Noi upma

Noi is nothing but rice that is broken( while removing the husk and processing )and not whole. They segregate this while processing and sell it separately and call it as noi in tamil. My mom and grand-moms make upma with it which has a unique flavour and does not taste or smell anything like arisi upma. I have it by itself without any side-dish and it would taste out of the world, but it can be had with maagaali kezhangu oorugai (best and recommended) or vethakozhambhu. But the latter would kill the originality of upma is what I felt. This upma is a very quick upma that can be made on tiring days when we feel hungry and exhausted to make something on our own. This needs zero preparation and hence no prep time. It is so easy on the tummy, that it can be had on days when we do not feel upto the mark. Now, to the ingredients...

Ingredients:


Noi/ Broken rice                                                        1.5 cups
Coconut oil                                                                1 tsp
Ghee                                                                          1 tsp
Salt                                                                           To taste
Water                                                                         5 cups


To Temper

Coconut oil                                                              1.5 tsps
Mustard seeds                                                          1/2 tsp
Vendhayam/methi seeds                                             1/2 tsp
Red chillies                                                              2 nos broken into 2 pieces each
Asafoetida                                                                1 pinch
Curry leaves                                                             1 sprig


Method

1. Take a large stir fry pan and heat it on the stove.  Add 1.5 tsp of coconut oil and add mustard seeds to splutter.
2.  Add vendhayam/methi seeds and mix until it becomes golden brown. Add red chillies, curry leaves  and asafoetida and mix for another 30 seconds. Bring the heat to low.
3. Now add 5 cups of water to it  and bring the heat to medium. Let this mixture come to a rolling boil. Add required amount of salt and let it boil vigorously for a minute.
4. Now add noi/broken rice to it and stir well. Close a lid on top and let it cook for 15 mins or so or until noi/broken rice is fully cooked. At this time. it will be soft but not mushy and will retain its shape. 
5. Now add a tsp of coconut oil and ghee to top it off,  mix well, close the lid and switch off the stove. Leave it like that for 15 mins for the flavours to incorporate. I bet this will be the toughest 15 minutes of one's life as the kitchen will smell divine and we will still have to wait for the dish to complete. This 15 minutes is crucial for the taste and flavour to settle and is not optional

Serve this finished noi upma with maagaali kezhangu oorugai or vethakozhambu or best, have it by itself!

Cheat code - I live outside India and I do not get noi here, so I take raw rice and spin it in the mixie for just 5 seconds to make it as noi (broken rice)  ;)