Bread Upma (Bread Poha) is a South Indian-style breakfast or snack recipe made using bread slices, onions, tomatoes, and spices. This quick and easy dish comes together in under 20 minutes and is a great way to use leftover bread slices (vegan).
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About Bread Upma (Bread Poha)
Bread Upma (Bread Poha) is a South Indian-style breakfast or snack recipe that is super easy to make and a great way to use the leftover bread sitting in the fridge.
Made using bread slices and a few spices, bread upma comes together in under 20 minutes using simple ingredients. Load it with veggies or nuts for a healthier version.
This tasty and filling leftover bread recipe is vegetarian and vegan too.
South Indian style bread upma is made like our usual poha. The difference is that instead of poha (flattened rice), bread is used to make this dish.
Serve it for breakfast with a cup of kadak masala chai or pack it for school or office lunch boxes.
This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
Here are some more everyday Indian breakfast recipes you must try
- Paniyaram
- Moong Dal Chilla
- Paneer Bhurji
- Upma
- Semiya Upma
- Dalia Upma
- Poha
- Indori Poha
- Veg Cutlet
- Rava Pongal
- Masala Paratha
Ingredients & Variations
Bread – Use fresh bread or leftover stale bread; both are fine.
Bread Upma made using white sandwich bread tastes the best. You can also use multigrain bread, brown bread, whole wheat bread, dinner rolls, pav, or soft bread. Try not to use sourdough as they are a little hard.
You can keep the edges of the bread if they are not too hard. If they are hard, I suggest cutting them off.
If you want a gluten-free version, use any gluten-free bread.
This recipe is also a great way to use the top and bottom slices from the packet, which are otherwise left unused.
Vegetables – I like to keep it simple and add only onions, tomatoes, green peas, and green chilies. You can add green beans, sweet corn, carrots, zucchini, etc., to make it more wholesome.
Adjust the green chillies as per your taste. I used Indian green chilies but you can use Serrano peppers, Thai green chilies, or jalapenos.
Oil – Use any cooking oil to make this simple breakfast recipe: light olive oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, etc works fine. You can also use butter or ghee for a richer and more flavorful taste.
Peanuts – Raw peanuts add a great crunch to the otherwise soft upma. Also a great source of protein, it adds to its nutrition too. You can replace peanuts with cashew nuts.
Other Ingredients – You will also need curry leaves, brown mustard seeds, freshly squeezed lime juice, cilantro (fresh coriander leaves), salt, and turmeric powder.
Lime juice can be replaced with lemon juice.
To make this upma protein-rich, add 2 scrambled eggs to the recipe and make bread egg upma.
Add a tablespoon of pav bhaji masala or sambar masala powder along with veggies to make a variation of bread upma recipe.
How To Make Bread Upma
Cut 8 white bread slices into small squares (¼-inch) using a serrated knife.
Note – You can also tear the bread slices using your fingers instead of cutting them. Instead of cutting the slices into cubes, you can shred the bread into very fine pieces for a change of texture.
Splash 2-3 tablespoon of water or buttermilk over them and toss once. Keep aside. This process will make the bread pieces soft.
Heat 2 tablespoon cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, add 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds and 10-12 curry leaves and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.
Add ¼ cup of raw peanuts and fry for 20-25 seconds until crispy.
Add
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 2 teaspoon chopped green chilies
- ¼ cup frozen peas
- ¼ cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
and fry for 2-3 minutes.
Note – If using fresh peas, cook them until tender before adding them to the pan.
Now add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon salt and cook for a minute.
Add the bread cubes, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro, and toss everything well.
Check for salt and add more if needed.
Cook for 3-4 minutes on low heat. Serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. I like to keep it simple, but you can always add vegetables such as carrots, beans, bell peppers, broccoli, potatoes, corn, etc to make it more filling and wholesome.
Some people toast the bread before cutting them into cubes. This bread upma tastes very different from the one I have shared. You can try it too. Just toast the bread slices in a toaster or skillet, cut them into cubes, and follow the remaining recipe as mentioned.
Before adding the bread to the pan, break one egg in the pan and make an egg scramble. Once it is done, add in the bread cubes and give it a mix.
Once the bread upma is ready, sprinkle ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese over it and cover it with a lid. Cook on low heat for 4-5 minutes until the cheese melts.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delicious bread upma for a quick breakfast, evening snack or pack it for school and office lunch boxes.
It can be served independently with a cup of Adrak Wali Chai or Filter Coffee.
You can also serve Mint Coriander Chutney or Tomato Ketchup on the side; it tastes good with this upma. I like to top my Bread Upma with some Bikaneri Sev or Aloo Bhujia.
Storage Suggestions
I like to make it fresh! But if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container for about a day or two.
Reheat in a pan or a microwave before serving.
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Recipe Card
Bread Upma Recipe (Bread Poha)
Ingredients
- 8 white bread slices
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
- 10-12 curry leaves
- ¼ cup raw peanuts
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 2 teaspoons chopped green chilies
- ¼ cup frozen green peas (washed)
- ¼ cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (fresh coriander leaves)
Instructions
- Cut bread slices into small squares (¼-inch) using a serrated knife.
- Note – You can also tear the bread slices using your fingers instead of cutting them. Instead of cutting the slices into cubes, you can shred the bread into very fine pieces for a change of texture.
- Splash 2-3 tbsp of water or buttermilk over them and toss once. Keep aside. This process will make the bread pieces soft.
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds and curry leaves and let them crackle for 4-5 seconds.
- Add peanuts and fry for 20-25 seconds until they are crispy.
- Add onions, green chilies, peas, tomatoes, and ginger and fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Note – If using fresh peas, cook them until they are tender before adding them to the pan.
- Now add turmeric powder and salt and cook for a minute.
- Add the bread cubes, lime juice, and cilantro, and toss everything well.
- Check for salt and add more if needed.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes on low heat. Serve hot.
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