Mom’s Recipe for SPICY CREAM OF WHEAT ( Spicy COW) is what Indians from India call UPMA. It is a popular southern breakfast food kind of like grits is to the south in the United States. UPMA is the main course not a side and is usually served with fresh homemade yogurt (curd) and a nice spicy pickle like mango, turmeric or lemon. It is hearty and sticks to your ribs. In India, this meal is perfect for the farm worker who will have a long day of work in the fields.
INGREDIENTS:
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1 cup (8 oz.) COW (Red Box)
4 Tbsp. corn oil
1 tsp. black mustard seeds
1 med onion chopped medium pieces
4 Serrano chilies or 2 Jalapeno chilies chopped medium
2 cups water
½ tsp. salt
1 cup frozen peas
½ carrot cubed small
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro divided
1 lemon (2 Tbsp. lemon juice)
additional salt to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
In a fry pan, heat EVOO on med-high and sauté the cream of wheat for about 5 minutes until bronzed. Remove cream of wheat and set a side. Alternately, you can microwave the EVOO with the COW for 3 minutes stopping the microwave at one minute intervals and mixing the COW.
In the fry pan on med-hi, add 4 Tbsp. corn oil and once the oil becomes hot drop in the mustard seeds. They will pop so have a lid close by to cover it until the popping subsides. Add onions, carrots, and chilies and cook until onions are translucent and carrots are soft. Add 2 cups water and ½ tsp. salt. Bring the water onion chili mixture to a boil and add peas and ¼ of the cilantro. Let water come to a rapid boil for 3 minutes so the peas become cooked. Add cream of wheat ¼ cup at a time spreading it on top of the water as a thin layer until it absorbs some of the water. Continue to add the COW until all of the COW has been added to the boiling water and give the water 1-2 minutes to absorb into the COW. Then take a wooden spoon and cut into the boiling COW back and fourth to prevent clumps from forming. Once all of the COW is moistened, mix the COW by folding and turn the heat down to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Uncover squeeze fresh lemon juice over the cooked COW.. Finally fold in remaining cilantro and add salt to taste.
Serve as a breakfast or brunch item along side , yogurt and pickle, cucumber slices or Cucumber Mung Bean Salad.