Millet Arisi Upma-Thinai Rava Upma Recipe-Foxtail Millet Arisi Upma

Foxtail millet is “thinai” in Tamil. Thinai upma is made from thinai rava. You can substitute thinai rava with any other millet rava and follow the same procedure. This was sitting in my draft for more than a year, I thought it is time I share this recipe as it is long since I posted a millet recipe. This upma is very delicious and filling. It can be made for breakfast or dinner. The best combination for this upma is coconut chutney or brinjal gothsu. Today we will learn how to make thinai rava upma following this easy recipe with step wise pictures.

Millet Upma-Thinai Rava Upma


 Prep Time : 10 mins

Cook Time : 20 mins
Serves:2-3
Recipe Category: Breakfast-Millet
Recipe Cuisine: South Indian
Author:

   Ingredients needed

   Thinai Rava or any millet rava – 1 cup
   Coconut – 1/2 cup grated
   Tur Dal – 1/4 cup
   Ghee/clarified butter – 1 tsp
   Salt to taste
   Water – 2 1/2 – 2 3/4 cup

   For the seasoning

   Oil – 2 tbsp
   Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
   Urad dal – 1 tsp
   Bengal gram dal – 1 tsp
   Red Dry Chillies – 3 – 4 (break it into 2)
   Hing/asafoetida – 1/4 tsp
   Curry leaves – a sprig

Preparation

Soak tur dal in hot water for 15-20 minutes. Drain the water completely and grind it coarsely without adding water. Keep it aside.

Method

Heat oil in a pan/kadai, add mustard seeds, when it splutters, add bengal gram, urad dal, hing, red chillies and curry leaves.

When dal turns golden brown, add the coarsely ground tur dal and saute for 2-3 minutes on low heat.

Add grated coconut and saute for 5-6 seconds. Add water and salt needed.

When water starts boiling, reduce the heat, add a tsp of ghee and the millet rava gradually with one hand and stir continuously with your other hand. This is done to prevent formation of lumps.

Mix well and cook on low heat until it thickens.

Transfer it to another container and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Once the pressure subsides, open the cooker and serve hot with coconut chutney.

You can prepare it directly in the cooker also instead of making it in a kadai. In that case, cook on low heat without the whistle until done. Stir in between to prevent it from getting burnt.

Check out more Millet Recipes 

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View Comments (11)

  • This sounds very different and very beautiful... it is really interesting...but what is thinai rava? Is it a thing or do you pund the thinnai?

    • You get ready made millet rava in all groceries. Thinai rava is thinai ground coarsely like rava. I got it ready made from health store.

  • Hi padhu can you plz explain names of millets in Hindi or can you plz post pictures with names of millets.

  • i usually add grated coconut after cooking...its gives a different flavour...and i cook completely in the pan like sambar...is it ok if i cook like that or i should cook the half in cooker?

    • You will get readymade thinai rava.You can buy that and use it. Otherwise, dry roast thinai and grind it coarsely like rava. Then sieve it to remove the fine flour. Use the thinai rava for making this upma.

  • I followed your recipe and made this upma with fox tail millet. I was surprised with the end result. The upma was so, so tasty. In the beginning I had my doubts since I wasn't using the millet rava, however I loved the upma, very tasty and a different taste. All your recipes come out very well.