Paleo Semiya Upma

Transform your favorite comfort food into a wholesome, paleo-friendly delight with this Paleo Semiya Upma! This vibrant dish swaps traditional vermicelli for nutrient-packed zucchini noodles, keeping it low-carb and gluten-free without sacrificing the authentic South Indian flavors. Infused with aromatic spices like mustard seeds, cumin, and curry leaves, and loaded with colorful veggies like carrots and green peas, this upma offers both nutrition and a burst of flavors in every bite. Cooked in heart-healthy coconut oil and finished with a zesty splash of lemon juice, it’s a quick and satisfying dish that’s perfect for breakfast or a light meal. Ready in just 40 minutes, this recipe is a delicious blend of tradition and health, perfect for paleo and clean-eating enthusiasts.

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 large Zucchini
• 2 tablespoons Coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• 1 tablespoon Urad dal (split black gram)
• 1 tablespoon Chana dal (split chickpeas)
• 2 small Green chili
• 10 leaves Curry leaves
• 1 inch Ginger
• 1 medium Onion
• 1 small Carrot
• 0.5 cup Green peas
• 0.5 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Cilantro

Directions

Step 1

Wash the zucchini thoroughly and spiralize it to create noodles. Set them aside.

Step 2

Chop the green chili, ginger, and onion finely. Peel and grate the carrot.

Step 3

In a large pan, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.

Step 4

Once the mustard seeds splutter, add cumin seeds, urad dal, and chana dal. Fry for 1-2 minutes until the dals are golden brown.

Step 5

Add chopped green chili and curry leaves. Sauté for another minute until fragrant.

Step 6

Add chopped ginger and onion to the pan. Sauté until the onions become translucent.

Step 7

Add the grated carrot and green peas. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables soften.

Step 8

Stir in the turmeric powder and salt, mixing everything well.

Step 9

Add the spiralized zucchini noodles to the pan. Stir gently to combine with the vegetables and spices.

Step 10

Cook the zucchini noodles for 3-4 minutes until they are just tender, ensuring not to overcook them.

Step 11

Remove the pan from heat and stir in the lemon juice.

Step 12

Garnish the Paleo Semiya Upma with chopped cilantro before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(898.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	714.9

Total Fat 32.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 23.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 7175.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 91.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 18.8g	0%
Total Sugars 51.0g
Protein 19.4g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 238.9mg	0%
Iron 8.4mg	0%
Potassium 2199.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 40.0%

Protein: 10.5%

Carbs: 49.6%