Instant Pot Dalia Upma (Uppumavu) – Bulgur Wheat Upma

Instant pot dalia upma or broken wheat upma (bulgur wheat upma or pilaf) with vegetables is a very delicious, easy, healthy & nutritious vegetarian dish prepared in the Indian style. Upma is also known as uppumavu or uppittu in many South Indian states.

This instant pot dalia upma or bulgur upma is much similar to pilaf or pulao in texture and making, and so you can also enjoy this as a simple, quick and nutritious wheat pulao or pilaf with vegetables.

Upma is a popular South Indian breakfast dish often prepared with rava/sooji (semolina flour), vermicelli or dalia (broken wheat) and we can add vegetables to this to make it a fulfilling meal on its own.

Using the instant pot, it is too easy to make this dalia upma using broken wheat and vegetables!

You can also make dalia upma on stove top using a pan, like this simple & easy coconut dalia upma without vegetables.

What Is Dalia Or Broken Wheat?

Dalia, as known in India, is kind of broken wheat or cracked wheat which is often used to make upma and other dishes like kanji or soup.

This is also known as bulgur wheat.

It is believed to be easy to digest and more nutritious than rice or rava/sooji flours and so dalia upma or broken wheat upma is considered to be more nutritious.

Unlike whole wheat grain, broken wheat can be much easily cooked as the cooking time is much lesser while preserving the nutrition.

When combined with vegetables to make upma, this dish makes a very nutritious and delicious meal in itself which can be enjoyed for breakfast or anytime as you wish.

What Is Upma?

Upma is a South Indian breakfast often prepared with grains like semolina (rava/sooji as known in India), vermicelli noodles, dalia/broken wheat, sabudana (tapioca pearls) etc.

As I mentioned in the beginning, upma is often referred to as uppumavu or uppittu in South Indian cuisine.

These grains are combined with vegetables or sometimes coconut to make delicious porridge like breakfast.

This is mostly made as a savory breakfast but sometimes its also made sweet for kids.

Upma is a dish much similar to pulao or pilaf, but pilaf is usually prepared with rice while upma is made using other grains like rava/sooji or dalia.

As I mentioned above, this bulgur wheat upma is much similar to pilaf in texture and preparation.

How to make instant pot dalia upma – broken wheat upma

To make perfect broken wheat upma or dalia upma with mixed vegetables in the instant pot, we use the following ingredients.

Ingredients to make dalia upma

dalia or broken wheat 1.5 cups

water 2.5 cups

salt as needed

oil 1 tablespoon

ghee 1 teaspoon

curry leaves 1 string

dry red chilies 4 to 5 broken (optional)

ginger garlic paste 1 tablespoon

Vegetables:

onion 1 medium sized peeled and sliced thin and long

potatoes 1 large chopped in cubes

fresh or frozen green peas ¼ cup

green beans 10 to 15 cut both ends and chop in even 1 inch pieces

carrot 1 large chopped

Spices:

bay leaves 2

cinnamon sticks small 2

turmeric powder 1 teaspoon

red chili powder ½ teaspoon

coriander powder 1 teaspoon

Step By Step Instructions

Wash the dalia (broken wheat) and keep it aside.

Press the saute function in instant pot, adjust to low and add the oil.

When the oil is hot, add the curry leaves and dry red chilies (if using) and lightly fry.

Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the sliced onions and saute for 4 to 5 minutes until they are lightly fried.

Add the peas, saute for 1 minute and add all the other chopped veggies too, mix well.

Add enough salt and saute for another 3 minutes.

Add the dalia, mix well, also add enough salt and saute for another 2 minutes.

Add the water and spice powders, mix everything well.

Place the cinnamon sticks and bay leaves on top.

Close the instant pot with lid in sealing position.

Press manual and cook in high pressure for 4 minutes.

Once the cooking is done, the pot will beep and allow a natural pressure release of about 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, carefully do a manual release by turning the lid to the venting position slowly.

Once the pressure is all released, carefully open the lid of the instant pot.

Mix everything well and serve the perfect and delicious upma hot with any chutneys, curry or pickles as you like!

Notes: Make sure to add the bay leaves and cinnamon sticks as they add a wonder aroma to the upma.

Also make sure to follow the water to dalia ratio correctly and only do a manual release after 10 minutes of natural pressure release to make this perfectly delicious dalia upma in instant pot.

More Instant Pot Indian Recipes:

instant por rice pulao with vegetables

instant pot tomato rice

instant pot peas pulao

instant pot vegetable paneer biryani

instant pot chana masala

instant pot green moong dal curry

instant pot moong dal fry (yellow split mung beans)

instant pot sambar

instant pot masoor dal with cabbage

instant pot cabbage thoran (poriyal)

Below you can get the detailed recipe for instant pot dalia upma.