Bread Upma is flavorful, delicious, filling, and a quick recipe. It comes together in 25 minutes and makes a perfect breakfast, lunch, or snack!
This easy recipe of Bread Upma is made with bread cubes, tomatoes, spices, and herbs. It is also known as Masala Bread and is moderately spicy, tangy, full of flavors, and customizable!
Easy To Make Bread Upma
This dish is definitely dedicated to my mom. It is not only food but brings lots of childhood memories.
My mom often made the Bread Upma for an evening or after-school snack. It was one of my and my brother’s favorite snacks. My mom used to call it by different names, Bread Upma, Masala Bread, or Bread Dhokla.
So, this recipe is inspired by my mom’s recipe, and I have made a few changes to the family’s preference. But I have provided the ideas for customization or variation in this post; do not forget to check it out!
I have used homemade white bread from this recipe White Sandwich Bread. And this bread is vegan, but you can use store-bought bread and soft bread for this recipe. But if you are looking for a healthy option, use whole-wheat bread. Instead of bread slices, you can use Pav or dinner rolls to make this Upma.
The recipe is quick and easy but can not be made ahead of time. Because if it is kept for longer, the bread cubes will become soggy. So, serve the Bread Upma immediately after making it. However, you can prepare the tomato mixture in advance. And when you are ready to serve Bread Upma, heat the tomato mixture, add the bread cubes and continue with the next steps.
I have added pav bhaji masala, which adds street-style food flavors to the Upma. But you can skip adding pav bhaji masala or add garam masala instead.
Bread Upma is Chatpata, full of flavors, and very delicious. It is perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or evening snacks.
Why You Love Bread Upma
- Bread Upma is delicious, tempting, and full of flavors.
- The recipe is easy, quick, and requires a few ingredients only.
- It is perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or evening snacks.
- The recipe is vegan and without onion and garlic.
- You can easily turn your leftover bread slices into this delicious dish.
Ingredients
- Bread Slices: I have used homemade white bread slices for this recipe. You can use store-bought bread but use only soft bread. I highly recommend using white bread, but for a healthier option, you can choose whole wheat or multigrain bread.
- Oil: I have used oil to make this Upma, but if you like ghee flavor, use ghee instead of oil.
- Green Chilis and Ginger: Adjust the amount of green chili and ginger according to your taste preference.
- Green Pepper: I have added finely chopped green pepper. You can skip it or add finely chopped celery.
- Tomatoes: Use ripe tomatoes to get the best taste.
- Spices: I have added asafoetida, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and cumin powder to Bread Upma.
- Pav Bhaji Masala: I love adding this spice blend to Masala Bread as it provides lots of flavors. You can skip adding pav bhaji masala or add garam masala.
- Sugar: I have added a little sugar to enhance the flavors of bread Upma and to balance the sourness of tomatoes.
- Water: I needed to add ½ cup of water for this recipe. After adding bread cubes to the tomato mixture, if Upma looks dry, sprinkle some water on top of it. And avoid adding too much water.
- Herbs: I have added fresh coriander leaves for a delicious earthy flavor.
How To Make Bread Upma
- Toast the bread slices in the toaster and let them cool down.
- Then, chop the toasted bread slices into cubes and set them aside.
- You can also use the bread slices without toasting them and chop them into cubes.
- Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds.
- Allow cumin seeds to sizzle, and add asafoetida, green chili, and ginger.
- Mix well and saute for a few seconds.
- Add chopped green pepper, mix well and cook for two minutes.
- Add tomatoes, salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin powder, and pav bhaji masala and mix well.
- Cook the tomato mixture until the tomatoes become soft and mushy.
- It is essential to cook tomatoes for long enough to remove the rawness of the tomatoes.
- Add ½ cup water and sugar, mix well, and continue cooking for 4-5 minutes or until the mixture slightly thickens.
- Now add bread cubes and gently mix until the bread cubes are coated well with the tomato mixture.
- If the Upma looks dry and the masala is not coating well, sprinkle some water on the top and mix well.
- Do not add too much water, as the bread should not become soggy.
- Taste and adjust the salt if required.
- Add finely chopped coriander leaves, mix well, and serve hot.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve Bread Upma hot or warm, and do not keep it for longer; otherwise, the bread will become soggy.
- You can drizzle some lemon juice on top of the Bread Upma to brighten the flavors before serving.
- For crunch, garnish the Bread Upma with toasted and chopped peanuts or cashews.
Variations
Mustard Seeds: You can replace cumin seeds with mustard seeds or add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds and ½ teaspoon cumin seeds.
Urad Dal: When oil is hot, add ½ teaspoon urad dal, roast until it is lightly brown, and then add cumin seeds. Urad dal will add flavor and crunch.
Curry Leaves: For more south Indian flavor, add 5-6 curry leaves with ginger and green chili.
Vegetables: You can add more finely chopped veggies to this Upma. The suggestions are finely chopped celery, carrots, or boiled green peas.
Kasoori Methi (Dried Fenugreek Leaves): For north Indian flavor, add ½ teaspoon crushed Kasoori methi with coriander.
Toppings: Top the Bread Upma with your choice of toppings. The suggestions are toasted and chopped peanuts or cashews.
Make It Street-Style Food: Sprinkle some chaat masala and fine Sev on top of the Upma for street food flavors.
Recipe Tips
- Bread: I have used homemade white bread for this recipe. But you can choose any soft bread to make the Bread Upma. If you want the healthier version, use whole wheat bread slices. You can also use dinner rolls or Pav to make this recipe.
- Toasting the Bread Slices: I lightly toasted the bread slices in the toaster, which prevented the sogginess of the Upma and enhanced the taste. But you can skip this step and chop them into cubes without toasting them.
- Spices: Add the green chilis and red chili powder according to your taste preference. I have used Kashmiri red chili powder, so the Upma is not too spicy.
- Pav Bhaji Masala: This is my favorite spice to add to this Bread Upma. It makes the Upma flavorful and delicious. But you can skip adding this masala and increase the amount of red chili powder slightly.
- Sugar: Adding a pinch of sugar enhances the flavors and balances the sourness of tomatoes. However, you can skip adding sugar if you want.
- Garnishing: If you like to add some crunch to this Upma, top it with roasted and chopped peanuts or cashews.
More Breakfast or Snack Recipes
Recipe Card
Bread Upma (No Onion) / Masala Bread
Video
Ingredients
- 5-6 bread slices
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon asafoetida (optional)
- ½ teaspoon green chili paste or finely chopped green chilis
- 1- inch ginger peeled and grated
- ¼ cup finely chopped green pepper (optional)
- 2 large tomatoes finely chopped
- Salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon pav bhaji masala
- ½ teaspoon sugar (optional)
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped coriander leaves
Instructions
- Toast the bread slices in the toaster and let them cool down. Then chop the toasted bread slices into cubes and set them aside.
- You can also use the bread slices without toasting them and chop them into cubes.
- Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Allow cumin seeds to sizzle, and add asafoetida, green chili, and ginger. Mix well and saute for a few seconds.
- Add chopped green pepper, mix well and cook for two minutes.
- Add tomatoes, salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin powder, and pav bhaji masala and mix well.
- Cook the tomato mixture until the tomatoes become soft and mushy. It is essential to cook tomatoes for long enough to remove the rawness of the tomatoes.
- Add ½ cup water and sugar, mix well, and continue cooking for 4-5 minutes or until the mixture becomes thick.
- Now add bread cubes and gently mix until the bread cubes are coated well with the tomato mixture. If the Upma looks dry and the masala is not coating well, sprinkle some water on the top and mix well. Do not add too much water, as the bread should not become soggy.
- Taste and adjust the salt if required. Add finely chopped coriander leaves, mix well, and serve hot.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve Bread Upma hot or warm, and do not keep it for longer; otherwise, the bread will become soggy.
- You can drizzle some lemon juice on top of the Bread Upma to brighten the flavors before serving.
- For crunch, garnish the Bread Upma with toasted and chopped peanuts or cashews.
Notes
- Bread: I have used homemade white bread for this recipe. But you can choose any type of soft bread to make the Bread Upma. If you want the healthier version, use whole wheat bread slices. You can also use dinner rolls or Pav to make this recipe.
- Toasting The Bread Slices: I have lightly toasted the bread slices in the toaster, which will prevent the sogginess of the Upma and enhance the taste. But you can skip this step and chop them into cubes without toasting them.
- Spices: Add the green chilis and red chili powder according to your taste preference. I have used Kashmiri red chili powder, so the Upma is not too spicy.
- Pav Bhaji Masala: This is my favorite spice to add to this Bread Upma. It makes the Upma flavorful and delicious. But you can skip adding this masala and increase the amount of red chili powder slightly.
- Sugar: Adding a pinch of sugar enhances the flavors and will not make the Upma sweet. However, you can skip adding sugar if you want.
- Garnishing: If you like to add some crunch to this Upma, top it with roasted and chopped peanuts or cashews.
- Variations: Add 5-6 curry leaves with chili and ginger for more flavor. You can also add Kasoori methi with coriander leaves for some earthy flavors. Instead of green pepper, you can add finely chopped celery or add both of them. To make the dish a street-style food, sprinkle some chaat masala and fine Sev on top of Bread Upma before serving.
Nutrition (Approximate Values)
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