Final answer:
Upma is made by roasting semolina with spices and vegetables, which is a cooking method traditional to South Indian cuisine. The dish reflects the cultural diversity of the region with a focus on using local ingredients, like semolina, which differs from North Indian cuisine that favors wheat products and dairy.
Step-by-step explanation:
How is Upma Made?
Upma is a popular South Indian breakfast dish made by roasting semolina with spices and vegetables. Making upma involves frying mustard seeds, cumin, ginger, and other spices in oil, to which onions, green chilies, and other vegetables can be added. The key ingredient, semolina (or rava), is then added and roasted until it becomes aromatic before water is poured in to cook it into a porridge-like consistency.
The North Indian cuisine differs from Southern cooking, mainly using wheat-based products and a wide variety of spices, including chili peppers, and features dairy products more predominantly. Although North India is known for dishes like Boondi Ka Laddu, Upma remains a South Indian dish due to its main ingredient, semolina, and cooking method.
Understanding regional foods such as Upma in South India enables us to appreciate the cultural diversity and culinary heritage that shape our diets, connecting various regional foods across the world, like those found in China, Mexico, and Morocco, all which focus on using locally available ingredients to create balanced diets.