Easy and Quick Veg Lapsi Upma | Broken Wheat Upma in Pressure Cooker
Let’s make an easy-peasy fibre-loaded Upma with Lapsi / broken wheat, loads of veggies and basic kitchen staples. Can be served for breakfast, brunch or dinner.
Pressure cooker or Open Pan ?
This is a pressure cooker version of the Upma, which is a boon for rushed early mornings on school / office days. Of course, you can make it even without any onion garlic, like we do for Ekadasi fasting at home, and is called Uppu Sajjige back home. I have included the pic-collage for making this in open pan too at the end of this post (cook time & water vary from the Pressure Cooker version).
The Pressure cooker version today comes with a detailed video too.

What makes this dish diabetic-friendly?
High fibre from the veggies, using lapsi instead of rice rava which is less GI, also the use of Toor dana (fresh Pigeon peas) add some protein to this. As always, moderation is the key even for non-diabetics too.
Difference between Dalia , Lapsi, Chiroti Rava and Samba Rava
Lapsi or broken wheat also known as Dalia in some parts of the country is broken wheat.
While in Karnataka region, this is also called as Bansi Rave (or Bansi Rava). Sooji is the finest, smallest form of wheat without its outer layer, typically used in quick recipes like Sooji Upma (or normal upma) or Sajjige Rotti and an even finer version called Chiroti Rava is used to make sweets or savoury snacks.
Lapsi, a coarser cut of wheat, is specifically used in making lapsi dishes. Dalia (although interchangeably called lapis sometimes) is a larger broken wheat, takes longer to cook. Samba is a unique variety of wheat that contains more fiber and less gluten than regular wheat. Samba daliya, made from samba wheat, has a slightly different taste compared to regular daliya.

Where else Can this Lapsi, Dalia or Samba Wheat be used?
I use this Dalia to make Dalia Bisibele bhath - a karnataka delicacy , lapsi (finer version) can be used to make Lapsi Idlis, and the samba wheat (again very high in fiber) to make Samba Wheat Idlis
The Upma-haters Vs. The Upma lovers, and somewhere in between :
The header says it all - some of us love Upma or Upptittu (as its called in Kannada) in most forms, while some cannot be persuaded to even look at it. Jowar Rava / Jonna Rava Upma is also a huge favourite at home with Chilled homemade yogurt on the side. Lapsi Upma is a quick and tasty option if loaded with the right veggies, spices and is heavenly even as a stand-alone dish requiring no accompanying dishes like chutney / dahi.
PIN FOR LATER

Other variations of the Upma with other grains:








and many more.. like Simple Vegetable Upma (with Sooji), Bread Upma, Oats Upma & Tamilnadu Style Rava Kichadi(similar to Sooji Upma but with added whole spices)
Tips and Tricks to make Quick and Tasty Lapsi Upma in Pressure Cooker:
- If making this Veg Lapsi Upma in the Open pan, water and cook times would vary.
How to make Veg Lapsi: - Keep all ingredients at room temperature
- Saute all ingredients + Lapsi in low -medium heat only
- Use Hot water as directed in the recipe.
- Cook for only 1 whistle, switch off and do not release pressure for atleast 10-12 mins or till pressure drops
- You can add / remove any veggies here.
Ingredients for Veg Lapsi Upma:
- 1.5 tablespoon Oil
- 100 grams Lapsi
- 4 cahsewnuts (skip for nut allergy)
- 1 onion, chopped medium
- 1 tomato (ripe)
- 4 green chillies (slit or chopped)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (chopped)
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric
- ½ cup Cabbage + peas (blanched)
- ¼ cup Fresh Pigeon pea (Togari Kaalu / Fresh Toor dana - sub with field beans, optional)
- 3 cups hot water
- ½ teaspoon ghee (clarified butter)
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon urad dal
- ½ teaspoon Channa dal (optional)
- ½ lemon (optional but recommended)
- 1 teaspoon coriander leaves (for garnish)
- In a pressure cooker or pressure pan, add the oil. Heat on medium flame, add cashews and roast till golden brown , remove from pan
- In the same oil, temper the mustard seeds, curry leaves, chopped ginger, green chillies and sauté well.
- Now add the onion , salt , hing and tomatoes and saute till tomatoes turn slightly soft.
- Now add the laps / broken wheat and saute further for 1-2 mins on low heat.
- Now add all the veggies mentioned in the recipe, and mix well.
- Adjust salt and spices and add 300 ml of hot water. mix vigorously so as to not form lumps.
- Now add 1-2 tablespoon more water (if needed, I did), the ghee and mix once
- Close lid and let it come to 1 whistle on medium heat.
- Switch off immediately and wait for 10-12 mins before the pressure drops.
- Once pressure drops, open the lid slowly and mix gently.
- Add lemon juice, coriander leaves for garnish and serve hot veg lapsi upma either as is or with some pickle or curd. This tastes yum as is.

Easy and Quick Veg Lapsi Upma | Broken Wheat Upma in Pressure Cooker
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
- Spatula
- Knife and Cutting Board
Ingredients
- 1.5 tablespoon Oil
- 100 grams Lapsi
- ¼ teaspoon Asafoetida Hing
- 4 cashew nuts skip for nut allergy
- 1 onion chopped medium
- 1 tomato ripe
- 4 green chillies slit or chopped
- 1 teaspoon ginger chopped
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric
- ½ cup Cabbage + peas blanched
- ¼ cup Fresh Pigeon pea Togari Kaalu / Fresh Toor dana - sub with field beans, optional
- 3 cups hot water
- ½ teaspoon ghee clarified butter
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon urad dal
- ½ teaspoon Channa dal optional
- ½ lemon optional but recommended
- 1 teaspoon coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions
- In a pressure cooker or pressure pan, add the oil. Heat on medium flame, add cashews and roast till golden brown , remove from pan
- In the same oil, temper the mustard seeds, curry leaves, chopped ginger, green chillies and sauté well.
- Now add the onion , salt , hing and tomatoes and saute till tomatoes turn slightly soft.
- Now add the laps / broken wheat and saute further for 1-2 mins on low heat.
- Now add all the veggies mentioned in the recipe, and mix well.
- Adjust salt and spices and add 300 ml of hot water. mix vigorously so as to not form lumps.
- Now add 1-2 tablespoon more water (if needed, I did), the ghee and mix once
- Close lid and let it come to 1 whistle on medium heat.
- Switch off immediately and wait for 10-12 mins before the pressure drops.
- Once pressure drops, open the lid slowly and mix gently.
- Add lemon juice, coriander leaves for garnish and serve hot veg lapsi upma either as is or with some pickle or curd. This tastes yum as is.
Video
Notes
- Keep all ingredients at room temperature
- Saute all ingredients + Lapsi in low -medium heat only
- Use Hot water as directed in the recipe.
- Cook for only 1 whistle, switch off and do not release pressure for atleast 10-12 mins or till pressure drops
- You can add / remove any veggies here.
- If making this Veg Lapsi Upma in the Open pan, water and cook times would vary.






Padmajha says
Healthy and filling meal..
Vardhini says
Love broken wheat .. this reminds me that I have to link the vermicilli upma to the event 🙂
Vardhini
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Sujata Roy says
Lapsi upma sounds healthy easy and delicious. For me its a perfect breakfast option. Liked the use of Pressure cooker to make the upma quickly. And I am always upma lover. Great recipe Kalyani.
Kalyani says
So nice to know you also love upma like us, Sujata. Do try the pressure cooker method - its foolproof and easy too!
Priya Suresh says
Healthy and super filling upma, delicious..
Harini says
Love the broken wheat upma!!
Pavani says
Yummy pictorial. I make similar upma too. Simple and delicious.
Unknown says
Nice step by step pictures.. Quick and yummy breakfast..
Monika says
ok tell me whats the diff between lapsi and dalia
Srivalli says
Well I surely enjoyed all the recipe less only picture post..:)
Preethi says
This one pot lapsi upma is so quick and delicious. I love such quick and easy recipes without compromising taste and nutrition.
Kalyani says
Thanks PReethi- it surely is quick and nutritious 🙂
Archana says
We love this vegetable-loaded broken wheat Upma. It is my favourite Upma, and I love this inviting portion.
Kalyani says
Thank you!
Vasusvegkitchen says
Looks very tasty, liked the way you prepared it in pressure cooker by adding veggies to make this upma more tasty and healthy.
Kalyani says
Thank you, Aruna. Yes Pressure cooker method saves time and the veggies are a must for upma at my place 🙂
Sasmita Sahoo says
Lapsi upma looks so so yumm and delicious. Love to make such quick and easy recipes loaded with nutrition. One pot recipes are always a HIT !
Kalyani says
Thank you, Sasmita
Priya Vj says
I make bansi rava upma the same way as yours . Will try with lapsi for Vj ,he likes lapsi a lot.
Kalyani says
Thanks, do try it
Jayashree T Rao says
Broken wheat upma happens when we need a change in the menu for dinner . I have never added cabbage in this version, will add it the next time I make it.
Kalyani says
Do try it whenever possible - am sure you will like it a lot.
Seema says
As we grow older i guess the upma bring in a certain level of comfort. Super glad to see this happy upma recipes with loads of colourful veggies.
Kalyani says
absolutely. Upma is a comfort food any day 🙂