Tomato upma is a very healthy and tasty breakfast. For those who do not know, it is a salty veggie semolina pudding. Sooji rava or semolina is any easy fix for breakfast and sweets. Sooji halwa and gur ka halwa are always easy for a sweet fix. Be it upma or rava laddu, both are easy dishes. It is a traditional breakfast which is served everywhere nowadays. From office canteens to weddings, train menus to temples.
You will see many versions of it. Some like it vegan, else like the sourness of yogurt and minimal veggies. Others like it served with pesarattu. Some even make it with sewiya,called as the semiya upma. You can make uppit (As Kannadigas call it) even without the sourness of tomatoes. However, I love this tangier version more.

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While vada, dosa and idli, need an overnight or 4-6 hours soaking and grinding, you can make this dish anytime you are hungry.Play with the veggies in the kitchen and make your own recipe. Serve it with coconut chutney or just have it with some sugar on top. This is a perfect combo with a hot cup of filter coffee. You can also make a coconut peanut chutney with extra chillies if you like a spicy chutney to go with it. Kids and toddlers can have it with yogurt.
Tip: Roast sooji/semolina well to have the perfect plate of breakfast.You can roast sooji and keep it in a jar. This saves time on a weekday. You may optionally add a small tea spoon of butter/ghee/coconut oil in the end, just before you serve.
Equipment
- saucepan
- grinder
- chopper / food processor
Ingredients

- roasted sooji / semolina
- carrots
- tomatoes
- onions
- ginger- green chillies - curry leaves
- mustard seeds
- oil
- water
- salt as per taste
Instructions
- Heat Oil in a pan,add curry leaves,mustard seeds,ginger and chilies.
- Add onion & salt,cook for a few minutes.
- Now, add carrot and tomato,cook for a few minutes until the tomatoes are soft.

- Add roasted semolina/sooji,cook for a few minutes.
- Add 2.5 cups of water, cook until all water has evaporated.
- Cover and let it stand for a few minutes.

Garnish with coconut(optional).
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Tomato upma-Semolina pudding
Equipment
- pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup semolina/sooji dry roasted
- ½ cup onion chopped
- ½ cup carrot chopped
- 1 cup tomato chopped
- Curry leaves Sprig
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 tsp. ginger
- 1 tsp. green chillies
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- Salt as per taste
Instructions
- Heat Oil in a pan,add curry leaves,mustard seeds,ginger and chilies.
- Add onion & salt,cook for a few minutes.
- Now, add carrot and tomato,cook for a few minutes until the tomatoes are soft.
- Add roasted semolina/sooji,cook for a few minutes.
- Add 2.5 cups of water,cook until all water has evaporated.
- Cover and let it stand for a few minutes.
- Garnish with coconut(optional).
Notes
Pair this recipe with some tangy chutneys. Instant tomato pickle/tomato pachdi is my favorite. Coconut chutney also works any day. Looking for more breakfast options? South Indian breakfast is light and easy.Most people want to start the day with a healthy meal. These options come very handy.
Read more similar recipes below
- Dosa
- Uttapam
- Kanjivaram idli/ Rava idli
- Pesarattu
- Indian breakfast recipes
- South Indian breakfast recipes
- Air fryer masala idli
FAQ
Use hot water and ensure your ratio is correct.
it becomes lumpy when sooji lava doesn't mix well with water.
Storage
Store it in refrigerator 2-4 days. Reheat before you consume.
Substitution
You can also make a millet upma and daliya upma using broken wheat.
Variations
Other variations are masala upma, railway upma and vegetable upma.
Food safety
Never leave cooking food unattended.
Always reheat your food leftovers, before consumption
Please share your inputs..