. Any kind of soft bread will do. White bread or pav (dinner roll) gives excellent results. Brown bread, whole wheat bread, and multigrain bread also work fine;

    I have taken four pavs and cut them into small bite-size pieces. You can take around 6-8 bread slices depending on the size. If you like a slight bite to the bread, you can always toast it before adding;

    Oil: any unflavored cooking oil will do. I have used sunflower oil. You could also use butter for a richer taste;

    For tempering - here I am using black mustard seeds, asafoetida (also called hing), green chilli, and curry leaves;

    Black mustard seeds and fresh curry leaves give that unique flavor to the dish;

    Asafoetida is commonly used in Indian cuisine. It adds flavor and also helps digestion. Skip, if you can't find it;

    I have added one green chilli. You could deseed the green chilli or add more if you like to increase the heat;

    In addition, chana dal (split Bengal gram) and urad dal could be added for a nice crunch; 

    Onion and ginger: the combination of onion and ginger uplift the taste of bread upma;

    Ground spices: turmeric powder and red chilli powder are used both for flavor and color. I am using Kashmiri chilli powder, which brings flavor and color but is non-spicy; 

    Tomatoes: adds texture and a lovely tang; 

    Salt: regular table salt;

    Coriander or cilantro: preferably fresh;

    Peanuts: roasted peanuts. Cashew nuts could be used as well;

    Step by Step Instructions

    • Heat oil in a pan. Once the oil heats up, add all the seasoning ingredients: mustard seeds, hing, and green chilli. Let the mustard seeds splutter. Add in curry leaves, finely chopped onion, and minced ginger.
    • Saute until the onions become translucent. 
    Bread upma making steps
    • Then add in turmeric and red chilli powder. Saute to mix.
    • Add in finely chopped tomatoes followed by salt. Saute the tomatoes until they turn soft and mushy.
    • Add around ¼ cup of water, not too much, and mix. Cook for a few seconds.
    • Add in bread pieces in the tomato mixture and just toss them up quickly. Make sure all the bread pieces are nicely coated with the masala. 
    • Finally, add coriander leaves and roasted peanuts. 
    masala bread upma recipe steps
    • Mix and serve bread upma hot. Add a dash of lemon juice if desired.
    Bread upma served on a white plate

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    Bread Upma

    South Indian Bread Upma

    Bread upma: A quick, easy, tasty South Indian breakfast that can be prepared within 20 minutes.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine: Indian
    Keyword: Bread upma, South Indian bread upma
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 3 people
    Calories:
    Author: Geetanjali

    Equipment

    • Pan

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon oil sunflower oil or any unflavored cooking oil
    • ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds
    • 1 sprig of curry leaves
    • 1 large onion finely chopped
    • 1 green chilli slit
    • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
    • ⅙ teaspoon asafoetida/hing
    • 2 medium tomatoes finely chopped
    • ¼ teaspoon table salt or to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
    • ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder non-spicy
    • ¼ cup water
    • 4 pav (dinner roll) or 6-8 bread slices cut into bite-size pieces
    • 2 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves finely chopped
    • 2-3 tablespoon roasted peanuts

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a pan. Once the oil heats up, add all the seasoning ingredients: mustard seeds, hing, and green chilli. Let the mustard seeds splutter. Add in curry leaves, finely chopped onion, and minced ginger.
    • Saute until the onions become translucent.
    • Then add in turmeric and red chilli powder. Saute to mix.
    • Add in finely chopped tomatoes followed by salt. Saute the tomatoes until they turn soft and mushy.
    • Add around ¼ cup of water, not too much, and mix. Cook for a few seconds.
    • Add in bread pieces in the tomato mixture and just toss them up quickly. Make sure all the bread pieces are nicely coated with the masala.
    • Finally, add coriander leaves and peanuts.
    • Mix and serve bread upma hot. Add a dash of lemon juice if desired.

    Notes

    Ingredient Notes
    Bread: this recipe works with both fresh and few days old bread. Any kind of soft bread will do. White bread or pav (dinner roll) give excellent results. Brown bread, whole wheat bread, and multigrain bread also work fine.
    I have taken four pavs and cut them into small bite size pieces. You can take around 6-8 bread slices depending on the size. If you like a slight bite to the bread, you can always toast it before adding.
    Oil: any unflavored cooking oil will do. I have used sunflower oil. You could also use butter for a richer taste.
    For tempering: here I am using black mustard seeds, asafoetida (also called hing), green chilli, and curry leaves. Black mustard seeds and fresh curry leaves give that unique flavor to the dish. Asafoetida is commonly used in Indian cuisine. It adds flavor and also helps in digestion. Skip, if you can't find it. I have added one green chilli. You could deseed the green chilli or add more if you like to increase the heat. In addition chana dal (split bengal gram) and urad dal could be added for a nice crunch;
    Onion and ginger: the combination of onion and ginger uplift the taste of bread upma;
    Ground spices: turmeric powder and red chilli powder are used both for flavor and color. I am using Kashmiri chilli powder, which brings flavor and color but is non-spicy.
    Tomatoes: adds texture and a lovely tang;
    Salt: regular table salt;
    Coriander or cilantro: preferably fresh;
    Peanuts: roasted peanuts. Cashew nuts could be used as well;

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    Hi, I'm Geetanjali! I am the cook, photographer, and author behind Spoons Of Flavor. I focus on simple, affordable, and easy-to-follow recipes for everyday life.

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