This semiya upma is very easy and interesting to prepare as it involves soaking and grinding also it does not involve much water in its cooking, may be ½ cup water for it to get cooked perfectly. Sounds crazy right? This upma tastes great when served with spicy chutney as breakfast/ for dinner.I f you want more quantity upma just increase the vermicelli and chana dal quantity accordingly as reducing in any will not taste good. Also serve the upma immediately as it tastes best when served hot. So let’s get to the making!


- 1. Semiya/ Vermicelli – 1 cup
- 2. Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
- 3. Urad dal – 1 tsp
- 4. Curry leaves – few
- 5. Cashews – 5
- 6. Oil – 1 tbsp
- 7. Hing – a pinch
- 1. Chana dal/ kadalai paruppu – ½ cup
- 2. Water – ½ cup
- 3. Green chilli - 1
- * 1 cup = 235 ml
- Wash and soak chana dal in enough water for 2 hours. After 2 hours in a blender add soaked chana dal, salt, green chilli and ¼ cup water to grind it into paste. If ¼ cup us not sufficient add 2 more tbsp of water. We want thick chana dal paste so don’t add too much water as it will be become watery. Keep the ground paste aside.
- Heat oil in a pan to it add mustard seeds after it splutters add urad dal, cashews, hing and curry leaves. When dal turns golden brown add semiya/ vermicelli, roast it for a minute then add the chana dal paste. Sprinkle little water. Mix well and close the pan with a lid. Keep the flame in low to medium. Keep checking the upma every 5 minutes and add a tbsp water every time. So totally I used 5 tbsp water and it worked perfect for me. Do not add more water at a time as as the upma gets mushy and wont be nice to eat. After 15 to 20 minutes of cooking the semiya will be cooked thoroughly and chana paste would be perfectly cooked crumbles. Mix it well. Serve it hot with any spicy chutney or coconut chutney. When served cold it will be little hard to chew.
How to make Semiya paruppu upma with step by step images

- Wash and soak chana dal in enough water for 2 hours. After 2 hours in a blender add soaked chana dal, salt, green chilli and ¼ cup water to grind it into paste. If ¼ cup is not sufficient add 2 more tbsp of water. We want thick chana dal paste so don’t add too much water as it will be become watery. Keep the ground paste aside.
- Heat oil in a pan to it add mustard seeds after it splutters add urad dal, cashews, hing and curry leaves. When dal turns golden brown add semiya/ vermicelli, roast it for a minute.
- When the semiya looks roasted add chana dal paste. Check for salt as later it wont incorporate in the dish. Sprinkle little water. Mix well and close the pan with a lid. Keep the flame in low to medium. Keep checking the upma every 5 minutes and add a tbsp water every time. So totally I used 5 tbsp water and it worked perfect for me. Do not add more water at a time as as the upma gets mushy and wont be nice to eat. After 15 to 20 minutes of cooking the semiya will be cooked thoroughly and chana paste would be perfectly cooked to crumbles. Mix it well. Serve it hot with any spicy chutney or coconut chutney. When served cold it will be little hard to chew.